Photo Credit: © Tom Casino/SHOWTIME
WBC Super Middleweight Title Fight
Mikkel Kessler (43-2, 32 KOs) UD 12 Carl Froch (26-1, 20 KOs)
Scores: 117-111, 116-112, 115-113
Heading into Showtime’s Super Six super middleweight tournament most people believed that Denmark’s Mikkel Kessler was the heavy favorite to win the whole thing. However, someone forgot to explain this idea to Andre Ward who summarily battered, and blooded the Dane in running away with victory in their opening stage match. Saturday night, in front of his screaming countryman, Kessler recaptured his glory with a hard-fought victory over the champion Carl Froch. Froch had been riding a streak of respect and popularity following dramatic title defenses against the likes of Jermain Taylor and Andre Dirrell. The Froch-Kessler fight appeared to have all the makings of a slugfest based on the style of the participants involved, and as the fight began to take shape, this would turn prophetic.
Kessler, a counter puncher by nature, became the aggressor in this fighter. Whether spurred on by the energy of this hometown fans, or feeling a need to redeem himself following his recent loss, Kessler took the fight to the dangerous Froch. A nip and tuck battle of punches and blood ensued, and while a case could be made fro a Froch victory, the fact of the matter is that in a fight this close, any verdict could have been rational. With this win, Kessler exorcises the demons of his loss to Ward, and solidifies himself as a player in the Super Six tourney.
Saturday Night in Ontario, CA
IBF International Heavyweight Title Fight
Tomasz Adamek (41-1, 27 KOs) MD 12 Chris Arreola (28-2, 25 KOs)
Scores: 117-111, 115-113, 114-114
Some fights just don’t need hype, and the Adamek-Arreola fight is one such that fits into that mold. Anytime you have two bangers in the ring fireworks are all but guaranteed. Such was the case in the Adamek-Arreola bout. It was a hard fought brawl, but despite being rocked on a number of occasions, Adamek was able to use his movement and angles to beat up the face of Arreola. Adamek is far from perfect, but he is a fun addition to the heavyweight division.
WBO Interim Junior Middleweight Title Fight
Alfredo Angulo (18-1, 14 KOs) TKO 11 Joel Julio (35-4, 31 KOs)
Time of Stoppage: 1:39 in round 11.
How do you not get excited in watching Angulo fight. The kid can flat out bang, and has the mentality of a pit bull. In Julio, a fighter who failed to live up to his promise, fans were treated to an intriguing battle between two hard punchers. Julio has the far better overall skill set when it comes to the sweet science, but credit needs to be given to Angulo’s iron chin, which allowed him to weather the early storm brought on by Julio. Slowly and methodically, Angulo stalked his prey and eventually wore Julio down in the eleventh with a barrage of punishment punctuated by a straight right hand that ended the night for Julio.
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