Mikkel Kessler Gets Home Field for November 5 Fight with Robert Stieglitz

Sauerland Event sent out a press release today with a finalized date and location for a bout between their fighter, Mikkel Kessler, and WBO super middleweight titlist Robert Stieglitz. Kessler will have home field advantage in Copenhagen on November 5.

Kessler (44-2, 33 KO) is getting the advantage in location, of course, because he's a strong draw in Denmark both at the gate and on television, where his fights draw a huge share of the audience. He returned to the ring on June 4 with an easy win over France's Mehdi Bouadla, after pulling out of the Super Six World Boxing Classic last year with an eye injury that required surgery. Right now, he's in a solid position again in the division, as he's being given a title shot in a fight where he'll be heavily favored, and is among the most bankable and notable names at the weight.

Stieglitz (40-2, 23 KO) is a solid, respectable fighter, but has no wins near the level of an opponent such as Kessler. They have a common opponent in Librado Andrade. In March 2007, Kessler battered Andrade relentlessly over 12 rounds. A year later, Andrade broke down Stieglitz and stopped him in the eighth frame, in a fight that I thought was fairly competitive, but did kind of present what I feel is the class differential between Kessler and Stieglitz.

If Kessler does beat Stieglitz as expected, it's anyone's guess as to what he'd do next. There would be great fights for him out there with Lucian Bute, the winner of the Super Six, or even a rematch with Carl Froch should Froch lose the Super Six final to Andre Ward on October 29. But he could also, at age 32, simply stick to home fights where he makes money and doesn't have to fight truly top-flight opponents to do so.

There is also no word yet on possible television in the United States, though Showtime may well pair a tape-delay replay of the bout that evening, paired with Lucian Bute's return to the ring, which is set to air live against an opponent to be determined.