RSSMikkel Kessler
Friday, December 14, 2007
HBO to Replay Best Fights of 2007
It’s a holiday treat for HBO Boxing fans. For five consecutive nights during the holidays, HBO Sports will replay five of the most memorable, most significant, most compelling bouts of 2007 that were broadcast on the HBO service.
The lineup includes:
Tuesday, Dec. 25 at 11:00 p.m. - Jermain Taylor vs. Kelly Pavlik
Wednesday, Dec. 26 at 11:00 p.m. - Joe Calzaghe vs. Mikkel Kessler
Thursday, Dec. 27 at 11:00 p.m. - Oscar De La Hoya vs. Floyd Mayweather
Friday, Dec. 28 at 11:00 p.m. - Miguel Cotto vs. Shane Mosley
Saturday, Dec. 29 at 12 midnight - Floyd Mayweather vs. Ricky Hatton
All times are ET/PT.
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Friday, September 21, 2007
HBO to Air Calzaghe-Kessler Live
LONDON – Promoter Frank Warren announced today that the biggest non-heavyweight world title unification fight since the Sugar Ray Leonard-Tommy Hearns welterweight rumble of 1981, pitting undefeated super middleweight champions Joe Calzaghe (43-0, 32 KOs), from Newbridge, Wales, and Mikkel Kessler (39-0, 29 KOs), from Copenhagen, Denmark, would be moved to later in the evening to accommodate U.S. boxing fans. Promoted by Frank Warren, in association with International Entertainment, the Calzaghe-Kessler world title unification fight will now be broadcast live in primetime in the U.S. at 9:00 p.m. ET and 6:00 p.m. PT on HBO World Championship Boxing. The fight will take place Saturday, November 3, at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales (1 a.m. local time), which will be scaled for an indoor-record of 60,000-plus spectators. Over 30,000 seats have already been sold.
“We have seen the tremendous response this fight is generating with the fans and the sports press and we put our heads together with our UK broadcaster, Setenta, and came up with a plan to maximize the exposure,” said Warren. “We discovered that the weekend of the fight is the one time when there is only a four hour time difference between ET and GMT in the UK making it possible to start the show at a reasonable time for the UK and prime time in the States. When we approached HBO about the possibility of going live, they were ecstatic when we found a way to do this and immediately cleared their schedule to make it possible. This was a case of all the stars lining up just right.”
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Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Calzaghe-Kessler Officially Announced
Boxing promoter Frank Warren announced that WBO Super Middleweight Champion Joe Calzaghe will take on WBA and WBC Super Middleweight Champ Mikkel Kessler on November 3rd at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales earlier today.
The winner of the fight will become the undisputed middleweight title holder as all of the belts will be unified.
The most interesting thing to come out of today’s press conference was the fact that there currently isn’t a deal with an American TV outlet that will have the fight broadcast on PPV or premium cable over here. Warren did say that a deal was close however. He refused to name any possible networks.
“We are still working on that. We are still working to conclude our deal. It’s the best fight out there. It’s such a good fight that nobody can ignore it. I’m confident that something will be done,” Warren said.
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Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Calzaghe Wants Kessler, Taylor, and Hopkins Before Retiring
Joe Calzaghe revealed in a recent interview with Sportinglife that he would like three more fights, possibly against Mikkel Kessler, Jermain Taylor, and Bernard Hopkins, to round out his storied career.
When it comes to Kessler, Calzaghe made it known that he certainly wasn’t his top choice for a future opponent. However Calzaghe didn’t close the door on a possible opportunity of meeting Kessler down the road at some point before he hangs them up:
“Kessler is a good fighter. Frank has been talking to his promoter over the last few days, trying to do something with him.
But I think that fight may be six months or more down the road. Kessler is not a big name in America.
He’s had a couple of good wins but in his last fight he beat Markus Bayer, who was shot. We can go down the Kessler road but Taylor is the one for me.”
So if Kessler isn’t tops then who is? That would be Jermain Taylor as of right now. I say as of right now because we all know how Calzaghe loves to change his mind constantly.
Mega-promoter Frank Warren is desperately trying to get a deal done between Calzaghe and Taylor’s camps for a September bout. Talks have been ongoing for months now but may pick up speed now that both fighters are coming off recent victories and are taking time off.
