The Viking Warrior (45-2, 34 KOs) received some ground-breaking news from the WBA Convention in Jakarta this week. The WBA has approved an application filed by Team Sauerland and ruled that the winner of the WBA Super-Middleweight World Championship between Mikkel Kessler and Brian Magee (36-4-1, 25 KOs) has to face Andre Ward (26-0, 14 KOs) within six months after their clash at Jyske Bank BOXEN on December 8. Ward holds the WBA´s “Super World” Super-Middleweight Title but has yet to make a mandatory defence.
Furthermore, Brian Magee has been confirmed as regular champion after winning the interim title in July 2011 and defending it once against Rudy Markussen in February 2012. Former champion Karoly Balszay has been stripped as he was unable to defend the belt due to medical reasons.
Kessler was thrilled about the news. “I did not think it was possible to be more motivated to beat Magee and become world champion again on December 8 but now I have found a reason,” he stated. “Andre Ward knows that he owes me a rematch. That was not the real Viking Warrior in the ring on that night. I was at my best against Froch and Allan Green and I will be at my best against Magee. Now I just have to regain my title on December 8 and then we will have the rematch. Ward had better get ready.”
Said promoter Kalle Sauerland: “This makes the Magee clash Mikkel’s most important fight ever. Ever since that dubious night in Oakland where Mikkel suffered cuts only from elbows and headbutts, he has wanted nothing more than a Ward rematch on even terms. Now if he can reclaim the world championship against Magee, and that´s a big if because Magee is an accomplished fighter, we will finally have the rematch.”
