This Saturday, May 25th, when Carl “The Cobra” Froch squares off against Mikkel “Viking Warrior” Kessler for the second time in their respective careers, it will go down as far more of an epic fight than their first encounter.
Though their first fight was figuratively for higher stakes as it was part of Showtime’s “Super Six Tournament,” back in late April of 2010 – this fight will be far more interesting as it is to prove who the better fighter really is. On that Saturday 24th of April in Kessler’s backyard of Henning, Denmark, before 10,000 screaming fans, Kessler(46-2, 35 KO’s) handed Froch the first loss of his career, while lifting his WBC Super Middleweight Championship with a 12-round unanimous decision win. Kessler came out firing on all cylinders, utilizing a crisp left jab that seemed to stymie Froch much of the first half of the fight. Froch, who took more time than he later would have wished to get going, was coming on between the mid to late rounds. Sensing he was behind on the cards, he put the pedal to the floor as much as possible, catching Kessler with his best shots in some brutal exchanges. But by the 12th round it was too little too late and there was little reason to believe Froch would win a points decision on Kessler’s soil. But that was over 3 years ago and much has changed since.
For starters, the Super Middleweight Super Six Tournament is well over, and the man who took all the titles from the tourney still reigns king as thee man at 168 lbs. Meanwhile, Froch(30-2, 22 KO’s) is coming off a huge TKO victory over previously unbeaten Lucien Bute in 2012, and a quick KO victory over Yusaf Mack in November of last year. Froch’s boxing ability and patience has certainly progressed, as has his confidence in his power. And this fight will take place on Froch’s turf at the O2 Arena in Greenwich, London, UK.
As for Kessler, he is on a KO streak in the past three fights since he fought Froch, knocking out Mehdi Bouadla, Allan Green, and Brian Magee, respectively.
The stage is once again set for these two freight trains on course to collide over a scheduled 12 rounds, with the IBF and WBA Super Middleweight titles at stake. But what is far more at stake here is pride between two proven warriors who have fought nothing but the best in their careers that are each on their tail end. And though I see Froch starting earlier this go around against Kessler, pressing the action with ill intent, seeking revenge – the fight itself should be just as electrifying, if not more this time, as both of these guys’ are tailor made to fight each other and neither knows how to take a step back nor has any quit in them. And that alone is enough to whet the appetites of anyone tuning in to the fight tomorrow night, who should be in for quite a brutal treat.
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