Kessler Withdraws from Super Six

I have no idea what they are going to do now. I personally think the only and best option is to make Ward v Dirrell and Abraham v Froch semi finals...

Team Sauerland regrets to inform the boxing worldthat WBC Super Middleweight Champion Mikkel Kessler has been forced to pull out of the SuperSix World Boxing Classic due to an eye injury. His title defence against Allan Green in Herning, Denmark on September 25 has been cancelled..

“This is the most disappointing moment of my boxing career,” Kessler said. “After defeating Carl Froch, I was on the way to win the tournament, so pulling out now really hurts. The eye problem has bothered me since the beginning of the Super Six in my preparation for the bout against Andre Ward. It also bothered me in the fights against Ward and Froch, and in my training for the fight against Green it has become unbearable. I have consulted leading experts in Denmark and Germany and they have advised me to take a break from boxing so that the problem can heal. I have been assured that it will heal completely and that I will be back in the ring next year. As a fair sportsman, I do not want to delay the Super Six, which is still the best thing that has happened to boxing for a long time. I wish my fellow contestants the best of luck - may the best man win. I will be there to fight the winner in 2011.”

SHOWTIME Sports Executive Vice President Ken Hershman expresses his disappointment for Kessler but assures the boxing fans around the world that the tournament will go on.

“I commend Mikkel Kessler for his decision,” said Hershman. “He has made a wise choice in light of his doctors’ recommendations and he is showing tremendous respect for his fellow competitors and for the tournament format itself.

“We will publicly address how this turn of events affects the tournament in the coming days. I assure you we will make the best of this scenario. In fact, I have been aware of Mikkel’s situation for a few days and I have a vision for how we can proceed that will enhance the excitement of the tournament. First, I must have some internal discussions but mark my words, the drama of the Super Six will be unrelenting and we will crown a champion in the early part of 2011.”

Promoter Kalle Sauerland said Kessler did “absolutely the right thing.” He stated: “You can recover from losing in the ring but you cannot recover from losing your health. There is nothing that is of bigger importance than the boxer´s health. As much as we regret to see Mikkel pulling out, he was left with no other choice. He should take all the time in the world to recover. He can take comfort in the fact that he looked reborn in his last bout. Once he is recovered, he will continue where he left off. The Viking Warrior will be back.”

Added Team Sauerland General Manager Chris Meyer. “We are saddened to see Mikkel pulling out but his health is more important than anything he could win inside the ring. The WBC will probably make him “champion emeritus” so that he can fight against the reigning champion once he is ready to come back.”

Highly-reputed eye specialist Professor Dr. med Gerhard Lang, who is the Director of the Eye Hospital at Universitätsklinikum Ulm and also served as the 2010 World Ophthalmology Congress

President, examined Kessler and believes a proper rest is all the “Viking Warrior” needs. “Mikkel said he has been bothered by problems with his vision during the fights against Ward and Froch as well as in the training in the build-up to these fights. There is a weakness of the superior oblique muscle of his left eye. To continue boxing, the muscle needs a proper rest, meaning no fighting or sparring for nine months. After this break, a complete recovery is expected.”

Danno I believe Froch v AA is still happening and it will now be for the Vacant WBC belt. I will be playing HUGE now on Auther Abraham.

Ward v Dirrell I personally haven't a clue whats going to happen there. They won't be fighting on the 25th that I know. Maybe Dirrell fights against Green and winner fights Ward. That would be silly and messes up all the dates. Showtime and going to be working like nuts behind the scenes

Hey Mack you were preaching patience in another thread right?

Then you probably don't mind waiting another week to get your money. The following week is Lucian Bute vs Jesse Brinkley. You should definately parlay because Bute is a sure bet if I ever saw one.

Mafo I mean if the WBC belt is on the line. I haven't played yet and won't until I know something is on the line here..

According to Steve Kim, Showtime will most likely make the 4 fighters left Abraham-Froch, Ward-Dirrell the semi-finals

Everything I've read has indicated that Showtime are the only people around who don't realize that Ward/Dirrell is going to be near impossible to make.

From Dan Rafael's chat today:

Steve (Sac,Ca)

Dan, when do you expect the wars/dirrell fight to be announced as postponed?

Dan Rafael

  (12:12 PM)

I don't know but I do know it's not happening Sept. 25. From what I am told by good sources both camps are trying to get out of the fight and Showtime is threatening legal action because if the fight does not come off, the tournament goes down the drain.

Good job by Showtime to threaten legal action. Andre Ward recently stated he would still need a full 8 weeks of training to be ready to fight Dirrell.

I say "Why the F*#K are you not training right now?"

although I am not a fan of andre ward he is so much better than these guys its like the lakers playing a D league team, ward vs bute is a fight that I would like to see and as soon as ward gets done with this super 6 bullshit, I think it will happen

Boxing history has shown us a LOAD of boxers who look like a million bucks until they fight someone faster than them. Dirrell is faster than Ward with a good enough boxing IQ. Some might question Dirrell's heart but now that the fight is officially a "semi-final bout" the extra motivation can make Dirrell more of a warrior.

I think this fight will be even after 8 rounds with Ward winning almost all of the late rounds for a unanimous dec.

The fight is a no-play for me, but I might make a few "throwaway" parlay bets on Dirrell when the official date is announced.

Dirrel has definitely shown in the past that he's a little bit of a punk, but I seriously think he's beginning to grow in confidence. Even though Dirrell thought he won his fight with Froch, he aknowledged that his workrate was too low, and he turned it up in his next fight against a more dangerous puncher. Abraham began to turn up the heat on Dirrell in the 9nth round of their fight but Dirrell had the winner's mentality of throwing hard counters in between Abraham's punches. That takes some balls to do that against a fighter with fast and powerful hands.

Another point is that Dirrell was at the Ward-Green fight and when Dirrell was interviewed after the fight he said that to beat Ward you have to get off first. Don't let him dictate the action. I like that mentality. Ward is a sharp puncher but he doesn't have the BRUTAL power that Abraham did. I'd go as far to say that Dirrell has more one-punch power than Ward.

when I said "might make Dirrell more of a warrior" I didn't mean he'd change his whole fighting style. What I mean is his willingnes to stick to whatever gameplan he has to win and not go into pure defensive mode. His fight with Ward is a title fight and also a "semi-final" fight. I don't expect Dirrell to go into survival mode unless he gets seriously ROCKED.

As I stated before, I think Ward is going to win, but I wouldn't bet this one too big. Most people like Ward by dec (I do too), but Dirrell has shown chin problems in the past - and who knows what his punch resistance is like after the severe concussion Abraham gave him.