Boxing

Carl Froch is determined to avenge his only other defeat against Andre Ward after winning his rematch with Mikkel Kessler in thrilling fashion.

Mikkel Kessler admitted he could not handle the pace set by Carl Froch as the Nottingham man took a points win in their exciting rematch.

Carl Froch gained revenge over Mikkel Kessler with a thrilling points win after the super-middleweights served up another epic battle at the 02 Arena in London.

Anyone who thought Mikkel Kessler was "done" as an elite boxer coming into his rematch with Carl Froch got a very welcome wake-up call Saturday on HBO. It wasn't enough to beat his 168-pound rival Froch, who won a unanimous decision in London before a delirious crowd. But it was enough to at least equal, and, in my view, surpass their 2010 Fight of the Year contender. I was in the minority that scored the bout a draw; the 118-110 scorecard was bad, but the other two, 116-112 and 115-113, were well within reason. Froch got off to a hot start, working his jab and controlling distance smartly, and by the 3rd Kessler appeared flummoxed. Knowing that Kessler can be mentally fragile at times, this had the look of going downhill for him fast, and his bruised and bloody visage was evidence of what was happening to him physically. But Kessler relaxed and began to dial in left hooks and his own excellent jab, all while getting closer to Froch. He took over some of the early-middle rounds before trading too much in the 7th, when Froch did the heavier damage in an excellent round. The 8th was all Froch, with the 9th and 10th more seesaw affairs as Froch slowed down a little. The 11th was shocking: A Kessler combination rocked Froch badly, only for Froch to regain his senses and storm back by round's end. And in the 12th, Froch built on that momentum, rocking Froch right back and nearly sending him down before Kessler held on, literally and figuratively, until the final bell. Froch has options now, and the 18-19,000 on hand in London shows what kind of economic leverage he can exert to get his way. He could do it again with Kessler, with a third bout to settle the score once and for all rather than leaving the series tied 1-1. Light heavyweight Bernard Hopkins wants Froch. And HBO bought this bout because they want the winner to face their golden boy, super middleweight champion Andre Ward, who has defeated both Kessler and Froch. (HBO's commentary was ridiculously Ward-centric, and Ward himself, usually a sharp analyst, called the fight like Froch wasn't responsible for anything happening; it was all about what Kessler wasn't doing. It got very, very old.) After the fight, it sounded more like Froch was leaning toward Kessler because their match-up was more fan-friendly, and he's right. Froch has reestablished himself as a viable opponent for Ward now, but if Ward is going to be a sissy about it and not go overseas for the bout -- and he indicated in post-fight comments he didn't have to, a sign of his golden boy status with HBO -- I'm all for Froch-Kessler III. We've seen it twice. It was terrific both times, high-level action for 24 rounds. Why wouldn't it be again?

Boxing Results for Carl Froch vs. Mikkel Kessler II. Carl Froch retained his IBF world super-middleweight title on Saturday at the O2 Arena in London with unanimous points victory over Mikkel Kessler. After 12 round of solid back and forth action, the judges at ringside scored it for Froch with scores of 118-110, 116-112 and 115-113. A Full Report on MaxBoxing soon to follow.

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Carl Froch and Mikkel Kessler didn't disappoint spectators at the O2 Arena or TV viewers worldwide tonight, engaging in another fantastic, 12-round battle that may have eclipsed their 2010 bout, and was at worst right on that same level. In the end, it was Froch getting a measure of revenge, winning the fight by unanimous decision on scores of 115-113, 116-112, and 118-110. BLH had it 115-113 for Froch. The fight went back-and-forth a good bit, with it seeming like every time Froch (31-2, 22 KO) began to pull away, Kessler (46-3, 35 KO) would muscle his way back into the fight, keeping it close enough that it never seemed like a one-way street. But Froch was definitely the better man tonight. "I'd happily do it again and make it 2-1," Froch said to HBO's Max Kellerman, who then asked about a potential rematch with Andre Ward. Ward currently holds the WBA super super middleweight title (yes), while Froch added the WBA regular super middleweight title (I know, right?) to his IBF belt with tonight's win. "(Ward's) the other target. I've had a 33-fight career, only lost twice," Froch said. "I've set the record (with Kessler) straight tonight, well and truly. I think -- I don't know. I've always said I wouldn't like to fight Andre Ward again. He's a boxing purist, he's very good at what he does, but he's not an entertaining fighter. He's out to win. It's not a fighter's fight. He doesn't seem to get the television companies excited. I could beat Ward, if I get it right. Let's get him over to the United Kingdom and get the fight on next, if he wants it." Prior to that, Ward, who was ringside commentating for HBO (and taking thinly-veiled shots at Froch all night long, while seemingly rooting hard for Kessler to win), basically said, if not in so many words, that he'll go to the UK if Matchroom Boxing will pay him enough money. "They have to prove how bad they want it," he said. And that, I would say, is fair enough. 34-year-old Kessler took a tough loss here, but there was no evidence that he's washed-up or shot, I don't think. Sure, he wasn't quite as good as he used to be, but he stood in there with a top fighter and gave a hell of an effort. He's still at worst the third-best super middleweight in the world as far as I can see. As for Froch, he has big fights waiting. Ward could happen, or there could be a third bout with Kessler, if Kessler would want to do a rubber match. Or he could take a stay-busy sort of title defense in the meantime, and see what shakes out after that. It is now established, clearly, that Froch is the second-best super middleweight in the sport today. He could also move up to 175 and face Bernard Hopkins, though promoter Eddie Hearn has not seemed keen on that idea, so that's probably a distant third. Can Froch beat Ward if he gets another crack at it? Remember there were no volcanoes distracting him like there were against Kessler. He just plain lost to Ward.

George Groves will continue to strive for a perfect performance despite taking out Noe Gonzalez inside five rounds at the O2 Arena in London.

George Groves staked his claim for world title shot with an explosive knockout win over Noe Gonzalez at the 02 Arena in London.

George Groves breezed past the opposition as expected today, knocking out Noe Gonzalez in the fifth round at the O2 Arena in London. Groves (19-0, 15 KO) boxed for the first few rounds, getting a few rounds in, and then boom went the dynamite in round five, when Gonzalez (30-3, 22 KO) walked into a wicked right hand. One punch and it was over, though Gonzalez got to his feet, where referee Terry O'Connor made the right decision to stop the fight. "I'm only ever really happy with a perfect performance, and I don't think I'll ever get one of them. Today, I think I came out and I controlled it from the start. The only mistake I made was training a little bit recklessly when I didn't need to," Groves said after the fight. "I knew he wouldn't be able to cope with those shots. I was hitting him on the chin, the top of the head, I was catching him around side under the elbow. I waited, got the sweet shot, and put him away." Groves, 25, has been mentioned for a possible big fight later this year, including a potential showdown with Carl Froch. Promoter Eddie Hearn says that Groves will get a "big fight" in September, and that there will be a "big eye" on the winner of tonight's main event.