Mikkel Kessler vs. Andre Ward

Mikkel Kessler vs. Andre Ward
Date	21 November 2009
Venue	Oracle Arena, Oakland, California, U.S.
Title(s) on the line	WBA super middleweight championship
Tale of the tape
Boxer
Boxer	Mikkel Kessler
Nickname	"The Viking Warrior"
Hometown	Copenhagen, Capital Region, Denmark
Pre-fight record	42–1 (32 KO)
Age	30 years, 8 months
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	167 lb (76 kg)
Style	Orthodox
Recognition	WBA; Super Middleweight Champion; The Ring; No. 1 Ranked Super Middleweight
Result
	Ward defeated Kessler by 11th round technical decision

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Mikkel Kessler vs. Andre Ward was a professional boxing match contested on 21 November 2009, for the WBA super middleweight championship.^[1] The bout was the final match in the first group stage of the Super Six World Boxing Classic, a tournament staged by Showtime to crown a unified world super middleweight champion and took place at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California.

Background

Mikkel Kessler was making the third defense of the World Boxing Association championship he entered the tournament with. Kessler defeated Dimitri Sartison in June 2008 for the title Joe Calzaghe had defeated him for the previous fall; after defeating Kessler, Calzaghe vacated his super middleweight titles to campaign at light heavyweight. Ward was fighting in his first world title bout, after a victory against former two-time world title challenger Edison Miranda.^{[citation needed]}

The fight

Despite Kessler's status as the overall favorite, Ward was able to outpunch the champion and won a unanimous technical decision to win his first world championship.^[2] The fight was halted in the eleventh round after Kessler, who suffered cuts due to two controversial headbutts, was ruled unable to continue by the ringside doctor and as per the rules the final score was tabulated at the time of the stoppage. Ward was ahead 98–92, 98–92 and 97–93 at the time of the stoppage. Ward joined Calzaghe as the only fighters at the time to defeat Kessler.^[3]^[4]

Aftermath

Following the victory, Ward led the Ring Magazine's rankings for super middleweights.^{[citation needed]}

Fight Card

The fight card included the following fights:^[5]

Weight Class	Weight		Vs.		Result
Super Middleweight	168 lbs.	Andre Ward	def.	Mikkel Kessler (c)	Rnd 10 TD
Super Welterweight	154 lbs.	Karim Mayfield	def.	Francisco Santana	Rnd 5 TKO
Super Lightweight	140 lbs.	Stan Martyniouk	def.	Anthony Martinez	UD
Super Middleweight	168 lbs.	Tony Hirsch	def.	José Celaya	UD
Super Featherweight	130 lbs.	Mel Crossty	def.	Carlos Herrera	UD

Broadcasting

Country	Broadcaster
Canada	Super Channel
Germany	MDR
Hungary	Sport 1
United Kingdom	Primetime
United States	Showtime

References

^ "Mikkel Kessler vs. Andre Ward – BoxRec". boxrec.com. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
^ Gonzalez, Edgar (29 November 2009). "Ward defeats Kessler". MyBoxingFans. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
^ "Ward dominates Kessler". ringtv.com. The Ring. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
^ King J (22 November 2009). "Andre Ward Defeats Mikkel Kessler To Win WBA Title". bleacherreport.com. Bleacher Report. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
^ "Fight Card". boxrec.com. Retrieved 19 June 2016.

Preceded by vs. Gusmyr Perdomo	Mikkel Kessler's bouts 21 November 2009	Succeeded by vs. Carl Froch
Preceded by vs. Shelby Pudwill	Andre Ward's bouts 21 November 2009	Succeeded by vs. Allan Green

[1] "Mikkel Kessler vs. Andre Ward – BoxRec". boxrec.com. Retrieved 19 June 2016.

[2] Gonzalez, Edgar (29 November 2009). "Ward defeats Kessler". MyBoxingFans. Retrieved 26 April 2011.

[3] "Ward dominates Kessler". ringtv.com. The Ring. Retrieved 6 October 2024.

[4] King J (22 November 2009). "Andre Ward Defeats Mikkel Kessler To Win WBA Title". bleacherreport.com. Bleacher Report. Retrieved 6 October 2024.

[5] "Fight Card". boxrec.com. Retrieved 19 June 2016.

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