Carl Froch: "At Least Kessler Won't Run Like Dirrell"

Boxing Scene Mark Vester8th April, 2010

WBC super middleweight champion Carl Froch is not overlooking his April 24 opponent, Mikkel Kessler. The Danish former champion returns from a bad one-sided decision loss at the hands of Andre Ward. Froch takes the fight in Kessler's home country of Denmark.

Kessler is undefeated in Denmark and suffered his only two defeats when he traveled outside of his country. That statistic is of no bother to Froch. He beat Jean Pascal who was undefeated at the time of their fight and he broke the unbeaten run of Andre Dirrell.

"A lot has been made of the fact that Kessler has never lost on home soil, at least not as a professional, but records are there to be broken - Andre Dirrell was unbeaten when I faced him and so was Jean Pascal. Taking on and beating the best fighters in the world has always been my ambition. I don't want second-rate fights against second-rate boxers," Froch told The Daily Express.

The Nottingham star will attempt to get a knockout to pick up three additional points in Showtime's Super Six Boxing Classic. He expects a very tough and physical fight. Froch finds comfort that Kessler will engage him in battle and not use movement like Dirrell, who Froch fought and won a close decision over in the first stage of the Super Six.

"Kessler is a brilliant fighter who has only ever lost twice in many years as a pro, to Joe Calzaghe, when he broke his hand a week before the fight and Andre Ward. He is fiercely proud and he knows this is his chance to get back to winning ways. I have to stop him. And I will," Froch said.

"I know how much Kessler wants my title and yet I feel I'm really in my prime. At least Kessler won't run all night like Dirrell, who stank the place out when I fought him."

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