Peter Schmeichel backing Mikkel Kessler ahead of Carl Froch showdown

Daily MirrorDavid Anderson25th March, 2010

If taking on Mikkel Kessler were not daunting enough for Carl Froch, the giant Dane will also have Peter Schmeichel in his corner.

Schmeichel admits he has a soft spot for Froch because of all the years he has lived in England, but says he has to root for his fellow countryman out of patriotism.

The former Manchester United goalkeeper likes a good scrap - as Ian Wright well knows - and is predicting a war when Froch and Kessler clash on April 24 in the latest round of the Super Six series.

"I think this will be a fantastic fight," said Schmeichel. "Having spent so many years in England, I really like Carl Froch. Just like Mikkel, he is a tough and a proud warrior.

"But I'm pulling for my countryman Mikkel Kessler. He is a national icon and will have five million Danes behind him on April 24.

"I have no doubts that we will see an epic battle between two real champions and it will be a great contest."

Taking on the dangerous Kessler in his homeland will be the toughest challenge WBC king Froch has faced.

The fight has been moved from Kessler's home city of Copenhagen to Herning, which will limit the number of British fans who will come over to back the Cobra.

Froch, 32, who has only fought outside Britain twice during his perfect 26-0 career, will be up against a fiercely partisan crowd and Kessler is a national hero in Denmark.

"The preparation has been going fine," said Kessler, 31. "We have been working hard and all the pieces are coming together.

"Carl Froch will not forget April 24. I have something to prove - for myself, for the 10.000 fans at MCH Herning and also the millions on TV.

"The Viking Warrior will be back. I will be world champion again on April 24."

Despite Kessler's fighting talk, there are questions marks over the former WBC and WBA super-middleweight champ in the wake of his defeat to Andre Ward last time out in November in California.

He has dipped since he suffered his first career defeat to Joe Calzaghe in 2007 and Froch will take full advantage of any vulnerability.

In many ways, Froch is a defeat waiting to happen because his style is so open.

He believes the best form of defence is attack and relies on his chin taking whatever his opponents can throw at him.

It's a risky strategy, which so nearly came undone against Jermain Taylor, but the fans love his all-action style.

His aggressive style could carry him to the greatest win of his career against Kessler and if it does, it will make him favourite with Arthur Abraham for the Super Six crown.

-->