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Carl Froch and Mikkel Kessler agree rematch in UK in May

Last updated on .From the section Boxingcomments61

Carl Froch and Mikkel Kessler have agreed terms for a rematch, to take place in the United Kingdom in May.

Froch said he was leaning towards Saturday 25 May as the date, while last week the BBC learned London's O2external-link had been pencilled in as the venue.

Nottingham's three-time world super-middleweight champion Froch was outpointed by Kessler in 2010.

"I feared Kessler had second thoughts about his promise but the man has come good on his word," said Froch.

"Our first fight was pure warfare. We went at each other for every minute of every round and the rematch promises to be even more fiercely contested.

"I seriously wish I was ringside myself for this fight because I'm gunning for revenge at all costs and the fight fans are in for a real treat."

In taking the fight against his Danish rival, Froch is likely to be stripped of his IBF title after the governing body ordered Froch to defend his title against Canadian Adonis Stevenson.

Kessler, 33, is the WBA's 'world' champion which ostensibly would give Froch, 35, the chance to become a four-time world champion.

However, American Andre Ward is the WBA's 'super' champion, meaning Froch-Kessler II would not be for a world title in the strictest sense.

Kessler said: "Since that first fight, I have become even stronger. I am fresh, I am healthy and I am ready to defeat him once again.

"I don't care where we fight, I said any time, anywhere. I plan to make my loyal Viking fans, as well as everybody else in Denmark, very proud once again. I am ready for war."

Froch said he had never felt so motivated for a fight, adding: "If Mikkel thinks he saw the best of me in Denmark then he is in for a rude awakening."

Froch became a three-time world champion with a brutal fifth-round stoppage of Lucian Bute in May and defended his crown with a third-round stoppage of Yusaf Mack in November.

The Kessler defeat is one of only two on his record, the other being a points defeat by Ward in 2011.

Kessler's last fight was a third-round stoppage of Northern Ireland's Brian Magee in December and he, too, has only been beaten twice, by Ward and Welsh legend Joe Calzaghe.

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61 comments

  • Comment posted by yorkshire_blogster, at 12:13 15 Jan 2013

    Froch trying to put right the two losses on his record, and fair play to them both for setting up a fight the public want to see instead of fighting the IBF contender.

    Should be a different kettle of fish over in UK, I believe Froch is at his peak and confidence is high after his battering of Bute. His last dozen fights have been against world class opponents.

    Heres to a win and a Ward rematch

  • Comment posted by I Miss That Shed, at 13:07 15 Jan 2013

    "We're having some problems rating this comment at the moment. Sorry. We're doing our best to fix it."

    It may be 2013 but some things never change...

  • Comment posted by yomi, at 17:18 15 Jan 2013

    SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY!
    (... and give me a ticket in exchange).

    Hard to see one this not being FOTY.
    Exciting times!

  • Comment posted by gkneil, at 12:13 15 Jan 2013

    Great news, this could be a FOTY candidate. Props to Kessler for agreeing to come to the UK for the rematch. Two true warriors who will give the people a great show.

  • Comment posted by Inmyopinion, at 13:18 16 Jan 2013

    @45, who has Stevenson fought? Bute did the ducking and why wouldnt he? He was absolutely monstered by Froch last time and it would be more of the same if they fought again. A rematch makes no sense for Froch vs Bute as he has nothing to prove but he always said he would honour the clause of held to it.

  • Comment posted by U14995855, at 13:11 15 Jan 2013

    Great news and Froch will avenge the defeat by Kessler...dodgy result in the first place. Froch is a revitalised fighter, whereas I see Kessler on the wain...and agree that Ward is in a different class than BOTH these fighters...best P4P in the world right now...

  • Comment posted by I Miss That Shed, at 12:56 15 Jan 2013

    This will be a tough one to call. I'm going to back Froch with home advantage but whoever wins it should be a great fight.

    On a negative note though, this will definitely not be a world title fight as far as i'm concerned. The WBA having a champion/super champion is a complete farce - makes me angry just thinking about it!

  • Comment posted by 4dam, at 12:17 15 Jan 2013

    Should be a trememndous fight and I think Froch has improved while Kessler may have declined with his injuries. These are the the next best 2 SMWs behind Ward and makes perfect sense for the winner to fight Ward.

