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Mikkel Kessler made short work of Brian Magee today in Herning, Denmark, stopping the rugged Irishman in the third round to win the WBA "regular" super middleweight title, Kessler's fourth major title in the division.
Kessler (46-2, 35 KO) looked quicker out of the gate, as expected, then dropped Magee (36-5-1, 25 KO) on a body shot early in the second round. Magee somehow got up, but when Kessler landed again to the body later in the round, it twice doubled Magee over, and the second time he had to turn his back and eventually take a knee.
In the third, there was no time wasted by the Danishman, as he dropped Magee again on a body shot. The referee started a count, but wisely abandoned it, calling a halt to the contest. It was a powerful showing from Kessler, who now expects to target a rematch with Carl Froch if he can land it (if Lucian Bute doesn't exercise his option with Froch, more or less), or perhaps an eventual rematch with Andre Ward.
Our live coverage of this big day in boxing continues at 9 pm EST with the Pacquiao-Marquez IV card.