Ward vs. Kessler Is Youth vs. Experience

Denmark's Mikkel Kessler has more than twice as many fights -- and wins -- as Andre Ward.

The champion has more than three times as many knockouts, and could be stronger than the challenger, if not equally as fast and athletic.

And although Kessler is six years older than Ward, the WBA super middleweight titlist seems to be in his prime.

Ward (pictured far right) appears to be the underdog in most phases of the matchup. But if you ask his promoter, Dan Goossen, that's just the way Ward likes it.

"This is just like Andre Ward's run to the gold medal, but in the pro ranks. On his path to gold, no one gave him a shot. Everyone else was the favorite, and this is the same situation. Andre's very smart in the ring. He knows when to jab, he knows when to move and he does it with speed," said Goossen.

"But they are all picking Kessler (right) and for good reason -- he's a great, experienced champion," said Goossen. "Experience is great against someone who hasn't experienced everything Andre learned at the Olympics. And we have all the confidence in the world that, on Saturday night, Andre will make history."

Ward (20-0, 13 knockouts) will face Kessler (42-1, 32 KOs) on Saturday night at Oracle Arena in Ward's hometown of Oakland, Calif., as part of Showtime's Super Six World Boxing Classic super middleweight tournament.

"It's incredible to have this fight at home, and the support here has been outstanding. A lot of people say that boxing is dead in Oakland because there used to be two or three gyms full of boxers here. Boxing was a huge thing," said Ward, a 2004 Olympic gold medalist.

"To see the excitement for this fight here in Oakland and in the Bay Area and to give them something positive to support, I'm excited about that," said Ward. "This is what it's all about, I've been at the highest level as an amateur and now I'm preparing for my first world title fight as a professional. I'm ready."

Kessler-Ward is actually the third bout of a round-robin tournament, whose eventual completion isn't expected until early 2011.

The event began on On Oct. 17, when Germany's Arthur Abraham (31-0, 25 KOs) and England's Carl Froch (26-0, 20 KOs), respectively, knocked out Arkansas' Jermain Taylor (28-4, 17 KOs) and Michigan's Andre Dirrell (18-1, 13 KOs).

Ward last fought at the Oracle in May, when he decisioned knockout artist, Edison Miranda, over 12 rounds in what is considered to be the biggest win of his career.

In that matchup, Ward overcame a bloody gash over his left eye that was the result of an accidental head-butt less than 30 seconds into the fight.

Ward also did not back down from a slugfest, holding his own while wrestling with the muscular Miranda during clinches, engaging in mini-brawls and infighting exchanges, and firing a blistering left hand from an occasional, southpaw stance while generally displaying his versatility.

"People are often surprised when they fight me. You see one thing, and then, you get into the ring, and you see something different. Miranda told me in the locker room after the fight that he thought I would be a lot easier than I was. I've heard that a lot during my career -- even going back to the amateurs," said Ward.

"I have no idea what it is about my style, but they would hear I was the No. 1 guy and see me fight and say 'That's Ward?' " said Ward. "We do it in such a way that it looks easy until they get in the ring with me. We go back and look at every fight. We saw mistakes in the Miranda fight and we've even corrected those."

Kessler's lone defeat was in November of 2007 against Joe Calzaghe, who later scored back-to-back victories over Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones before retiring at 46-0 with 32 knockouts in November of 2008.

"Obviously for Mikkel, Saturday´s fight will be as important as the clash against Calzaghe, and I am sure he will make a great fight. In my opinion, the difference between the two fighters is Mikkel´s huge experience, and, also, his well-known punching power," said Wilfried Sauerland, Kessler's promoter.

"Ward has a tremendous unbeaten run. His Olympic gold medal as well as his professional record speak volumes about his class," said Sauerland. "But Ward has never been tested, and he has never fought someone like Mikkel. So Saturday will be Ward´s first big test."

Kessler earned the WBA crown in November of 2004 with a seventh-round knockout of Manny Siaca.

Kessler defended the crown four times, capped by a lopsided, unanimous decision over Librado Andrade, from whom he lifted the WBC belt.

Kessler won, 120-108, on all three cards against Andrade, who entered their bout with a record of 24-0 and 18 knockouts.

Kessler knocked out Dmitri Sartison in the 12th round of their June, 2008 bout to regain the WBA crown, and subsequently defended it by stopping Danilo Haussler and Gusmyr Perdomo in the third, and, fourth rounds, respectively.

"I have had a lot of big fights," said Kessler. "I think my strengths are also speed and my experience."

Kessler said that in many ways, Ward, the youngest tournament member at 25 years old, provides a mirror image of himself.

"Andre Ward is a great, young fighter. He reminds me a lot of myself when I was his age. I won my first world title at 24," said Kessler. "I can see that he is hungry, has good speed and good technique. He's a good fighter. But I have double the fights he has, and I'm more experienced in a lot of different ways."


Ten most successful super middle title defenses

1. Joe Calzaghe – 21 (1997-2007)
2. Sven Ottke – 21 (1998-2004)
3. Chris Eubank – 14 (1992-94)
4. Chong-Pal Park – 9 (1985-88)
5. Nigel Benn – 9 (1992-95)
6. Markus Beyer – 7 (1993-96)
7. Frankie Liles – 7 (1994-98)
8. Steve Collins -- 7 (1995-97)
9. Mikkel Kessler – 6 (2005-present)
10. Roy Jones – 5 (1995-96)

(Source: Mike Rosenthal, Co-Editor of RingTV.com)