Calzaghe also expressed interest in Hopkins as always, stating that he would love to take on the winner of the July fight between Hopkins and Winky Wright.
“Hopkins would interest me. Hopkins won his last fight against Antonio Tarver so he’s still a formidable opponent. He looked good against Tarver but he’s 42 and he can’t go on forever. The winner of Winky Wright and Hopkins could be my opponent for January.
They’re fighting in July and I think they’ll put on a good show, but Hopkins will be too big for Winky Wright.”
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Friday, April 27, 2007
EEC - April 27, 2007
A lot of quotes today…
News, Notes, and Rumors:
- Because of his comments by his son and brother, Floyd Mayweather Sr will no longer involve himself in the May 5th fight between his son, Floyd Mayweather Jr , and Oscar De La Hoya according to an interview with the Grand Rapids Press:
“We’re back to square one,” Floyd Sr. said. “That’s where we’re at, we’re back at the beginning. I do want to get back together with Little Floyd. I do want to get to know my grandkids. But if he doesn’t want it to happen, so it will be. Roger talks all that (stuff) on TV, but what champions has he made? I made Floyd Mayweather Jr., and even he knows that. That foundation was already laid, long before Roger. Roger shouldn’t even comment on things that went on between me and Little Floyd. Floyd is only 30 years old, and Roger has lived in Las Vegas for 26, 27 years. He was never there to know.”
“Your kids are looking, your grandmother’s looking, your family’s looking. You don’t say stuff like that. What is he getting out of that? I don’t know why he’s willing to be portrayed as the bad guy. It’s reality TV, and you can say something wrong, and they catch you. That’s one thing. But he looks right in the camera and says it.”
“I didn’t do anything to Floyd except care. And when you get right down to it, he didn’t do anything for me. Everything I’ve got, I got from De La Hoya. I don’t care if it is his uncle. To say he’s loyal to Roger, when I’m the one who gave him life? What is he talking about? I’ve been careful not to say anything bad about anybody this camp, and I don’t even think Little Floyd should be speaking on it.”
- Speaking of “Little Floyd” - He thinks that everyone, the media and De La Hoya especially, is going to be surprised by his punching power on May 5th:
“I’ve got a hell of a knockout ratio and I feel that’s what is going to be the surprise for Oscar on May 5 - my punching power. My hands are strong and I feel good. Weight doesen’t win a fight. Fame doesn’t win a fight. Smartness and intelligence win a fight,” Mayweather said. “Everybody says Oscar has a good left hook. Well Floyd Mayweather has a good left hook, a good right hand and can dig to the body with both hands. He has the best defense in boxing and can beat you inside or outside.”
- In a possible attempt to try and get Jermain Taylor to accept Frank Warren’s attempts to match Taylor and Joe Calzaghe up this summer, Calzaghe has once again stated that he wants either Taylor or Mikkel Kessler for his next title defense…
“I have proudly held the WBO title for nearly 10 years since my great win over Chris Eubank way back in 1997. I’ve made 20 defences and I would love my 21st to be either against Kessler or Taylor,” Said Calzaghe.
Weekend Fights:
Friday -
Mike Anchondo vs Darling Jimenez - Washington, DC - Junior Lightweight (ESPN2)
Vernon Paris vs Alain Hernandez - Washington, DC - Junior Welterweight (ESPN2)
David Haye vs Tomasz Bonin - London, England - Heavyweight
Tommy Morrison vs Dale Ortiz - Houston, TX - Heavyweight
Sergio Martinez vs Saul Roman - Houston, TX - WBC Junior Middleweight Title Eliminator
Jose Aguiniga vs Joe Morales - Houston, TX - Featherweight
Vanes Martirosyan vs Nelson Estupinan - Houston, TX - Junior Middleweight
Saturday -
Acelino Freitas vs Juan Diaz - Mashantucket, CT - WBO/WBA Lightweight Title Unification Bout
Javier Castillejo vs Felix Sturm - Oberhausen, Germany - WBA Middleweight Title
Silvio Branco vs Stipe Drews - Oberhausen, Germany - WBA Light Heavyweight Title
Ricardo Torres vs Arturo Morua - Barranquilla, Colombia - WBO Junior Welterweight Title
Ivan Calderon vs Ronald Barrera - Barranquilla, Colombia - WBO Strawweight Title
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Tuesday, March 27, 2007
After Manfredo Falls, Will We See Calzaghe-Kessler?
