Mikkel Kessler returns to the ring against Mehdi Bouadla this Saturday

Four-time super middleweight champion Mikkel Kessler (43-2, 32 KO) returns to action against Mehdi Bouadla (23-3, 11 KO) on Saturday June 4. The scheduled 12-rounder will be shown via tape delay on Showtime’s World Championship Boxing, prior to the live airing of the Super Six Semifinal bout between Carl Froch and Glen Johnson, and will be held at Parken Stadium in Copenhagen, Denmark. Showtime’s broadcast begins at 9pm EST/6pm PST.

This will mark the first in-ring action for Kessler since his April 24, 2010 title-winning victory over Carl Froch. An eye injury forced Kessler to withdraw from the 3rd group stage of the Super Six tournament, and threatened to end his career. Kessler has twice held the WBA and WBC super middleweight titles, and his 2 career losses have come at the hands of future hall of famer Joe Calzaghe, and current Super Six favorite Andre Ward. Kessler is looking for a victory to put him back in the mix in a deep super middleweight division.

Mehdi Bouadla last fought on January 29, easily defeating Pavels Lotahs over 8 rounds. Bouadla was scheduled to challenge then-IBF titlist Sebastian Sylvester on January 22, but an infection forced Sylvester’s withdrawal. Dating back to a February 2008 loss to Affif Belghecham, Mouadla has won 11 straight.