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01/09/2006 Archived Entry: "Interview with WBA 168 Lb. Champ Mikkel Kessler!"
Euro-Beat: Interview with WBA 168 Lb. Champ Mikkel Kessler!
By Per Ake Persson
Courtesy Boxing Press
Danish media have taken a big interest in WBA 168 lb ruler Mikkel Kessler, who is in final preparations for his showdown against Canadian Eric Lucas. Most interviews concentrate on the "human aspect" but I concentrated on the boxing when I caught the champ on his cellphone after a workout January 5.
Q: How does the training go?
A: Very well thank you, we close out the sparring on Saturday and I´m in great shape.
Q: How many rounds of sparring will you have done come Saturday?
A: I believe I will have done 160 rounds by then. Q: How many rounds did you do before facing Anthony Mundine in June?
A: Well, I had some sparring before injuring my back (that led to a postponement of the fight), and then I did a few rounds in Australia just before the fight. All in all I think I did 30 rounds.
Q: 30 rounds? And you went 12 hard rounds with Mundine?
A: Well, I was I very tired at the end. But I won clearly and for this fight I´m closing in on 100% of my ability.
Q: How do you plan to fight Lucas?
A: I´ve studied Lucas in some of his fights. He´s strong, got a good workrate, keeps coming. I will try to work him over from the outside, keep the distance and counter him. It´s my biggest fight yet but I´m ready for it.
Q: You have been trained by Ricard Olsen ever since you started boxing, what does he mean to you?
A: He always tells me to do exactly what he says. That is of course a lot easier said than done but I try ... (laughs)
Q: There are some interesting matchups coming up, what´s your pick on Lacy vs Calzaghe?
A: Difficult to call but I think Jeff Lacy will win. Calzaghe might over the hill and Lacy could be a little bit stronger. Q: Mundine vs Green?
A: Green. No doubt about it - unless of course he puts up a poor performance like he did in the second fight with Beyer.
Q: Speaking of Beyer, the WBC champ, what do you say of him?
A: He´s the one I want! He´s pretty good of course, very experienced, a southpaw, but I feel he is well over the hill. Q: On the undercard to your fight against Lucas there´s an interesting all Danish fight between Anders Hugger Nielsen and Martin Nielsen, what do you say about that one?
A: Martin, my gymmate and good friend, will win, he punches too hard for Hugger. I sparred with Anders, he´s very good technically but I think Martin is too strong for him.
Q: Which was your best performance this far?
A: When I fought Siaca (w tko 8), no doubt about it. Everything I did worked out that night.
Q: What do you like to do outside of boxing?
A: I like to spend time with my girlfriend and our dog. I also try to learn Spanish and well, I always do something. And I´m never out of training.
Q: Is it correct that you´ve been residing in Malmoe, Sweden?
A: That´s right, I lived there for awhile but I did all my training in Copenhagen.
