Super Six Super Middleweight Tournament: Andre Ward vs. Mikkel Kessler

The main matchup in the Super Middleweight tournament is the main attraction in Europe Mikkel Kessler vs California's own Andre Ward. This highly anticipated matchup will take place in November a month after the other matchups in the tournament. People are looking forward to this matchup because 1) Kessler is considered the linear champion in the super middleweight division 2) Andre Ward is the last United States Olympic boxer to win a gold medal in the Olympics and 3) Kessler hasnt been tested against quality United States competition and Ward hasnt been tested by championship caliber opponents. Andre Ward is a great overall boxer he moves in and out likes to circle around the ring, and make his opponent come after him so he can counter. Sometimes Ward has a problem with being lazy with his punches and getting caught. Kessler is a great boxer as well. His defense is underrated and very automatic. He throws his punches and puts his hand up to protect his face right after its kind of a habit for him. Kessler has experience fighting perhaps one of the best super middleweights of all time in Joe Calzaghe though coming up short Calzaghe stated he was one of the hardest opponenets he had ever faced. Problems with promoters and management has kept Kessler out of the ring for almost a year. Andre Ward has been in the ring twice this year and will return on September 12th for a tuneup. He's coming off of an impressive victory over Edison Miranda, a fight that nobody thought he had little to no chance of winning where his chin was tested. He easily outclassed Miranda and made him look bad in that matchup. The fact that Ward has been busy fighting, and in less than a year this is his 5th match this will be an adavantage in favor of Ward. He will be fresh, his punches will be crisp, he will be able to move and not have any ring rust. Kessler is fighting on the 12th as well against a mandatory. I dont think that fight will help with any ring rust Kessler may have due to the fact that Perdomo isnt the best opposition for him. I think this will be a close matchup with it taking a while for Kessler to adjust to Ward's style, and Ward dominating the entire first part of the matchup. But one major problem is this matchup is in Europe. Kessler will win this match unanimous decision. The only way for Ward to win is to not get hit at all but no fighters perfect and his defense is ok on the outside but on the inside its not so great. Kessler unanimous decision