By Ronan Keenan

Some four hundred years before Christopher Columbus landed in the New World, Leif Eriksson led a Viking expedition to the east coast of North America. The mission proved to be futile as the natives eventually drove out the invaders, while also destroying any telling evidence of the Norsemen’s presence.

Now, a new “Viking Warrior” is preparing to launch an incursion to America, and he is set to give a loud forewarning of his arrival. On Saturday night, Mikkel Kessler intends on sending a message across the Atlantic via HBO when he faces US-based Mexican Librado Andrade in Copenhagen.

“I want to fight against the best fighters in the world,” Kessler said. “That is what I am working for and the fight against Andrade gives me the opportunity to show the world my ability.” 

The 28-year-old Dane is proud of his Scandinavian heritage, as the large Viking tattoo on his torso attests. For the last three years, Kessler has been terrorising the super-middleweight division in a manner that would make his ancestors proud. Dominant victories over quality fighters have grabbed the attention of US observers in a manner that has eluded most northern European fighters.

“Kessler’s got talent and marketability,” Doug Fischer of MaxBoxing told BoxingScene. “HBO has already shown an interest in him showing clips of his victory over Markus Beyer and his up-coming fight with Andrade. He is a very big, very talented, and very skilled boxer. I rate Kessler right behind [world number one] Joe Calzaghe.”

What’s more, each of Kessler’s recent performances has been more impressive than his last, despite the rising standard of the opposition. In 2004, he stepped in at short notice to challenge Manny Siaca for a version of the 168lbs world title. The Puerto Rican seemed bewildered by the quality of Kessler’s boxing skills and after absorbing countless neck-snapping jabs, he wisely remained on his stool as the bell sounded for the eight round.

His first defense of the title initially seemed like a tricky assignment in Sydney, Australia against the talented Anthony Mundine. Vikings weren’t usually fond of warmer climes, but Kessler had no problem adapting and dominated the Australian to take a wide unanimous decision in front of a hostile crowd.

Kessler, 38-0 (29), then began 2006 with another distinguished display of textbook boxing as he battered the durable former world titlist, Eric Lucas. The man who went the distance with Roy Jones had to be rescued by the referee in the tenth round after eating a seemingly endless barrage of rigid one-twos and precise uppercuts.

But last October’s stoppage of Markus Beyer in their unification title fight stunned onlookers with the ease in which the three-time champion was dispatched. Roared on by his partisan hometown supporters, the “Danish De La Hoya” forced Beyer onto the retreat before landing a sweet left-right combination to the southpaw’s chin in the third round. The 35-year-old German landed hard on his back and decided to sit on the canvas as the referee tolled the count of ten. The division had a new unified titlist and HBO a new commodity.

“Before the Beyer fight HBO weren’t interest in Mikkel,” asserted Kessler’s Danish promoter, Mogens Palle. “We've tried for two years to get him on HBO and all we kept hearing was ‘Nobody knows Kessler.’ But if he beats Andrade in a good way he will have gotten the exposure we want.”

Nonetheless, Andrade, 24-0 (18), may not be the compliant stepping-stone Palle is expecting. The Mexican utilizes a style unfamiliar to Kessler, preferring to bully opponents with his brute strength and marauding hooks. And standing 6’2 tall with a 78” reach, Andrade will have a size advantage that could trouble the champion – just like it did in the past.

“Andrade is a very tough fight for any 168 pounder,” said Fischer. “He’s a rugged pressure fighter, who is familiar with Kessler from their sparring sessions in Southern California a few years back. Andrade was able to trouble Kessler when he was able to get past the jab and work the Dane on the inside.”

 

Whilst the all-conquering Vikings were taken aback by the Native Americans’ unorthodox attacks, Kessler figures to make up for his ancestors’ defeat as he begins his own voyage of plunder.

“In my opinion there is no doubt that I am the best super-middleweight in the world,” he said. “And I’m willing to fight anyone, anywhere to prove that. I want to make an impression on the world scene.”

He’ll be hoping to leave a more lasting imprint than Leif Eriksson. 

Ronan Keenan can be contacted at ronankeenan@yahoo.com