Mikkel Kessler vs Alan Green Preview May 19
Mikkel Kessler is moving up to the light heavyweight division on May 19 when he takes on American Allan Green at Copenhagen’s Parken Stadium in his homeland of Denmark. Kessler had originally planned to fight WBO super middleweight champion Robert Stieglitz last month, but it was cancelled after Kessler pulled out.
Kessler said he realizes it’s going to be a tough task to move up in weight and take on a heavy puncher such as Green, but he wants a strong test and feels he’ll be able to overpower and outbox his opponent.
There’s a connection between the two fighters as Green replaced Kessler in the Super Six Middleweight tournament last year after Kessler dropped out due to injury. Green didn’t fare too well though as Andre Ward beat him easily by a 12-round unanimous decision and Glen Johnson knocked him out. Green was also beaten back in 2007 by unanimous decision by Edison Miranda.
Kessler, a former two-time world super middleweight champion, will enter the ring with a 44-2 record with 33 KOs while Green will be bringing a 31-3 record with him along with 21 KOs. The fight is for something called the WBC Silver Light Heavyweight Title and Kessler is looking to make a big statement in the division.
Top Boxing Sportsbook: 5Dimes.com
Widest Variety and Most Competitive Lines Online -> Visit Now!
However, he’s going to have to shake off some ring rust since he’s fought just once over the past two years because of various injuries. Kessler has proven that’s he’s an elite fighter, but Green has enough power to hurt anybody if he land’s something square. Green has power in both hands and Kessler’s going to have to shake his ring rust off pretty quickly or he could be playing with fire.
When he’s at his American seems to freeze in the headlights whenever he’s been in the ring with a world-class opponent. A win for Kessler could lead to bigger paydays against the likes of IBF light heavyweight champion Tavoris Cloud and WBO champion Nathan Cleverly of Britain.
However, the most exciting fight would be against WBC champ Chad Dawson who recently beat Bernard Hopkins by unanimous decision. In addition, a fight against Hopkins himself is always a possibility. A fight against the Super Six tournament winner Andre Ward is also another strong possibility, but that means Kessler may have to drop back down to super middleweight to meet Ward.
Prediction
Kessler needs to deal with the 32-year-old Green first though and will need to be aware of Green’s counterpunching ability and speed. Green’s usually pretty easy to hit, but his style is often awkward and frustrating. Kessler is more accurate and needs to throw his punches in combinations to keep Green at bay. He proved against Englishman Carl Froch that he can take a good punch and if he can take Green’s best shots he should take this fight, likely by a late stoppage or a unanimous decision.
Odds
Sportsbook 5dimes.com has the latest odds of a Green win at +700 and a Kessler victory at -1100. Visit 5Dimes.com to bet on this fight!
Check out our understanding odds page if you are unsure of what the odds above mean.
Written by: Ian Palmer
Alan Green betting • Mikkel Kessler betting