Mikkel Kessler is 28 years old. He sports a 39-0 record. He is the WBA and WBC super middleweight titleholder. All that is missing is world wide recognition. HBO was smart enough to air his recent defense in Denmark, a one sided drubbing of previously undefeated Librado Andrade. That was the first step toward Mikkel being known on this side of the Atlantic. Hopefully the next step will be a unification bout with unbeaten WBO champion Joe Calzaghe. That is if Joe overcomes the challenge of Peter Manfredo Jr. on April 7th in Cardiff, Wales. Calzaghe is a solid favorite to win that fight and rightfully so.
Calzaghe won over the American boxing public when he dominated the highly regarded Jeff Lacy. He has done little though to build on the prestige since he gained with that victory. Calzaghe needs Kessler but Kessler needs Calzaghe more. Will this highly anticipated fight ever be made?
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Monday, March 26, 2007
EEC - March 26, 2007
After a little break we are back…
News, Notes, and Rumors:
- Look for the KO Corner World Rankings to be updated at some point this week…
- Mikkel Kessler wants Joe Calzaghe, we’ve known that for a long time now. It’s been assumed that Calzaghe wants a crack at Kessler as well, the problem is that talks to try and get the two together have always fallen apart in the past. Kessler refuses to fight him in England just as Calzaghe won’t go to Denmark.
In today’s USA Today, Kessler mentions that he hopes his nationally televised bout this past weekend on HBO will get him the exposure he needs to have Calzaghe’s representatives setting up this fight as a priority.
“I want Joe Calzaghe, if he dares,” said Kessler. “I want to show the United States that I’m the best fighter.”
- David Haye has received a letter from the WBC stating that he will be getting a mandatory title shot against newly crowned WBC Cruiserweight Champ Jean-Marc Mormeck this summer.
“I’m really looking forward to fighting Mormeck,” said Haye. “I think our styles will make for a great tear up but I’m convinced that I have the ability to beat him.”
Before that happens, Haye has to defeat Tomasz Bonin on April 27th in London. If he’s successful, it seems that O’Neil Bell is going to have to wait a while…
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Monday, January 29, 2007
EEC - January 29, 2007
Well we weren’t around on Sunday but we are back today with a recap of this weekend’s action…
News, Notes, and Rumors:
- As of this past weekend Oscar De La Hoya has still not found a trainer. As always, Floyd Mayweather Sr. was very vocal about the situation:
“It’s obvious the man is super tight,” Mayweather Sr. said of De La Hoya. “What comes first in this particular situation, greed or the fight? But he can do what he wants. I make money. Money don’t make me. I’m going on with my life.
“Oscar’s fired every trainer he’s had. He’s had all the so-called greats and he’s fired every one of them, but has he fired me? No. And that should tell you something.”
Just like Jack Mosley, Shane Mosley, and Freddie Roach, yet another canidate has thrown his hat into the ring now - Wayne McCullough.
- Some Mikkel Kessler news for you courtesy of Dan Rafael…
American boxing fans anxious to finally see Mikkel Kessler (38-0, 29 KOs) in action will get their wish. The Danish star and unified super middleweight champion was seen on HBO in brief highlights knocking out Markus Beyer in their October unification bout. Now, Kessler will star in his own edition of “Boxing After Dark” (same-day tape) by making his fourth defense against dangerous mandatory challenger Librado Andrade (24-0, 18 KOs) on March 24 in Copenhagen.
- HBO will air a four-part mini-series covering De La Hoya and Mayweather Jr.’s training up until the night of the fight during the weeks leading up until the fight.
- Jameel McCline underwent successful left knee surgery last Tuesday we just found out to repair the damaged tendon he suffered when his knee gave out during his fight with Nikolai Valuev. McCline is expected to be out of action for about six weeks.
Weekend Results:
- Zsolt Erdei remained undefeated and retained his WBO Light-Heavyweight crown after stopping Danny Santiago in the second round.
