Danish boxer Mikkel Kessler 'mentally' retires
The Local Denmark - [email protected]
Published: 1 Feb, 2015 CET.
Updated: Sun 1 Feb 2015 10:00 CET
The Viking Warrior said that he has stepped into the ring for the last time, but leaves the door open for a possible rematch with one of the two men who handed him losses in his illustrious career.
Danish boxer Mikkel Kessler, a five-time world champion, says that he is likely done in the ring. The former WBA and WBC super middleweight belt holder told Ekstra Bladet that he considers himself “mentally” retired. “I’ve spent a lot of time considering the fight offers I have received over the past six to eight months. When it came down to it, none of those options were enough to motivate me to get up to the level needed to step into the boxing ring again,” Kessler told the tabloid. Kessler said he was only interested in fighting “the best of the best” and since those matches aren’t coming, he’s prepared to hang up the gloves for good. The Viking Warrior’s last fight was nearly two years ago, when he lost a rematch against England’s Carl Froch. He said another go at Froch or a rematch with American Andre Ward, who took Kessler’s WBA title in 2009, would be the only fights that would get him to reconsider retirement. “I’m mentally stopping my career and will try to move on, but if an incredible offer comes from one of them [Froch or Ward, ed.], then I’d be ready,” he told Ekstra Bladet. Kessler, who turns 36 next month, ends with a record of 46-3-0, with 35 wins coming by knockout.
Comments
See Also
Danish boxer Mikkel Kessler, a five-time world champion, says that he is likely done in the ring.
The former WBA and WBC super middleweight belt holder told Ekstra Bladet that he considers himself “mentally” retired.
“I’ve spent a lot of time considering the fight offers I have received over the past six to eight months. When it came down to it, none of those options were enough to motivate me to get up to the level needed to step into the boxing ring again,” Kessler told the tabloid.
Kessler said he was only interested in fighting “the best of the best” and since those matches aren’t coming, he’s prepared to hang up the gloves for good.
The Viking Warrior’s last fight was nearly two years ago, when he lost a rematch against England’s Carl Froch. He said another go at Froch or a rematch with American Andre Ward, who took Kessler’s WBA title in 2009, would be the only fights that would get him to reconsider retirement.
“I’m mentally stopping my career and will try to move on, but if an incredible offer comes from one of them [Froch or Ward, ed.], then I’d be ready,” he told Ekstra Bladet.
Kessler, who turns 36 next month, ends with a record of 46-3-0, with 35 wins coming by knockout.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.