Robert Stieglitz vs Mikkel Kessler Fight Close to Done

by Scott Christ on Jul 10, 2011 4:02 PM EDT in Boxing News Analysis

Mikkel Kessler is close to landing a title fight at 168 pounds. (Photo by John Gichigi/Getty Images)

The rumored fight between WBO super middleweight titlist Robert Stieglitz and Mikkel Kessler is close to done. Kessler is currently the mandatory contender to Stieglitz's belt, a standing he earned with a win over mismatched Mehdi Bouadla in June. After that win, Kessler's team asked the WBO to install him as Stieglitz's mandatory, and they obliged.

Kessler (44-2, 33 KO) would be a pretty healthy favorite against Stieglitz (40-2, 23 KO), but Stieglitz has looked better since a 2008 loss to Librado Andrade, his last defeat. Kessler, 32, only has losses to one-time division ruler Joe Calzaghe and current arguable top dog Andre Ward, and has several wins over fighters on Stieglitz's level.

All in all, I think you can chalk all of this up to a pretty predictable move. Kessler could have gone to Montreal and fought IBF titlist Lucian Bute, who is much better than Stieglitz, but Sauerland and Kessler were reportedly not happy with the money offer for that fight, and then began looking into the Stieglitz bout, which apparently is being made without much issue.

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Comments

..say goodbye to the next belt, Germany!

I can’t really see how Stieglitz could be tough enough for Kessler in the end, too. He probably won’t have a “bonus on the cards” either as both are Sauerland-fighters.

At least he’s prepared for a tough and dirty battle by his last bought against Khoren Gevor. And you couldn’t really tell about the level Kessler is back on by his last fight.

Anyway, I think this one will be fun to watch. Might be a bit dirty and contain quite a lot of holding, but there should be plenty of action, too, and I don’t think that it’s a complete mismatch.

"Sure, there have been injuries and deaths in boxing – but none of them serious." Alan Minter

by DrHenrik on Jul 10, 2011 4:35 PM EDT reply actions

I think it’s a fine fight.

Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."

by Scott Christ on Jul 10, 2011 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Any rumors where the fight will be held?

by DPlainview on Jul 10, 2011 6:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Fall. But then you probably knew that since summer is pretty much set on the schedule. Haven’t heard a specific date.

Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."

by Scott Christ on Jul 10, 2011 6:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Hmmm. Copenhagen, Berlin or Hamburg would make sense imo.

"Sure, there have been injuries and deaths in boxing – but none of them serious." Alan Minter

by DrHenrik on Jul 11, 2011 2:23 AM EDT up reply actions

This fight is a win win really. If Kessler wins we get the other ‘major’ belt in play as Kessler will then chase the big fights. And if stieglitz wins he then becomes a bigger fighter and even if i believe he will go back to easy defences he will be more worthy. Along with the dodgy decisions we have seen something that needs to change in boxing is how fighters like stieglitz can milk a title. This fight only came about because kessler lobbied the WBO, If not stieglitz would have turned down any other from kessler, even all the money, win or lose.

by ud4ottke on Jul 10, 2011 5:26 PM EDT reply actions