By Bobby Hunter
It not very often that a fight lives up to expectations. 2013 has been a very good year for great fights with the likes of Bradley-Provodnikov and Rios-Alvarado to name a few. Saturday night at the O2 Arena in London Carl Froch and Mikkel Kessler served up the expected war to match their first fight in Herning Denmark three years ago. This time Froch roared on by a 19 Thousand crowd gained revenge with a hard fought, close but clear victory over the Danish Icon over twelve rounds.
The self styled "Cobra" started fast using his under rated jab to control the first round. Sky Sports PPV stats had Froch landing sixteen jabs in the first to Kesslers one. The second and third round was the same with Froch dominating with the jab but also throwing the odd right to keep Kessler away from him. A great start by the home favourite. Froch in the first fight started slow probably losing the first three rounds, this time determined to learn from his mistakes Froch stayed calm and using that jab but also a high work rate to continually keep the WBA champion from landing anything of note.
Round four was very close. Froch was still landing his jab although the small bursts of combinations used in the first three rounds were now gone as Kessler had managed to get in close. Kessler began to dig the body with hooks. It was the first signs of success for the Dane. Kessler took the fifth and sixth rounds too. Froch was beginning to ship some hurtful looking right hands and the occasion left hooks from the determined Dane. The "Cobra" was staying cool and collected, the jab was still firing but he would need to do something else to change the fight as Kesser was right back in the mix.
Froch began Round seven by stepping forward and being more aggressive. He was now pushing Kessler back with quick combos punctuated with a solid right hand. Kessler fought back as they both traded up close. Right hooks bounced off each other chins as the crowd went crazy. Froch's round due to the aggression. The pattern stayed the same in the eighth as Froch still aggressive went after Kessler. A jab, straight right, left hook bounced off the Dane before Froch took a big right hand back. Froch then retaliated by forcing Kessler to the ropes, he was winning the war of wills now as another huge straight right spread spray across the ring from Kesslers head. The ninth was a quieter round as the IBF champion Froch went back to the jab. Both were still landing their right hands but the two champions seemed to be happy taking a break due to the previous two rounds.
The tenth was also a close round, a pick em round as both had their successes up close. The straight rights were landing by both fighters but Froch was still the guy pushing Kessler back. In fact Froch's leg strength at this point looked superior as when pushed back Kessler looked a little shaky. Round Eleven was a cracker with Froch staring the better landing straight rights and left hooks. The Danish warrior responded with some hurtful body shots before moving up stairs with the left hook. Kessler then hurt Froch with a huge right hand. Froch's solid legs buckled for a few seconds. Kessler went after Froch for thirty seconds trying to end the fight but simply didn't have the energy to finish the job. Froch then showing THAT warriors heart fired back at the Dane forcing him back to the ropes. At this point the crowd were going absolutely nuts.
The last Round must be a "Round of the Year" contender as after a slow first thirty seconds both guys began to trade furiously. Kessler was still faster to land the punches but Froch swallowed them all up and fired back even harder. As both guys were swapping left and right hook a massive right made Kesslers legs buckle before Froch was on him like a rash. Kessler was being battered in the corner by Froch, Referee Pete Podgorski looked like he was going to stop the fight but Kessler again showed defiance by fighting out of the corner making Froch back off and go back to the jab. What a war. The crowd were on their feet as the final bell rang, both WARRIORS were exhausted after such an intense battle. All we needed now was the judges cards.
All three judges scored the fight for the New WBA and IBF champion Carl "The Cobra" Froch by scores of 115-113, 116-112 and a far too wide 118-110. Froch got his revenge and now wants Andre Ward who beat him in the final of the super 6. Kessler left the arena with an offer. Who knows if he will take it? but many would hope that Kessler takes Froch's offer of a "Rubber Match" seriously especially when Froch said that any third fight between them should be on neutral territory. Here's hoping.
It not very often that a fight lives up to expectations. 2013 has been a very good year for great fights with the likes of Bradley-Provodnikov and Rios-Alvarado to name a few. Saturday night at the O2 Arena in London Carl Froch and Mikkel Kessler served up the expected war to match their first fight in Herning Denmark three years ago. This time Froch roared on by a 19 Thousand crowd gained revenge with a hard fought, close but clear victory over the Danish Icon over twelve rounds.
The self styled "Cobra" started fast using his under rated jab to control the first round. Sky Sports PPV stats had Froch landing sixteen jabs in the first to Kesslers one. The second and third round was the same with Froch dominating with the jab but also throwing the odd right to keep Kessler away from him. A great start by the home favourite. Froch in the first fight started slow probably losing the first three rounds, this time determined to learn from his mistakes Froch stayed calm and using that jab but also a high work rate to continually keep the WBA champion from landing anything of note.
