MIKKEL KESSLER

updated November 04, 2007

"Ever since I started up my very first boxing lessons I always dreamt of reaching the ultimate heights of the ring career: To conquer all the big guys and reigning champs of your class one by one to be hailed as the greatest -- the proud "Undisputed".

That's just why I never hesitated to call out Calzaghe immediately after knocking out Markus Beyer last year adding his WBC belt to my WBA regency. When I've blown out all Cardiff lights including Joe's on November 3 at the Millennium the entire world of boxing will definitely declare Super Middleweight as Kessler's Kingdom ..."

Denmark's popular WBA & WBC World Champion and Sportsman of the Year 2006 Mikkel "The Viking Warrior" Kessler is anxiously lining up to his greatest moment of life so far -- the tremendous winner-takes-it-all Unification clash against his longtime super middleweight super-rival and motivator Joe Calzaghe.

Even long time before winning the WBA World Title against Puerto Rican Manny Siaca Jr. back in November 2004 Kessler had targeted his eyes at the the name Joe Calzaghe, but several attempts to approach the Welsh Super Middlewight Superstar failed until this summer.

"Calzaghe already maintained WBO's Crown as I made my pro debut on March 1998, so I've always felt Joe's spirit present somewhere out there. Finally time and things now have luckily matured into this confrontation, which I really have been chasing most eagerly during so many years," Great Dane Kessler, 28, underlines. Growing up in the very heart of Copenhagen just a few hundred yards from the world famous amusement and pleasure park Tivoli Gardens youngster Kessler tackled a handfull different sports before entering the boxing ring as an early teenager.

"At that time I never saw myself as some bright or extraordinary talent of nature on the canvas, not at all, but I always was very hard-working and narrowly focused on trying to develope my skills among the other guys.

I still remember that they often laughed at me claiming that the only thing I was ever going to win would be experience ...," Kessler recalls.

Nevertheless the youngest edition of Mikkel Kessler managed to establish a glorious amatuer career by conquering every of his 47 opponents but three. 16 years old Kessler triumphed with his goldmedal and title at the European Youth Championships in Turkey and just turned 19 he celebrated his pro debut with Team Palle by knocking out American Kelly Mays.

After stopping seven of his first ten foes an American agent spontaneously named the talented Danish upcomer as the new "De La Hoya of Europe".

Over the next years manager Bettina Palle continued to step up Mikkel Kessler's record systematically and strongly but without anticipating the big events in front.

"I guess my big breakthrough in highlevel business came with my convincing battle in November 2002 against former South African World Champion Dingaan Thobela when I took IBA's and my very first pro title," Kessler says.

Still just 23 years old Mikkel Kessler found himself presenting a splendid record of 30-0 including 22 stoppages.

Again in his next fight he improved his status in the world ratings by knocking out former WBO and Steve Collins contender, American Craig Cummings, to become new WBC International Champion. A title Kessler easily managed to emphasize and defend against Henry Porras, Julio Cesar Green and André Thysse.

In Autumn 2004 Mikkel Kessler was preparing himself for a new important step up opportunity, as gym fellow Mads Larsen injured himself in his Florida trainingscamp and had to pull out of his planned Copenhagen title shot with newly crowned WBA World Champion Manny Siaca Jr.

Promoter Bettina Palle instantly grabbed the chance to put in her highly ranked Mikkel Kessler for Larsen, and Kessler fullfilled this opportune project with a very sharp performance and a highlighting eight round stoppage of the Puerto Rican. Another risky project was awating Denmark's new WBA Champ and national hero -- Australian mandatory challenger Anthony Mundine on his Sydney turf. Due to injury problems with his back the Dane had to postpone his first title defence one month. And even still 60-70 percent from his maximum Mikkel Kessler took a strong physical control and defeated Mundine with a convincing and spectacular 116-112, 117-113, 120-108 decision.

"When having climbed the final steps to the World Title you have to saddle mentally again to prevent yourself from feeling too good and too comfortable. At once as new champ you must aim at new and even bigger targets and challenges. If not you'll very soon stagger and stagnate and put yourself out of game.

Just one thing is better than being a champ: To be celebrated as a double or triple champion! That's the reason why immedately after my WBA title win I began to call out the other reigning super middle kings -- Calzaghe, Beyer and at that time also Jeff Lacy," Mikkel Kessler adds.

His devastating ten round punishment of former Canadian WBC World Champion Eric Lucas in January 2006 prepared the road for the biggest show and event ever in the history of Danish boxing: The unification megafight against German WBC titlist Markus Beyer last October at the Danish national soccer arena of Copenhagen.

The highly exposed world title shot turned out to be a very short chapter: In round three Mikkel Kessler exploded and landed his right hammer on the German's chin and left the dazed Beyer unable to beat the count.

In his latest action last March Denmark's Double World Champion lined up against the mandatory WBC contender, also undefeated Nevada-Mexican Librado Andrade, but from the first bell Kessler dominated the hard fought duel decisioning his guest 120-108 by all judges.

"Andrade came with his toughest arms, and actually I don't thrust Joe Calzaghe to possess same depths of power. The Welsh always maintains his fast handspeed, but in my opinion this speed is mostly without any punching effort, especially when it comes to challenge an opponent of my class and capacity," Kessler provokes.

Early July the Danish WBA & WBC Champ started his Cardiff preparations from his brand new Mediterranean headquarter at Monte Carlo with his fitness coach Thomas Macon.

"Already my physical shape is more than sufficient, because in June we began working for Warren's September date. With four months now to go I've got plenty of time to nurse all the details that'll get Calzaghe's empire to its fall at the Millennium.

I don't need to use or respond to all Calzaghe's surprisingly aggresive words and kind of communication. I accept November 3 to be the biggest challenge of my boxing career so far -- no more, no less -- but on the other hand I don't suspect Calzaghe necessarily to become my toughest opponent.

I know how to destroy WBO's reigning Champion, how to conquer him and how to strip him of his ten year regency. Trust me! From November 4 2007 the boxing world will quite automatically identify and acknowledge Super Middleweight as Kessler's Kingdom ...!" announces Denmark's World Champ and KO Ace of the same name.