Carl Froch def. Mikkel Kessler via unanimous decision (116-112, 115-113, 118-110)
This weekend, HBO World Championship Boxing presented an exciting rematch as Carl Froch and Mikkel Kessler met in London, England. It was Kessler who took the decision win in their first outing - a 2010 classic. This time, Froch evened the odds, scoring his own decision win. Along the way, the men turned in another fantastic battle.
One of the things that makes the Froch vs. Kessler match-up so interesting is the way in both fights the two men truly go to war, but in a very technical way. These fights are not Brandon Rios and Mike Alvarado throwing bombs, but they also are not Nonito Donaire and Guillermo Rigondeaux engaging in a somewhat emotionless battle of technique. Froch and Kessler have twice now found a middle ground that delivers high quality action that should appeal to everyone. It's a great pair of fights, and if it becomes a trilogy, I can't imagine anyone will complain.
With the win, Froch cements himself as a serious star. His promoter says this makes him an "all-time great" and while I wouldn't quite go that far, it definitely puts him at a high level. He has the potential to be a real draw next time out, though you have to question who will find himself across the ring from Froch next time. The name that is most discussed right now is division #1 Andre Ward, though Ward already holds a win over Froch, and would remain heavily favored in a rematch. Kessler #3 is an obvious option, and there have been some minor rumblings of Froch moving up to meet Bernard Hopkins.
Whatever is next for Froch (and Kessler for that matter), this was definitely a great fight, a great win for the Englishman, and a great night of boxing. Check out the replay if you can.
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