Denmark’s WBA super middleweight champion Mikkel Kessler will put his title on the line against undefeated American Andre Ward in their first bout of the Super Six World Boxing Classic on November 21 in Oakland, California.
With experience on his side the reigning champion Kessler is favourite, but at five years his junior, the 25-year-old Ward, a former Olympic gold medallist, is not to be underestimated.
Along with his title, Kessler brings with him a record of 42-1 (32 KOs) with his only loss coming in a close points decision against undisputed super middleweight king Joe Calzaghe. Ward, who has the home-town advantage, enters with 20-0 (13 KOs).
With less than a week before the bout, both fighters are in perfect shape, but the challenge now is to maintain the form without over preparing.
Kessler described his week of down time in the run up to the fight: “I have a lot of things to do.
“There are places that I like to eat; I have to do a lot of media events. The more time off I have, the more I have to relax and watch movies.
“You relax a little bit and you don’t have to train twice a day anymore. I will go for a half an hour or an hour a day and that’s it.”
Ward expressed similar sentiment on the verge of his first world title bout: “As far as the physical side, things have toned down. We are at our peak.
“It is tempting for a fighter to over-prepare. I don’t think we’ve done that. I think we are right where we need to be. That comes with experience. This is my 21st fight and we’re beginning to master all of the aspects of preparing for a fight from the weight to handling media appearances.”
Kessler has the opportunity to make it a clean sweep for the European fighters over Americans in the Super Six tournament after Germany’s Arthur Abraham knockout out Jermain Taylor in the opening bout followed on the same night by a points victory for Englishman Carl Froch over Andre Dirrell.
