PRESS RELEASE: Just minutes after he brutally destroyed WBC super middleweight champion Markus Beyer, probably knocking the German veteran into retirement, two-belt champ Mikkel Kessler stood and spoke with the media and well-wishers near his dressing room at Parken Stadium.
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Someone mentioned that the now 38-0, 29 KOs Dane had picked a good fight for his American television debut (HBO) and Kessler said, "It is not television. It is HBO. Now I can say I am on the same television network as 'The Sopranos.'"
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Using his rifle-like left jab to keep Beyer at bay, the man who nows owns both the WBA and WBC 168-pound belts seemed not miss a single punch against 34-3-1 Beyer.
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Promoter Mogens Palle, normally a very tough critic of his own fighters, could find no fault with this classic performance under pressure.
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"Mikkel fought almost perfectly," the 49-year boxing veteran said. "If this fight did not impress HBO, then nothing will. Mikkel did more than dominate. He was a wrecking ball from the opening bell. His right hand was powerful and accurate. Now we will look at all our attractive options."
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Kessler said he has no qualms about facing 42-0 world champion Joe Calzaghe.
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"I would be glad to fight Joe under the right financial conditions. I would go to England or he could come to Denmark. I will beat him in either place. I had said that Floyd Mayweather is boxing's best pound for pound and that I am the second best fighter in the sport. I think I demonstrated that to some people here tonight. I will fight anyone who is out there."
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Promoter Bettina Palle was in agreement with her father.
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"That was an outstanding showing by Mikkel," Ms. Palle said. "It must be a bit frightening for opponents but Mikkel seems to be getting better and better each fight."
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Michael Marley, American agent working with the Palles and Kessler, said HBO was to be complimented for having the sagacity to be the first to showcase Kessler on U.S. television.
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"I think it was a brilliant stroke by Ross Greenburg and Kery Davis and Luis Barragan at HBO to put three world super middleweight champions, all of them non-Americans, on their airwaves in one night so American fight fans could compare and contrast their merits. Calzaghe won his title bout, yes, and he is a great champion but Mogens Palle predicted that Kessler would "look like a million dollars" and he sure did just that. There can be no doubt as to who stole the HBO show on this night."