WARD DETHRONES KESSLER BY TECHNICAL DECISION IN SUPER 6 SHOWDOWN
In a virtuoso performance, the last U.S. Olympic gold medalist Andre Ward added pro gold to his resume completely dismantling Mikkel Kessler to win the WBA Super Middleweight title before a raucous crowd of 10,277 at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California. Not only did the win earn Ward two points in the Super Six World Boxing Classic tournament, but it may have elevated him into the elite category
Fighting before his hometown crowd, Ward (20-0, 13 KOs) dominated from the second round on in surprising fashion. Kessler (42-1, 32 KOs) of Copenhagen, Denmark was the odds-on betting favorite coming into the Super Six World Boxing Classic, but was completely outclassed in every regard by the Oakland native.
After a pretty even first round, Ward, 166 ½, turned offensive, boxing and moving on the slower Kessler, 167. One of the only bright spots at any point in the fight for Kessler was his ability to force Ward to the ropes in the first few rounds. However, Kessler was never able hurt Ward in any of those instances. As a sign of things to come, Ward closed the second by measuring Kessler with his left and landing a laser right behind it. By the end of the third round, Ward had burned off all of his nervous energy and settled in like a proven veteran.
Ward maintained the momentum into the third and never relinquished control as his speed kept Kessler out of any type of rhythm. As the fight progressed Ward continually beat Kessler by getting in shots on the inside and manhandling him at long range as well. Ward staggered Kessler with a minute left in the fourth. At the close of the round, Kessler returned to his corner with a cut below his right eye.
By the fifth, Kessler was no longer forcing Ward to the ropes and the Oakland native was eating the Dane alive in the center of the ring. It was quite apparent that Kessler stood almost no chance fighting at that geography. In another veteran move, Ward kept Kessler at range with his right hand and busted him up with the right. Kessler could not get past Ward’s extended left hand and when he tried the results were not what he had hoped for.
After a short burst to start the sixth, Kessler’s morale low was in the dumps. By the end of round eight, Kessler looked like a fighter that wanted someone to save him from further punishment. Rounds nine and ten were just more of the same, as Ward continued to exact his dominance over his beaten adversary. Referee Jack Reiss called time 1:42 into round eleven give the ringside doctor a look at Kessler. Without much hesitation, the doctor called the fight. However, the referee had ruled the original cut was a result of a headbutt (which the earlier replay seemed to confirm). Thus, the fight went to the scorecards.
Swedish judge Mikael Hook somehow scored the bout 97-93. Better known South African judge Stanley Christodoulou and Californian Steve Morrow agreed with tallies of 98-92 all for Ward. The cut ruling may have cost Ward the extra point a knockout would have earned him in the tournament since a stoppage seemed eminent.
