Mikkel Kessler
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Mikkel Kessler | |
 |
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| Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Real name | Mikkel Kessler |
| Nickname(s) | Viking Warrior, Hitman |
| Rated at | Super middleweight |
| Nationality |  Danish |
| Birth date | March 1, 1979 |
| Birth place | Copenhagen, Denmark |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 40 |
| Wins | 39 |
| Wins by KO | 29 |
| Losses | 1 |
| Draws | 0 |
| No contests | 0 |
Mikkel Kessler (born March 1, 1979) is a Danish professional boxer. In his professional career he has a record of 39-1 and 29 knockouts.
[edit] Biography
Kessler was born on March 1, 1979, to an English mother and Danish father. Kessler originally started campaigning as a light middleweight and then middleweight for the first 22 fights of his career. He won 16 of his first 22 fights by knockout (KO).
After 3 years and 22 fights, Kessler settled in the super middleweight division. Kessler continued his hard hitting streak, dispatching 6 of his first 7 opponents by KO, thereby improving his record to 29-0 with 22 KO.
On November 29, 2002, Kessler fought for his first championship and defeated former World Boxing Council super middleweight champion Dingaan Thobela over twelve rounds to become International Boxing Association champion. He gave up this belt to fight for the more recognized WBC International title on April 11, 2003, versus Craig Cummings. Kessler won by a knockout in the third round.
He defended his newly won crown on three occasions before finally hitting it big on November 12, 2004. His stablemate, Mads Larsen, another Danish World Class fighter, was set to challenge Manny Siaca for the World Boxing Association championship in Copenhagen. Larsen was injured in training and Kessler took the fight on short notice, winning the title.
Kessler defended his title against Anthony Mundine in Sydney in June 2005 and Eric Lucas in January 2006.
On October 14, 2006, Kessler was elevated to WBA "super champion" status after winning the WBC title in a unification battle against WBC World Champion Markus Beyer, at the Parken Stadium. He won by knockout at 2:58 in round 3.
Kessler defended his WBA super/WBC titles on March 24, 2007, at the Parken Stadium against WBC mandatory challenger Librado Andrade. The fight was scored as a shutout (120-108) by all three judges.
Following the Andrade fight, Kessler made another open challenge to WBO super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe to fight for a unification of the titles.
Kessler then met fellow champion Joe Calzaghe. The bout took place at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on November 3, 2007, in front of over 50,000 fans (the largest indoor boxing event in European history) and was a unification bout for the WBO/WBA/WBC/Ring Magazine Super Middleweight titles. Kessler lost the unification bout via unanimous decision, with the judges scoring the fight: 117-111, 116-112, 116-112[1].
Kessler has in the first half of 2008 pursued a new World title fight. While Calzaghe still holds WBA super, WBC, and WBO titles in SMW, Kessler has instead opted to challenge Anthony Mundine, WBA´s "regular" World champion. After defeating Sam Soliman in their 3rd fight on May 28th, Mundine vacated his World title, and moved down to Middleweight, to avoid facing Kessler.
Kessler will now Face Dimitri Sartison, on June 21st 2008 in Brondby Hallen, for the vacant WBA Supermiddleweight Title.
[edit] External links
- Mikkel Kessler Fight-by-Fight Career Record
- Professional boxing record for Mikkel Kessler from Boxrec
- Mikkel Kessler - The Viking Warrior official page
| Preceded by Manny Siaca |
WBA Super Middleweight Champion November 12, 2004 - November 04, 2007. Elevated to super champion Oct 14, 2006 |
Succeeded by Joe Calzaghe |
| Preceded by Markus Beyer |
WBC Super Middleweight Champion October 14, 2006 - November 04, 2007 |
Succeeded by Joe Calzaghe |
