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Ward Shakes
Up Super Six With Complete Shutout
& Tech. Decision Over Tournament Favorite Kessler
By Bret "The
Threat" Newton
Andre Ward (now 21-0, 13 KO's) won the WBA Super
Middleweight Title and upset the odds by defeating who many
believed to be the Super Six favorite, Mikkel Kessler, with
a technical decision win. The fight was stopped in round 11
due to a cut caused by a headbutt. The fight went to the
scorecard in which after Ward had put on a completely one
sided performance, won the decision.
From the opening bell, Ward made it clear he was going to be
quick, in and out, and to continuously throw punches.
Kessler maintained his patience early, but could not figure
out the pesky Ward. Kessler chased Ward, never landing any
meaningful punches, though rarely throwing any as well.
In round 4, Kessler was cut over the left eye from a punch.
Ward was continuously being first and last with his punches,
while Kessler looked like a complete amateur.
After round 7, Kessler began to tell his corner, "I can't
see". In round 8, Ward began to back Kessler up for the
first time. Another cut opened up over the left eye of
Kessler, this time from an accidental headbutt. In between
rounds, Kessler's corner told him he needed a knockout to
win.
In round 10, another accidental headbutt opened up a second
cut over Kessler's left eye. Kessler finally began to dig
deep, throwing combinations, however not a single punch
would land of the defensive Ward. Ward would not only slip
punches, but jump in to hold as a defensive strategy.
In round 11, the fight was stopped due to the blood pouring
from Kessler's cut left eye. The fight went to the
scorecards which read 97-93, 98-92 and 98-92, all for Ward.
Ward next faces Jermain Taylor in round 2 of the tournament.
Kessler falls to 42-2 with 32 KO's. Kessler will next be
meeting Carl Froch, though in losing the title, there will
be no unification as highly anticipated.
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