Denmark's Mikkel Kessler will defend his WBA super-middleweight title against Andre Ward on Saturday after a row over officials was resolved.

The fight's title status was in doubt after Kessler complained about the assignment of two judges and a referee from Ward's home state of California.

But one of the Californian judges has been replaced with a Swede.

The bout is the third fight in the Super Six Classic, which also involves Nottingham's WBC champion Carl Froch.

Froch edged past American Andre Dirrell in his tournament opener last month, while Germany's Arthur Abraham knocked out another American in Jermain Taylor.

Kessler, 30, has held the WBA belt for most of the past five years, although he did lose it to Welshman Joe Calzaghe in March 2007 before reclaiming it last year.

That defeat to Calzaghe is the only blemish on his 42-1 record, which includes 32 knockouts.

The 25-year-old Ward is the only US boxing champion to come out of the past three Olympics and has built a 20-0 (13 KOs) record since claiming light-heavyweight gold in Athens in 2004.

Tournament organiser Showtime will be keeping its fingers crossed for a Ward victory after defeats for both Dirrell and Taylor, and Ward says he "wants to do his part for America" with victory over Kessler in his home town of Oakland.

Ward said: "I know the Europeans have some good fighters, but we Americans, we're still a force to be reckoned with."


http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/8370183.stm

Had you all heard about this? I don't like it when fighters seem pre-occupied with issues such as this before a fight. I hope he has his mind ont he job and does the business come saturday.

Understandable nerves after settling in enemy territory. Protecting his 42-1 record certainly shows he clearly is keeping his mind on the job!

Kessler has a point tho its bad enough he has to travel to california to fight this novice and secondly to find out that a guy from the same state will be refereeing and two of the judges being from california is not fair on Kessler and im glad its been rectified

He should treat it as an opportunity though - going over there and beating their bright star will see his status soar.

I agree with the dane...

Ive always been under the opinion that any fight that is for a world title should have judges from the world. The WBC etc. should ship guys in from all over. Fights have to be given the greatest possible opportunity to be above board and completely fair to both guys involved.

I think he does, and the issue of him looking at the judges he knows that he may have to go for 12 rounds.

They stipulated in the contract or the agreement that there would be two judges not from the hometown.

If it goes the distance note the Californian Judges's score...then we can see if Kessler's fears were well founded. My guess is that even if its a shut out on the card to Kessler, Ward will get a more generous score from his home judge...

cant blame him for that, i went to see him fight calzaghe it was a belter. hope he wins, i like him

Any idea when it starts tonight?

Shopw starts at midnight, it's in Oakland - I'd guess around 4, but am keeping an eye on it.

it's 10 in North America... I think that's 3 for you guys there.

All right cheers for the heads up!

Dirrel really surprised me in the Froch fight, eager to see Ward

I did a dam good preview of the fight...but my home nets been down >_<

Kessler easy points made to look close on the cards