Denmark's WBA super middleweight champion Mikkel Kessler will meet former Olympic gold medalist Andre Ward on Saturday night in what shapes up as a clash of similar styles, even as it is a battle of Ward's youth against Kessler's experience.Both the 30-year-old Kessler (42-1, 32 knockouts) and the 25-year-old Ward (20-0, 13 KOs) are considered excellent athletes whose arsenals include comparable speed as well as solid chins, stamina and general boxing skills.
FanHouse sought the opinions of 10 boxing experts for their predictions on the 168-pound matchup. See the results after the jump.
Steve Farhood, Showtime boxing analyst
Andre Ward by decision: I'm picking Andre Ward in an upset. I believe that the tiger will come out in him. Being aggressive and making it an inside fight will be his ticket to victory. I'm going with Ward, to win in 12.
Doug Fischer, co-editor of RingTV.com
Mikkel Kessler by decision: Based on experience, Mikkel Kessler's just been in with a higher quality of opponent. And Kessler's been involved with more big fights, fighting, more or less, for 12 rounds since Andre Ward has been a professional boxer.
Kessler's been in with Anthony Mundine and Librado Andrade. He's fought on the road against Joe Calzaghe in Wales, and, Mundine in Austrailia. And now, he's fighting in Andre Ward's hometown of Oakland, Calif.
Kessler won at least four rounds against Calzaghe, and looked pretty good doing it. Andre Ward's fakes and his footwork should make it competitive for the first half of the fight, but I think Kessler's straight right hand should buzz him a couple of times.
I don't think Kessler will get Andre Ward out of there, but I see him winning a 116-112, or a 115-113 type of decision.Nancy Gay, FanHouse.com
Andre Ward by decision: Andre Ward's skillset as a complete boxer has improved steadily since his Olympic gold medal days as a amateur. After too many sub-par opponents, the 25-year-old Ward is facing a true test against super middleweight Mikkel Kessler, who is 30.
Kessler hasn't lost since dropping a 12-round decision to Joe Calzaghe in 2007. This fight could look a lot like that one. Ward's speed is now as impressive as any fighter in his division.
Ward's footwork is superb, and he's shown he can take punishment and still deliver power punches that do damage. This is a tough call. I could see a Kessler knockout in the third round or a 12-round decision. If this fight goes 12 rounds, it will belong to Ward.
Kevin Iole, Yahoo! Sports Boxing
Andre Ward by decision: Ward is my pick to win the Super Six. He's a star in waiting, and this is going to be his stage to show the world his talent. Ward's quickness, defensive savvy and work rate will lead him to a tough win.
Robert Morales, Los Angeles Daily News
Andre Ward by decision: No. 1, I think that this is certainly going to be Andre Ward's best opponent. And I just believe that Andre Ward is one of those guys, who, with an opponent like Kessler, that is going to bring out the best in Andre Ward.
I don't think that we've seen Andre's best yet because he hasn't fought a lot of top-10 guys. But this guy is so talented, and he is so confident, and he is so focused and hungry.
If you've talked to this guy for any amount of time at all -- and I have -- you will know how hungry Andre Ward is and how focused he is. That determination that he has is even more than I've seen with most fighters.
Andre Ward seems to have that Manny Pacquiao-like determination, and that means a lot. I see why a lot of people are picking Mikkel Kessler to win the tournament, because he's an outstanding fighter.
But I don't think that Mikkel Kessler is going to land a whole lot of clean punches on Andre Ward, and I think Andre hits hard enough to keep Kessler at bay. Andre is not a killer, but he won't have to be to win.
Kieran Mulvaney, ESPN.boxing and Reuters
Andre Ward by decision: I think that if Mikkel Kessler still is Mikkel Kessler, then he's got a pretty good shot at winning this whole thing. But in his only loss, Joe Calzaghe whipped him pretty bad in the second half of that fight -- and Mikkel Kessler's hardly been seen since.
I just have this kind of sneaking suspicion that, faced with another fast-handed, slightly unorthodox fighter, Kessler might just come unglued a little bit. And so, I'm kind of leaning toward Andre Ward to pull of the upset.
It will go the distance, because Kessler's a tough guy. But I just have a feeling that Andre Ward can do it. I wouldn't be surprised if Ward comes out pretty strong, and maybe Kessler pulls himself together and comes back into it.
Maybe Kessler's a little stronger down the stretch, but I just have this sneaky feeling that Ward's going to pull this one out.
Joe Santoliquito, Managing Editor, Ring Magazine
Mikkel Kessler, ninth-round knockout: Kessler has too much experience for Ward, at this stage in Ward's career. Kessler has been in with Joe Calzaghe, Librado Andrade and Anthony Mundine.
Ward's been in with what? A faded, and easy-to-hit Edison Miranda? Kessler wears down Ward and finishes him in the ninth. It's too soon for Ward to be facing someone like Kessler.
Michael David Smith, FanHouse.com
Mikkel Kessler by unanimous decision: Kessler has looked focused and motivated in his three fights since losing to Joe Calzaghe, and I think he's going to look even better against Ward.
Ward is an undeniable talent, but he hasn't faced opponents of Kessler's caliber. And I think Kessler will give Ward his first loss. So I pick Kessler by unanimous decision.
Tim Smith, New York Daily News
Andre Ward by decision: Andre Ward discovered just how good he can be when he fought Edison Miranda. He didn't push as hard as he should have to get Miranda out of there. But I think Andre Ward now knows what it takes to get the job done. I think he'll take the next step against Kessler, though I think Kessler is a tougher guy. So I'm picking Ward by decision.
Bert Sugar, noted boxing historian
Mikkel Kessler by decision: My pick is Kessler. I think that Mikkel Kessler is a complete fighter, and that Andre Ward is still learning and still improving. Mikkel is a complete fighter already.
I thought against Calzaghe, Mikkel Kessler looked good, but that Calzaghe was faster. Kessler can hit, and I think that he's technically better than Ward. I think Ward, who is excellent, is not there yet.
The boxing experts give the younger Ward an edge, 6-4. I'll make my analysis and prediction on Friday.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Well it all depends but I think Andre Ward wins this fight and has a good chance of winning the whole thing. Dirrell got robbed in that decision with Froch so you never know the same thing could possibly happen to Ward. Still, I think that Ward is a better and faster boxer than Kessler and I think this will be a pretty easy win for him.