The Benn that fought McClellan would KO Kessler late whilst taking a whole bunch of shots in the process. The Benn that fought Eubank and Watson would lose to Mikkel by late stoppage.
Agreed. Benn had his hammers but I think he simply wouldn't land enough on Kessler his has a very tight (if simple) defense and is in good condition. Kessler's straight punching would win him the fight
If Benn can hold his own, sparring against a faded Roberto Duran in 1989, then Kessler would be an easy fight for him. :dunno: The Dark Destroyer KO5 Euro-Bum-Kessler opcorn:
There is a hell of a lot of hullaballo over Kessler which should be addressed here. The Benn who fought Watson would have likely lost to Kessler IMO. That Benn was stupid, had no stamina, couldn't hit shit bar gloves and was simply out-thought by a guy who is, to all intents and purposes, a late 1980's version of Kessler; solid fundamentals, quick and sharp enough with good power but largely unremarkable against the very best. Also, it should be remembered that the Watson fight was unquestionably Benn's WORST ever performance, and it is can be presumed that Benn wouldn't fight that badly or dumbly were he to fight Kessler. Now to the hullaballo. People talk about Mikkel's great power but he smashed Andrade in the face practically unmolested for 12 straight rounds and couldn't knock him out. Calzaghe walked through his bombs in round 4 when they fought. Fair enough, he KO'd Beyer, but Beyer looked like he was searching for the exit long before he took a lie down... Is there a certainty that Kessler hit's harder than Watson did? :dunno: Also, who has Mikkel fought and beaten in the same class as Iran Barkley and Gerald McClellan? A persuasive argument can also be made for Benn having won the Eubanks rematch. These are three ELITE guys, two of which Benn KTFO having gone to war and eating shots from NOTED P4P punchers. Who has Mikkel fought in that class? The answer is simple- Joe Calzaghe. And Kessler lost, by 4 and 5 rounds on the cards. The bottom line is that a PRIME Nigel Benn is an ELITE fighter, whilst a PRIME Mikkel Kessler is a very good, borderline world class fighter but he is NOT an ELITE fighter. The Benn which walked like a man possessed through McClellan and Barkley would have walked through absolutely anything Kessler could offer and, if Benn landed with anywhere like the frequency Calzaghe did, then he'd KO Mikkel. MTF
benn took that shit to another level. hitting behind the head, hitting while your down...he was a bitch.
he crushed McClellan who is now in a "deaf, dumb and blind boy...sure plays a mean pinball"!! :: War, The Benn-Meister!!! :bears:
:nono: From where and what does Mikkel get such kudos, Tam? I mean, I rate the guy- he's the clear No1 at 168 now that Joe has moved up and out, and I know he beat your boy Andrade for 12 full rounds, but how can anyone make any case for him beating an elite fighter until he himself has actually beat one? Unless you want to argue that Benn isn't an elite fighter, in which case you are clearly wrong...
He was skilled, Benn wasn't. Entertaining? Of course. But he wasn't very good. His resume isn't something that can be used to prop him up, either. He fought A LOT of rubbish and struggled through a great deal of them. Suspect beard. Suspect stamina. Not suspect skills; they were below average. Huge heart. Better than decent punch. Right opponents. Right place to fight them. One of the most overrated fighters I ever saw. PS: WTF is "my boy" about Andrade? He's fucking mediocre and I've never propped him up at all.
Define 'skilled'. If by 'skilled' you mean cute, reflex based and full of footwork and hand speed, then sure, I'll concede that Benn wasn't skilled. But the fucker hit like a MULE. That in itself is a 'skill'. That 'skill' effectively made the careers of MW's like Jackson, McClellan, Benn and Pavlik. And it takes a very different fighter to beat a fighter like that, unless the fighter can out punch the puncher. Don't get me wrong. A highly 'skilled' guy like RJJ would have done for Benn. No doubt. I mean, Michael Watson was a 'skilled' (ie Sound techincally, cute and ring smart) fighter and he outsmarted and demolished Benn, but Mikkel isn't as cute as Watson. Mikkel is a very 1-2 type of guy- hits hard, good defence and a sound technical guy BUT the Calzaghe fight showed that he isn't adaptable at all when plan 'A' fails. His resume is decent Tam. He demolished a whole bunch of MW's early doors. He then went to US and smashed Iran Barkley in a round- a very highly rated MW. He also should have won the second Eubanks fight. Then there is his defining fight, the G-Man fight. That was a horrible, horrible WAR- the likes of which may never be seen in a ring again. THAT Benn was possessed. Any other fighter would have been out in round one. The HEART and FIGHT he showed in that bout should NEVER be forgotten. 'Better than decent punch'? WTF? Benn was a MURDEROUS MW puncher. That can't even be an issue.... Mikkel is very good. Solid. Excellent fundamentals. Super 1-2 punch output. Good footwork, strong and a sound chin. But how can you dismiss Benn's resume and defend Mikkel's? He fought what there was to fight, but Benn would have mangled Mundine, Andrande, Beyer et al. No question in my mind of that. Different standard and class of fighters. Where on Mikkel's resume are fighter's like Barkley and McClellan? Nowhere is the answer. He has fought ONE world class fighter. Joe Calzaghe. And he was beaten in good style. Benn MIGHT be overrated, but he is more than enough for Mikkel. Sure, some of Benn's performances would not have been enough. But the Benn who fought McClellan would have decapitated Kessler. In short order. MTF P.S That was a reference to your antipodean roots, my good man. I'm allowed an occassional cheap shot, surely... :tease: And :: at 'suspect beard'...
Tam severely underrates Benn. At 160 he was a huge puncher. You don't do what he did to Barkley if you're only a "better than decent" puncher. He is one of the hardest hitting middleweights ever. It depends how good Kessler's chin is really.
Benn wasn't the first, or last middleweight to bash the fuck out of Barkley. Most guys didn't do it illegally either. Benn's resume @ 160 was shit. He KOed who else, besides a suspect Iran Barkley? And @ 168...who there? Most overrated british fighter EVER.
