Boxing has always proved a hard sport to walk away from, and now another former star who fought Carl Froch and Joe Calzaghe is making his return before the end of the year, despite being 47 years of age.
There are many examples of boxers from across the years who have retired several times, only to return because of the lure of the spotlight, the adrenaline rush and of course the paydays that await.
Whether that’s Tyson Fury taking more than a year out more than once only to come back, Mike Tyson taking on a man less than half his age when he himself was nearing 60, or Muhammad Ali fighting on for many years longer than many thought he should.
Now, a new post on X from the Sauerland Brothers, his original promoters, confirms that Mikkel Kessler returns to the ring after 13 years away. He will face Bernard Joseph on Nov 28th in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Kessler was one of the best super middleweights in the world during the peak of his career. He fought 49 times in all, with just three losses at the highest level.
The first came against Joe Calzaghe in November 2007 for the WBA, WBC, WBO and Ring Magazine titles, then he lost a technical decision against Andre Ward in the Super Six World Series in 2009.
In 2010, he had the first of his famous wars with Carl Froch and won on the cards, then lost the rematch to Froch in his final fight in May 2013.
Kessler teased a comeback in 2015, though he caught Lyme disease, which kept him away from the ring. Upcoming opponent Joseph has a record of 12 wins from 17 fights, with five of those wins by knockout.
