Kessler vs Pavlik

[korey1980]

This would be a very interesting fight. In all honesty, I think if it happens, it would be one of the most exciting fights of the year. According to fightnews.com, both camps are showing inerest in the fight. I hope it can be made. Who would you guys pick to win?

[warp]

Screw Pavlik going to 168. I want him to stay at 160 for a while.

Pavlik would win by a close UD.

[Chadness]

Right now... I lean towards Pavlik taking the late come from behind KO where it's a matter of Kessler running out of gas and falling over every time he gets touched. Pavlik is tailor made for Kessler, though. It's just a matter of if Kessler can KO/weaken him before the 8th.

[korey1980]

Right now... I lean towards Pavlik taking the late come from behind KO where it's a matter of Kessler running out of gas and falling over every time he gets touched. Pavlik is tailor made for Kessler, though. It's just a matter of if Kessler can KO/weaken him before the 8th.

They remind me alot of each other. I think Kessler throws a little straighter shot than Pavlik. Power wise I think they are about even, Pavlik might have a slight edge, but I'm not sure. I'm going with Kessler by 7th rd tko. He is the naturally bigger fighter, and I dont think Pavlik can ko him unless he rakes him with 3-4 straight right hands in a row. This will be a good fight. If Pavlik wins by chance, he should beg Calzaghe for a fight(if he gets by Jones)

[Chadness]

Pavlik hits much harder than Kessler. Kessler has a ton of advantages but not there. No in stamina or the jab, either. Those are all things that create late round knockouts. Unless Pavlik is forced into a weak state then Kessler will get tired allowed Pavliks jab to become a constant weapon. This will make Kesslers mind shut down and feel overwhelmed as Pavlik is allowed to come on. Then physically Kessler can't keep him off and Pavlik has the power to finish.

Most important factors for Kessler: Much better boxer, faster, more athletic, natural counterpuncher and better technique.

These make Pavlik into a giant target for a good 6 rounds or more. It's just that Kessler couldn't even keep his (excellent) jab going against Calzaghe despite Calzaghe not having anything close to the sledgehammer Pavlik jams in your face. This led to Calzaghe taking over late because the difference of the jab late made for a huge shift in Kesslers technical ability. Gotta think Pavliks will discourage him too. Kessler is only a better boxer than Pavlik if his jab is going. A mid range power puncher without a jab is just a guy winging shots. A guy winging shots is going to get beaten down brutally by Pavliks range and workrate.

[Goodfella2279]

It's an interesting fight. I'm picking Kelly Pavlik, though, by UD. Kessler is a very good fighter with good power, but Pavlik's jab is going to be the difference in this fight. Kessler is going to have trouble setting stuff up with Pavlik's jab in his face all night and may walk into a few right hands. That being said, I see Kessler putting up a good fight and Kessler has a pretty good chin, so I don't think he's gonna get knocked out. But with Pavlik working from the outside, Kessler is going to have all sorts of problems figuring Pavlik out and would lose, in my opinion. Good fight though. If Calzaghe vs. Pavlik can't happen, then either this or Pavlik vs. winner of Abraham vs. Miranda is a pretty good consolation prize.

[korey1980]

It's an interesting fight. I'm picking Kelly Pavlik, though, by UD. Kessler is a very good fighter with good power, but Pavlik's jab is going to be the difference in this fight. Kessler is going to have trouble setting stuff up with Pavlik's jab in his face all night and may walk into a few right hands. That being said, I see Kessler putting up a good fight and Kessler has a pretty good chin, so I don't think he's gonna get knocked out. But with Pavlik working from the outside, Kessler is going to have all sorts of problems figuring Pavlik out and would lose, in my opinion. Good fight though. If Calzaghe vs. Pavlik can't happen, then either this or Pavlik vs. winner of Abraham vs. Miranda is a pretty good consolation prize.

