By Bradley Yeh

I know that Kessler can drop Calzaghe if he lands that perfect right cross that he did when he waited for Beyer to just walk in and “receive”. There's no doubt in my mind about that.

But, Joe wont fall for that trick though.

Kessler would have beat Lacy had they fought when Calzaghe proved a point with “left hook Lacy”, but Kessler wouldn’t have proved it quite so easily and not in such devastatingly embarrassing form as Joe did. I think that the shadow cast by Calzaghe over Kessler before and during this fight will be ominous. 

Comparing both boys, (Kessler & Calzaghe), on a premium and critical level.

Calzaghe: Calzaghe’s only weakness appears to be a deficit of real one punch power. That deficit, (thankfully for Calzaghe’s career), doesn’t seem to have translated into an inability to finish opponents early. Aside from this, Calzaghe is fighter of remarkable talent. He has speed, great offence, good accuracy, and there is usually clever footwork under each of his (long range) punches. He boxes clever, and can fight for the entire 12 rounds and knows how to read a fight. The pride of Wales knows every punch there is and has a corner that understands him, and one he trusts and respects. Joe gets off the canvas, (if put there), and then blows guys out – this boy can throw down the hammer and bang it out if called upon. Don’t get me wrong, I'm not his promoter, but I've looked at his fights a lot – the boy confuses opponents as he hits them – that's not a bad talent to have! Calzaghe also has experience with many different styles of fighter as well, and he doesn’t loose too easily either - in fact never as a pro. And perhaps more interestingly, his style dismembers and mangles his opponents (spoils it, to borrow Kessler’s own words), and this assists Calzaghe to win even when not motivated – Saiko Bika.

Some people say Calzaghe’s “managed” and hasn’t fought anyone outside of Europe. Who isn’t managed these days and “commercially cautious” about their opponents? Remember Lacy? That's also “managed”, and that’s also why so many people got that fight (Lacy V Calzaghe) prediction wrong – they believed the marketing. Oh, and Lacy hadn’t fought outside of the USA too much either prior to that fight either.

Calzaghe’s unbeaten reign should be seen for what it’s worth – a sign of boxing brilliance. You don’t successfully defend world titles (in any sanction alphabet of legitimate) for as long as Joe has without being very good.

Kessler: Kessler presents as a determined successful Euro fighter, with both power and confidence to spare. His stance and game plan requires some distance between his feet, and that probably will not facilitate itself well to match the sharp and continuous movement that Calzaghe will no doubt employ to deliver his punches from the angles that Kessler’s style will undoubtedly ensure his deliveries are excluded from. Joe knows all this, as he learnt the fighting art against this Euro-style of boxing and punching. I’m not entirely sure that Kessler’s confidence is riding as high as we may be told going into this fight either – but I can't prove that. That said, there’s no shame in a bit of fear in boxing, provided that fear turns into motivation as soon as the leather flies – which is the trait of all honest, fearing, champions.

No, Kessler’s not “scared”, but he knows this is no sparring session back in Denmark against a paid mule.

The best insight to how Kessler will handle Calzaghe, I believe, comes from his performance against the fast handed Anthony Mundine, whom Kessler beat with announced determination. In that fight Kessler walked Mundine down and imposed his strength on Anthony because Mundine could not significantly hurt him. The implicit story there, is that Mundine let Kessler dictate most of that fight because of Kessler’s power, and punch resistance. The significant punches during that fight were then mostly medium to long range vehicles, suiting Kessler’s leg placements. Had Mundine been confident enough to remain at close range, where his speed would have presented advantages that a greater amount of power could capitalize on, then a different fight may have unfolded.

The explicit story from this is; if Kessler fights Calzaghe at close rang, Kessler’s ass is wet grass, and Joe will cut through him like a big red lawn mower in my opinion.

Kessler’s also quite an upright fighter, and all these attributes add up to me to indicate that both his physiological and game plan flexibility is limited against world class operators. Particularly against a guy like Joe.

Lets not even compare experience differential between the two.

So from all that it should be clear that I don’t think Kessler can win on points unless he has the kind of power that makes Joe stay away for 12 rounds, and just try to survive the night. Can that really happen in front of Joe’s home crowd, with the pride these guys will bring into the ring? No. And nor should that be required, as all Joe has to do in that case, (should Kessler really be able to deliver and absorb at percentages that favour him), is utilize his experience to take away the distance and leverage that Kessler has. Then the game is speed, defence, fitness and experience, and of course boxing.

I like Kessler and he talks in a way that makes it hard to thin he’s not cool. But it’s to beat a good fast southpaw.

Game set and match there for Joe I think.