Santiago actually won the first round on the judges’ scorecard but he fell into trouble at the beginning of the second round, being knocked down by a right hand a couple minutes in and then stunned by another right as soon as he got back to his feet, forcing the referee to stop the bout.
- Jorge Arce defeated Julio Ler by unanimous decision on Saturday evening. The most interesting thing about the bout? Well it was probably Arce’s entrance as the flyweight round to the ring on a horse.
- Kelly Pavlik dropped Jose Luis Zertuche in the eighth round of their bout on Saturday night, continuing Pavlik’s quick rise to the top ranks of the middleweight division. The fight was a slugfest, especially the first three rounds where the fighters exchange numerous punches, not stopping for anything.
Pavlik took control in the later rounds however - stunning Zertuche in the sixth and then knocking him out with one final right in the eighth round.
Some Good Reads:
Boxing Scene: Teddy Reid - A Warrior’s Career Comes To A Close, Squandering Jorge Arce
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Tuesday, January 23, 2007
EEC - January 23, 2007
More on the whole Mayweather-De La Hoya training situation and what the recently victorious Valuev may be up to next…
News, Notes, and Rumors:
- Freddie Roach has come up as a strong possibility to be De La Hoya’s trainer for his fight against Mayweather Jr.
We all know that Mayweather Sr. wants $2 Million in order to train Oscar to defeat his son and De La Hoya’s camp isn’t prepared to give him anything close to that. Apparently De La Hoya offered Mayweather Sr. $500,000 to train him and another $500,000 if they won last year but Mayweather Sr. rejected the offer.
Roach has informed The Boston Herald that he has been approached by De La Hoya to train him for this fight. He didn’t sound very confident that he would be training him however…
“Oscar did approach me about training him for the Mayweather fight,” Roach said. “But then he’s spoken to me about training him for his last three fights before that, too, and nothing ever came of it.”
Roach then went on to blast Mayweather Sr. for his recent behavior:
“Exactly who did he ever train?” Roach asked. “Oscar was already a finished product when Floyd got him, and the whole time Floyd Jr. was developing as a boxer, his uncle Roger (Mayweather) trained him because Floyd was in jail.”
- Mikkel Kessler’s WBC and WBA Super Middleweight title defenses against Librado Andrade on March 24th may actually have to be rescheduled in the coming weeks. Denmark, where the fight is supposed to be held, plays Spain in a soccer game that same night on live TV. Officials are speculating that because of this the bout may be pushed back…
- It is almost certain that WBA Heavyweight Champion Nikolai Valuev will have to make his mandatory defense against Ruslan Chagaev in his next fight.
Some Good Reads:
FOX Sports: Hatton, Castillo revive 140, Hatton figures to have a tougher time in next Vegas visit
The Sweet Science: Very Superstitious.....
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Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Calzaghe Now Wants Taylor
How many different fighters is Joe Calzaghe going to call out this year? I understand that it might be part of Frank Warren’s plans but how are opponents supposed to be confident that Calzaghe is serious about setting up a matchup when is challenging other boxers at the same time.
Roy Jones stated that he was going to take Calzaghe’s request to fight him seriously…
Calzaghe claimed that Clinton Woods was afraid of him…
Antontio Tarver decided to turn down Calzaghe, showing no interest…
Calzaghe wants to unify the titles against Mikkel Kessler…
Calzaghe announces his plans to come to America and wanted Bernard Hopkins as his first opponent…
The latest? WBC and WBO Middleweight Champion Jermain Taylor.
“Jermain Taylor is number one for me,” said Calzaghe. “He beat Hopkins, he’s young, undefeated, a massive test.”
Calzaghe discussed Taylor among other things yesterday during a media luncheon in New York City.
His future plans may very well look like this: a February unification bout with Kessler and provided that he is successful, a possible June showdown with Taylor could happen. Date and Location: Madison Square Garden in July maybe?
According to Warren, Taylor’s promoter Lou DiBella has already said the possibility of a fight between the two in the near future is very real. Calzaghe also thinks his chances are real…
“If I fight Taylor like I did versus Lacy, nobody can beat me,” he said. “Nothing’s certain, but I’m confident I’ll win. Jermain Taylor and me would be a megafight.”