I think Kessler has the better jab actually. This is a pickem fight, and very hard to predict. I just see Pavlik trying to outbox Kessler, and it blowing up in his face. Hard to pick a winner, cuz Pavlik only fought once at supermiddle and it was against another middleweight(Taylor), so its hard to meassure how much success he will have with a true supermiddle, that has been fighting at that weight his whole career(40 fights). I dont know

[Goodfella2279]

Good point. We don't totally know how Pavlik's power will translate at super middle, and the fact that he is facing a true super middle makes the fight a bit more even. I still think Pavlik will have a huge punch at the new division, but Kessler has a big punch also and has campaigned at Super Middleweight for a while. Interesting fight that I hope happens at some point.

[korey1980]

Good point. We don't totally know how Pavlik's power will translate at super middle, and the fact that he is facing a true super middle makes the fight a bit more even. I still think Pavlik will have a huge punch at the new division, but Kessler has a big punch also and has campaigned at Super Middleweight for a while. Interesting fight that I hope happens at some point.

Me too, this fight is definitely more interesting than Pavlik-Hopkins.

[Charlie Murphy]

Kessler would win without a doubt, he's a much better boxer plus he has good power to go with it, Kessler by UD 116-112.

[korey1980]

Kessler would win without a doubt, he's a much better boxer plus he has good power to go with it, Kessler by UD 116-112.

This fight is bound to happen if Kessler stays at supermiddle for awhile longer. I dont see anyone posing much of a threat to him now that Joe is gone. Carl Froch is getting some hype, but I havent seen him fight, so I cant comment on him being a legitimate threat. Kessler is a great fighter, and I would mind seing him fight any top light heavies, super middles, or blown up middleweights. I think he could be the top guy the future.

[Charlie Murphy]

Exactly Korey, Kessler really is a great fighter (I'd go as far as saying that he could end up being in the HOF) which is why I give Joe Calzaghe huge props for beating him like he did, I mean, it would've been impressive if he beat him in a close fight, but he didn't, he won 9 rounds of the fight on my scorecard, extremely impressive :thumbsup:

Kessler is definitely the #1 guy at 168 now, I think he'd beat anyone there, and when Joe retires, he'll beat anyone at 175 imo, if he decides to move up that is.

Kessler vs Dawson, I would LOVE to see that fight.

[korey1980]

Exactly Korey, Kessler really is a great fighter (I'd go as far as saying that he could end up being in the HOF) which is why I give Joe Calzaghe huge props for beating him like he did, I mean, it would've been impressive if he beat him in a close fight, but he didn't, he won 9 rounds of the fight on my scorecard, extremely impressive :thumbsup:

Kessler is definitely the #1 guy at 168 now, I think he'd beat anyone there, and when Joe retires, he'll beat anyone at 175 imo, if he decides to move up that is.

Kessler vs Dawson, I would LOVE to see that fight.

Agreed. Kessler is great, I just wish he would start seeing more of him over here(US). Once old man Jones retires, Kessler will become my fave fighter. I wish he wouldve gotten into the ring with Miranda when Edison was talking all the **** about him. He wouldve trounced his worse than Pavlik or Abraham. I think the loss to Joe was beneficial experience wise. I bet he doesnt lose again til he's past his prime. And yeah Dawson vs Kessler would be great, and will probably happen after Jones, Johnson, and Taver retire, which should happen soon.

[King-Of-Kings]

Exactly Korey, Kessler really is a great fighter (I'd go as far as saying that he could end up being in the HOF) which is why I give Joe Calzaghe huge props for beating him like he did, I mean, it would've been impressive if he beat him in a close fight, but he didn't, he won 9 rounds of the fight on my scorecard, extremely impressive :thumbsup:

Kessler is definitely the #1 guy at 168 now, I think he'd beat anyone there, and when Joe retires, he'll beat anyone at 175 imo, if he decides to move up that is.

Kessler vs Dawson, I would LOVE to see that fight.

he would beat anybody at 175? Think again ....dawson and johnson would beat him .

[korey1980]

he would beat anybody at 175? Think again ....dawson and johnson would beat him .

I doubt it, Dawson's chin is questionable, and Johnson's days are numbered, as well as Jones(hopefully) and Tarver.