Better fighter: Nando Vargas or Mikkel Kessler

This is the like the most random question ever, I know. I'm not even sure what prompted me to think about it. Both were very good fighters who came up short against greats. Whom would you say peaked higher?

 

Good question. Id say vargas, but its very arguable

 

Kessler has the single best win between them, beating a prime Froch in the first fight.

Prime Froch> Faded, and inactive Quartey.

It is very close though.

 

Still, the froch win was much closer than the quartey win...

And faded inactive ike beat forrest a few years later

 

True, which is why it's arguable.

Vargas had more heart and mental toughness, but Kessler was physically tougher by virtue of having a better chin than Vargas.

I think Kessler was more physically gifted and more athletic. He was better at range than Vargas was.

Vargas was a much better infighter though. Kessler couldn't fight inside to save his life.

Very close.

 

Briefly going back to the Ike fight, I don't believe Vargas could have beaten the peak Quartey of 94-96. Never have believed he could.

 

I’d lean Kessler ever so slightly. I think Vargas best win was against Winky, though controversial. Kessler’s best win slightly edges it for him as far as greatness goes.

As far as being a better fighter, it’s tough to say. Does Kessler beat fighters on the level of Trinidad, De La Hoya and Mosley? I think Vargas could beat a fighter on Froch’s level, though it would be close. This isn’t easy, I agree.

 

Prime Quartey beats Vargas via clear UD, imo. Ike was clearly rusty from the 15 month layoff, and he didn’t look well prepared to me. I had heard that he entered camp around 190 lbs and Vargas being younger and hungrier was the difference on that night. And it was a struggle because Quartey had Vargas hurt in the 9th round and much to the surprise of many, Vargas never once appeared to have Quartey in trouble.

 

P4P speaking, how do you compare Nando at his peak vs. Cotto at his?

 

I think Vargas was better than Cotto. More talented IMO, but Cotto achieved more.

 

Cotto was a shade better p4p imo

 

Yes, I would agree. I disagree on Vargas being more talented, and we all know I'm not huge on Cotto.

Cotto was more talented and skilled than Nando. But Nando would fuck Cotto up at 154 just by virtue of being too big and strong.

 

To answer my own question, I think Kessler was a shade better than Vargas P4P. For me, it comes down to Kessler having the more damaging firepower. Kessler could at times end fights with one punch. Vargas couldn't. It's close enough that that one advantage tips me to say Kessler.

 

One thing which always annoyed the fuck out of me with Cotto is that he was good at both defence and attack, but he was utter shite in transition. He would attack beautifully and then just cover up or vice versa. It was the difference that made him the dictionary definition of a "very good" fighter, instead of a great one for me.

 

Cotto to me was always at his best on the attack. Whenever he elected to use his “movement” it took away from his heavy hands due to not being set to punch. Defense was never his game. Sure he could do the basics like keep his hands up, block/parry, upper body and head movement but not wasn’t his strength.

 

Same with Oscar. He couldn't incorporate both either. If he was on offense, he was easy to hit. If he was on defense, his offense wasn't as threatening. Only difference between them being, Oscar was far more talented than Cotto.

Compare Oscar and Cotto with guys like Duran, Napoles, and Chavez, who could seamlessly blend great defense into their offensive attacks.

 

Gatti also was like that. Even though he was at a much lower level than these 2

 

Kessler had the better career.

 

For the original question, I'd pick Vargas, although it's close. Kessler had longer career but at best, Vargas was better

What tips the scale for me is that Vargas was never as thoroughly whipped as Kessler was against Ward.

Vargas gave both Tito and Oscar a real challenge, and even the best of the weight class (McCallum and such) would know that they had been in a fight, although Vargas wouldn't come close of winning

 

Good question. Slightly lean towards Kessler who was more consistent in his career and only lost to 3 HOF fighters, one fighter that he had already beaten (Carl Froch). Fernando Vargas does have an impressive win over Winky Wright and Ike Quartey but just couldn’t keep it together after Trinidad destroyed him.

 

Kessler has the worst lost in his prime also

 

Hearns would blow Vargas away without much effort.

 

Hearns would definitely kick Vargas ass. Don’t see Nando lasting more than 5 rounds there.

 

Also, McCallum-Vargas would be utterly one sided. It'd be worse than what McCallum did to Watson.

 

I think Vargas gives a good fight to McCallum. He wouldn't come close to winning, but he would be competitive

 

I'd have to disagree. It'd be pretty one sided.

 

Vargas thrived on confidence.
And that confidence was shattered after the Tito fight.

 

Kessler was the better overall fighter

 

I think Kessler was a lot better than Vargas. I think Cotto was a lot better than Vargas, P4P, at their peaks.

Vargas was a very good fighter at his best, but Kessler and Cotto were a full level better. Who's better between Kessler and Cotto? Now that's a tough call.

 

Agreed. It would go some rounds but it would be one of those career altering fights for Vargas. McCallum was a nasty piece of work at 154.