By Oscar Nielsen

In a recent article on BoxingScene.com, promotor Dan Goossen got very upset with Mikkel Kessler, and his promotor Kalle Sauerland, over comments they were making regarding a possible rematch with Andre Ward, the WBA/WBC super middleweight champion. Among other things, Goossen was angry with Kessler and Sauerland for discussing the possible rematch in the media, while nobody on their side had contacted him directly to initiate negotiations. 

Sauerland responded to Ekstrabladet, stating that he and his family have known Goossen for over 20 years. 

"As you know, I've been to the United States to talk to Showtime and HBO about a rematch between Kessler and Andre Ward. And no, I haven't talked to Goossen about it. But calm down Dan. We'll talk when the time is right. First we need to know what the television companies are interested in," Sauerland said.

"Of course I'd like to make the Ward fight tomorrow, but for various reasons it makes the most sense for Mikkel Kessler to fight Robert Stieglitz in April. I've worked my butt off to make that fight and it's still a big one. As it looks right now, the fight [with Stieglitz] is 100%. A fight with Ward requires a lot of preparations."

Sauerland also dismissed rumors that American television networks are only interested in a rematch if it happens in the United States.

"We can make the fight in Denmark with the crazy athmosphere that we generate. By request of the American viewers, we can make it at 1 or 2 at night, local time. I don't see that as a problem," Sauerland said.

When Mikkel Kessler fought Joe Calzaghe in Wales in 2007, the fight started at 2am. It drew 55,000 spectators, but it wasn't a huge ratings success for HBO.