Froch wary of Kessler threat

Froch: Wary of Kessler

Carl's the consummate professional and he knows Kessler is never going to be more dangerous in his whole career than he will be in their fight in Herning.

Mick Hennessy
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Carl Froch will face Mikkel Kessler at his most dangerous when he defends his WBC super-middleweight title next month, according to promoter Mick Hennessy.

Undefeated Nottingham fighter Froch will meet Kessler on the Dane's home soil at the MCH Arena in Herning on April 24 in both fighters' second bout of the 168-pound division's Super Six Boxing Classic tournament.

Froch edged a split decision victory against American Andre Dirrell in his opening contest at the Trent Arena in his hometown last October to expand his record to 26-0 with 20 knockouts and make a bright start to his Super Six campaign.

Defeat

Kessler enters the clash on the back of his defeat to American Andre Ward, marking the second loss of his 44-fight career after falling to Joe Calzaghe in 2007.

And Froch's promoter Hennessy insists his recent defeat will make Kessler all the more hungry for a win.

"Carl's the consummate professional and he knows Kessler is never going to be more dangerous in his whole career than he will be in their fight in Herning," said Hennessy.

"(Kessler's) lost everything and if he loses this fight his career's at stake and he's out of the Super Six.

"So we're expecting the very best Kessler that there's ever been. A hungry Kessler, not the one who's been champion for many years."

Hennessy says the same principal applies to Froch's third Super Six opponent, Arthur Abraham, whose unbeaten record was ended last Saturday night in Detroit when he was disqualified for a late punch on Dirrell after the American had slipped in the ring.

"It's the same with Arthur Abraham, being on the end of his first defeat," added Hennessy.

"Boxing-wise he was way behind and the thing about these fighters, they've got warrior mentalities and when something like that happens, if you underestimate them you've got to be crackers. They'll be coming back better and stronger."

The first four fights of the Super Six have seen the hometown fighter hold the advantage, but Hennessy is confident Froch can escape that trend and triumph in Herning, just as he did with his stoppage of Jermain Taylor on his second visit to America last April.

Lessons

"You know the score with Carl," Hennessy said. "He's well travelled now and it doesn't get any harder than it was with Jermain Taylor in Connecticut.

"He learned quite a few valuable lessons from that experience and if anything I feel the pressure's off him because when Carl's in Nottingham he really worries and cares about his fans and everything's going on, whereas now he's going to Denmark and he just has to focus on the fight.

"I know how good Carl Froch is and that will become more and more apparent as this tournament goes on. I know how special he is."