    Then the winner of that to fight Calzaghe!! - sorry got carried away...

  • Comment posted by Midas_child, at 12:11 15 Jan 2013

    Big fight to look forward to and one that could be a barn stormer. Guess Bute has definitely decided he didn't fancy another go with Froch. Shame if Froch does lose his IBF belt in taking this fight surely any organisation would recognise Kessler as a strong defence than Adonis Stevenson.

  • Comment posted by Freddie Roach Ate My Hamster, at 20:02 17 Jan 2013

    Every time I've seen Froch mentioning Joe (or Amir Khan, who he has been accused of being jealous of) in the past couple of years it's been as an answer to a journalist's question. They know it will make them a minor headline.

  • Comment posted by Bomber, at 17:44 17 Jan 2013

    @57 Of course he mentions Calzaghe. He tries to rubbish Joe's win by claiming Kessler had a broken hand. Carl knows he's not in Joe's class, as indeed does everyone else. His constant whinging is why he doesn't have a fan base outside of Nottingham. He could, and should, be our biggest box office star. Instead he's a laughing stock every time he opens his mouth. I'll be at the fight though!

  • Comment posted by U15504648, at 14:18 17 Jan 2013

    Biggest UK fight in 10 years? I think Calzaghe v Kessler was bigger for the undisputed SMW strap surely? Both undefeated and 60 odd thousand in attendance.

  • Comment posted by Freddie Roach Ate My Hamster, at 23:55 16 Jan 2013

    Kind of related to this, even though this could build the winner up to a rematch with Andre Ward, it's not certain. Having humbled BadChad, Ward could make massive money against JCC jr, Martinez or any big name Light Heavies. Beating Martinez could propel him up the P4P lists. He probably will fight the winner of this fight but his options from MW - LH are wide open.

  • Comment posted by Riggadon, at 18:58 16 Jan 2013

    42.
    Bear7657
    10 Hours ago

    I think Froch should drop the Calzaghe thing now
    -----

    Froch does'nt have a "thing" with Calzaghe, Calzaghe's fanboys have a thing with Froch, there's a difference.The only people that mention froch talking about calzaghe are joe's fanboys.

    In total, Carl has mentioned Joe twice since he retired. And one of those comments were complimentary comments about his dancing!

  • Comment posted by Riggadon, at 18:47 16 Jan 2013

    Bomber
    @38. Froch was robbed in Super6? Don't you mean Andre Dirrell was robbed by a home town Nottingham decision?
    ----

    Giving a home verdict in a contentious bout is part of boxing. Always has been. I'm not saying thats right either, but it cant even be compared to fast tracking someone to a final in less fights than the others. At least Froch actually fought dirrell to get that decision.

  • Comment posted by Freddie Roach Ate My Hamster, at 18:39 16 Jan 2013

    mel - I was probably eating crisps. Froch had a dreadful start against Kessler & lost by a few rounds. Even though Kessler scrapped on like the warrior he is, he was cut so badly by the end that he had to pull out of the Super 6 as he took months to heal. Lesser men would've been stopped.

    I expect this fight to be just as good but reckon Froch will win. They could have a Gatti-Ward type trilogy!

  • Comment posted by U15577032, at 18:21 16 Jan 2013

    Froch: a fighter who wants to challenge the best opponents...

    ...a rareity in boxing today

  • Comment posted by Bomber, at 17:41 16 Jan 2013

    Froch is a class above Groves and DeGale at the moment. I would guess that fight is 18 months away minimum, though Froch may move up a weight by then.

  • Comment posted by Inmyopinion, at 16:43 16 Jan 2013

    A good fight after this one, irrespective of the outcome would be Groves vs Froch later in the year. Groves may well have the WBO belt by then or maybe the IBF if Froch is stripped of it, so it would make a cracking UK/world fight.

  • Comment posted by mel rogers, at 14:09 16 Jan 2013

    Just watched the final few rounds of Kessler v's Froch - don't know what Freddie Roach had eaten but neither fighter was hanging on, and Kessler definitely won it.
    Whatever the previous result was and how they have both fought since, the fight will be worth the entrance money.

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