Mikkel Kessler Says: "Andre Ward Was The Better Man"

[speedgsx98]

I've been watching Ward for several years now and have been impressed. I never thought Mikkel should have been the favorite coming into last night. Yeah, a bit frustrated by the head butts, but they were more a result of a clash of styles...or the way the fight was playing out. Kessler was walking Ward down, forcing Ward to retreat back, then lunge/dive in to punch. I will say that the ref was frustrating me from the beginning. Ordering everyone out of the ring at the start of the fight...c'mon, people know how to get out of the ring on their own, and always do. I don't know what he was trying to prove? Anyway, yeah, he was telling them to stop, and his orders to the fighters made it very unclear at every clinch. I think Mikkel has an honest gripe with the way the fight was referree'd, as do we the fans. That ref shouldn't ref another fight until he gets retrained. "Stop" is not a good command for a ref to use, as it could be interpreted as stop punching, stop holding, etc. When a ref wants to break, he needs to yell break, and slide in with one arm between the fighters, then pry them apart, spread 'em, then motion for them to come together again. However, it wouldn't have changed the outcome. Hopefully we get to see a rematch of this fight. But regardless, loving Showtime for putting this tournament together. And those were some nasty cuts for Mikkel. Hopefully they can heal up well so they don't become an issue later in the tournament.

As far as my favorite refs, Laurence Cole and Kenny Bayless are my fav's. Joe Cortez is one I def don't like. Too active, too noticeable in the ring. He ruined the Hatton/Mayweather fight IMO.

[GameBullDawg]

All of a sudden you can be old in the ring ! It happens to Boxers before it happens to sluggers, as they depend on certain qualities that go with there style that demands precision.

Mayweather will be 33 years old when he and Pacmang fight. You should be thinking about that ! YoreMangWeather is getting OLD !!!!! He showed us he is slowing abit in his last massacre of the little mang JMM. He can get old just like Kessler. Isn't boxing Funnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn !!!!!!!!!!!

Pac's right in the pure begining of his prime !!!!!!!!!!!!

Gonnnnnnnnaaaaa be gooooooooooooooooooood !!!!

[goldenglove2]

First it was the "holding," then the headbutts, and now ring rust. Stop the excuses and admit that Kessler got whipped by a better man.

why was the fight stopped again?

[WESS]

Kessler will still embarrass Froch....

[Boxer1590]

Kessler says Ward was the better man, and then he makes a ton of excuses right after.

[mathed]

Kess looked like he had never been in a ring before, he was unsure, unwilling to engage, and very slow and off balance. Not the same fighter I had seen before that's for sure.

[!! Shawn]

Ward was the better man, which is why the constant headbutt's was entirely pointless and a disgrace.

Thats the point I have tried to make a few times. Ward was perfectly capable of winning without the dirty tricks, so it was distasteful to see him doing them anyways.

They may have been "accidental" headbutts, but he definitely wasn't trying to avoid the accidents.

I mean for ****s sake, even my girl who knows **** about boxing was like "isn't it against the rules for that one guy to headbutt the other guy?"

So its not like they were subtle headbutts.

With all that said. I was incredibly impressed by the craft Ward plied in this fight. He showed guile and ring savy far beyond his years.

I have never been impressed with Ward, but last night he made me a believer.

[!! Shawn]

Kessler says Ward was the better man, and then he makes a ton of excuses right after.

Its hardly making an excuse when you are headbutt so frequently and so badly that you get cut over both eyes, under one eye, and the fight is stopped due to cuts caused by a headbutts.

Ward was the better man, but the Ref really didn't give Kessler a fare shake at getting into the fight.

[CottoOverrated1]

Kessler fans are soooo butt hurt. guys, kessler wouldnt have beaten paul williams the middleweight last night. paul would have worn him down nasty on the inside. ward bent kess ler over and took him to the toolshed.

[Monkz]

You're a fan of the OAKLAND Raiders, who's from Ireland, and likes Kessler?? WTF.

Anyways, good thing he admitted to it, or else he would've looked like the Danish Douche for crying about basically not being able to counter or fight on the inside.

Yup, been a fan of the Raiders for about 5 years now, Kessler is one of many fighters I like and it's Northern Ireland yank.