Round four was very close. Froch was still landing his jab although the small bursts of combinations used in the first three rounds were now gone as Kessler had managed to get in close. Kessler began to dig the body with hooks. It was the first signs of success for the Dane. Kessler took the fifth and sixth rounds too. Froch was beginning to ship some hurtful looking right hands and the occasion left hooks from the determined Dane. The "Cobra" was staying cool and collected, the jab was still firing but he would need to do something else to change the fight as Kesser was right back in the mix.
Froch began Round seven by stepping forward and being more aggressive. He was now pushing Kessler back with quick combos punctuated with a solid right hand. Kessler fought back as they both traded up close. Right hooks bounced off each other chins as the crowd went crazy. Froch's round due to the aggression. The pattern stayed the same in the eighth as Froch still aggressive went after Kessler. A jab, straight right, left hook bounced off the Dane before Froch took a big right hand back. Froch then retaliated by forcing Kessler to the ropes, he was winning the war of wills now as another huge straight right spread spray across the ring from Kesslers head. The ninth was a quieter round as the IBF champion Froch went back to the jab. Both were still landing their right hands but the two champions seemed to be happy taking a break due to the previous two rounds.
The tenth was also a close round, a pick em round as both had their successes up close. The straight rights were landing by both fighters but Froch was still the guy pushing Kessler back. In fact Froch's leg strength at this point looked superior as when pushed back Kessler looked a little shaky. Round Eleven was a cracker with Froch staring the better landing straight rights and left hooks. The Danish warrior responded with some hurtful body shots before moving up stairs with the left hook. Kessler then hurt Froch with a huge right hand. Froch's solid legs buckled for a few seconds. Kessler went after Froch for thirty seconds trying to end the fight but simply didn't have the energy to finish the job. Froch then showing THAT warriors heart fired back at the Dane forcing him back to the ropes. At this point the crowd were going absolutely nuts.
The last Round must be a "Round of the Year" contender as after a slow first thirty seconds both guys began to trade furiously. Kessler was still faster to land the punches but Froch swallowed them all up and fired back even harder. As both guys were swapping left and right hook a massive right made Kesslers legs buckle before Froch was on him like a rash. Kessler was being battered in the corner by Froch, Referee Pete Podgorski looked like he was going to stop the fight but Kessler again showed defiance by fighting out of the corner making Froch back off and go back to the jab. What a war. The crowd were on their feet as the final bell rang, both WARRIORS were exhausted after such an intense battle. All we needed now was the judges cards.
All three judges scored the fight for the New WBA and IBF champion Carl "The Cobra" Froch by scores of 115-113, 116-112 and a far too wide 118-110. Froch got his revenge and now wants Andre Ward who beat him in the final of the super 6. Kessler left the arena with an offer. Who knows if he will take it? but many would hope that Kessler takes Froch's offer of a "Rubber Match" seriously especially when Froch said that any third fight between them should be on neutral territory. Here's hoping.
Round 1.... 10-9 Froch
Round 2.... 10-9 Froch
Round 3.... 10-9 Froch
Round 4.... 9-10 Kessler
Round 5.... 9-10 Kessler
Round 6.... 9-10 Kessler
Round 7.... 10-9 Froch
Round 8.... 10-9 Froch
Round 9.... 10-9 Froch
Round 10.. 10-9 Froch
Round 11.. 9-10 Kessler
Round 12.. 10-9 Froch
TOTAL : 116-112 Carl Froch
Judges Scores : Carlos Sucre : 116-112 Froch
Jean Francois Toupin : 115-113 Froch
Adalaide Byrd : 118-110 Froch
CARL FROCH WINS BY UNANIMOUS DECISION
Boxing Press , Twitter and the Boxing Forums Scores
Steve Zemach (Queensbury Rules) : 116-112 Froch
Jim Watt (Sky TV) : 116-112 Froch
Phil D Jay (Worldboxingnews.net) : 117-111 Froch
Phil D Jay (Worldboxingnews.net) : 117-111 Froch
Jenna Jay (Ontheropesboxing Radio) : 118-110 Froch
Tommy Allan (BoxingAsylum) : 116-112 Froch
Matt Digi (BoxingAsylum) : 118-111 Froch
Shaun Brown (Boxing-Monthly) : 117-112 Froch
Paddy Cronan (Onthegrindboxing) :115-113 Froch
Paddy Cronan (Onthegrindboxing) :115-113 Froch
Ryan Bivins (Sweetboxing) : 115-115 DRAW
Ben Weisman (BoxingAsylum) : 116-112 Froch
Ciaran Shanks (CardonaldCourier) : 118-113 Froch
Dan Rafael (ESPN) : 117-111 Froch
Harold Lederman (HBO) : 117-111 Froch
Dan Hunter Boxing : 115-113 Froch
Tom Gray (Ring Magazine) : 116-113 Froch
Tom Gray (Ring Magazine) : 116-113 Froch
Lem Satterfield (Ring Magazine) : 117-111 Froch
Brian Campbell (ESPN) : 117-111 Froch
Kieran Mulvaney (ESPN) : 115-113 Froch
Andy Paterson ( BoxingAsylum) : 115-113 Froch
Mike Coppinger (USA Today) : 117-111 Froch
Luis Sandoval (BoxingScene) : 115-113 Froch
Danny Flexen (Boxing News) : 116-113 Froch
Scott Christ (BadleftHook) : 115-113 Froch
Steve Kim (Maxboxing) : 116-112 Froch
George Jimmenez (Boxing Estelar Radio) : 115-113 Froch
ESPN : 117-111 Froch
John Chavez (The Boxing Truth Radio) : 115-113 Froch
Daniel Vano (Cheekhookboxing) : 115-113 Froch
Fight Ghost : 116-112 Froch
David Griesman (Boxingscene) : 117-111 Froch
Victor M Salazar (ThaBoxingVoice) : 116-112 Froch
Paul Daley ( TopClassBoxing) : 115-113 Froch
BoxingOpinions : 116-113 Froch
Ray Markarian (TheSweetScience) : 116-112 Froch
Michael Woods (TheSweetScience): 118-111 Froch
Eric Raskin ( RingTheory Podcast) : 117-111 Froch
Jake Donovan (BoxingScene) : 115-113 Froch
BoxBet PL : 116-112 Froch
Matt Christie (Boxing News) : 117-111 Froch
Corey Quincy (SaddoBoxing) : 115-113 Froch
David Fraser (Saddoboxing Forum) : 116-112 Froch
Anthony Larger (Twtter Fan) : 116-112 Froch
Jim Hardingham (Twitter Fan) ; 116-112 Froch
Joe Silke (Twitter Fan) : 115-113 Froch
Andy Neill (Twitter Fan ) : 115-113 Froch
Boxing Jem (Twitter Fan) : 115-112 Froch
Steve C (Twitter Fan) : 116-112 Froch
Izzy Ironic (Twiter Fan) : 116-112 Froch
Matt Andrejewski (Twitter Fan) : 115-113 Froch
Spartan Paddy ( Twitter Fan) : 117-111 Froch
Will Backhouse (Twitter Fan ) : 115-113 Froch
Cole Christensen (Twitter Fan) : 116-112 Froch
Miguel Rodriguez (Twitter Fan) : 114-114 DRAW
Markus Vibe ( Twitter Fan) : 116-112 Froch
Gee Force (Twitter Fan) : 115-114 Froch
John Hoolan (Twitter Fan) : 115-113 Froch
Saddo Boxing Forum (All for Froch) 115-113 x6, 116-112 x2, 116-113, 117-112 , *114-114 DRAW*
Boxing Asylum Forum (All For Froch) 116-112 x6, 118-111, 115-113
Fighthype Forum (All for Froch) 116-112 x2, 115-113 x2, 116-115
FightJudge Forum (All for Froch) 1117-111 x3, 116-114, 115-113, 117-112, 119-109
Doghouse Forum (All For Froch) 116-113 x3, 118-110 , ***115-114 KESSLER***
TheSweetScience Forum - 117-111 Froch
Boxrec Forum (All for Froch) 115-113 x4, 116-114 x3, 116-112 x2, 117-112, 116-113, 117-111 x2
(All Draws) *114-114 x3, 115-115
Eastsideboxing Forum (All for Froch) 115-113 x23, 116-112 x8, 117-111 x6, 115-114 x4, 116-113 x2
117-112
(All Draws) *114-114 x7* , ****115-113 KESSLER****
Boxingscene Forum (All for Froch) 115-113 x12, 116-112 x7, 117-111 x2, 116-113 x2, 115-114
*114-114* DRAW, ***115-113 KESSLER***
Checkhook Forum (All for Froch) 116-113 x4, 115-113, 117-113
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