Mikkel Kessler (born 1 March 1979 in Copenhagen), nicknamed the 'Viking Warrior', is a Danish professional boxer who competed from 1998 to 2013. Per Wikipedia, he held multiple super-middleweight world championships, including the WBA title (Super and Regular versions) three times between 2004 and 2013 and the WBC title twice between 2006 and 2010, and in 2020 he was admitted into the Danish Sports Hall of Fame.
Kessler won the WBA title from Manny Siaca on November 12, 2004, added the WBC title against Markus Beyer in 2006, and lost the unification to Joe Calzaghe in November 2007. He regained the WBA title in 2008, beat Carl Froch for the WBC title in the Super Six in April 2010, won the WBA (Regular) title from Brian Magee in December 2012, and lost the May 25, 2013 rematch to Froch — the final bout in the fetched record table. The fetched lead also notes a 2026 comeback was announced, which is not part of this 49-fight table.
BoxRec-style profile
- Birth name: Mikkel Kessler
- Born: March 1, 1979 — Copenhagen, Denmark
- Nationality: Danish
- Height: 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
- Reach: 74 in (188 cm)
- Stance: Orthodox
- Pro debut: 20 Mar 1998 (Win by KO vs Kelly Mays)
- Last bout: 25 May 2013 (Loss by UD vs Carl Froch)
- Total rounds boxed: 268 (summed from the bout table below)
- Divisions: Super-middleweight, Light-heavyweight
- KO percentage: 76.1% (35 KO wins in 46 wins)
- Titles held (major, with reign dates): WBA super-middleweight title November 12, 2004 – November 3, 2007 (won from Manny Siaca; defended against Anthony Mundine and Eric Lucas; unified with the WBC title October 14, 2006 against Markus Beyer and defended both against Librado Andrade; lost the WBA (Unified) and WBC titles to Joe Calzaghe); WBA super-middleweight title (Regular, later Super) June 21, 2008 – November 21, 2009 (won the vacant title from Dimitri Sartison; defended against Danilo Häussler and Gusmyr Perdomo; promoted to Super Champion in November 2009 and lost to Andre Ward in the Super Six); WBC super-middleweight title (second reign) April 24, 2010 – 2010 (won from Carl Froch in the Super Six; withdrew from the tournament on August 25, 2010 with an eye injury, per the fetched article); WBA (Regular) super-middleweight title December 8, 2012 – May 25, 2013 (won from Brian Magee; lost the rematch to Carl Froch) — reign summary per Wikipedia lead (WBA title, Super and Regular versions, three times between 2004 and 2013, and the WBC title twice between 2006 and 2010) and bout table
- Born: March 1, 1979 — Copenhagen, Denmark
- Nationality: Danish
- Height: 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
- Reach: 74 in (188 cm)
- Stance: Orthodox
- Divisions: Super-middleweight, Light-heavyweight
Record at a glance
- Total bouts: 49
- Wins: 46
- Wins by KO: 35
- Losses: 3
- Losses by KO: 0
- Draws: 0
- No contests: 0
- Born: March 1, 1979 — Copenhagen, Denmark
- Nationality: Danish
- Height: 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
- Reach: 74 in (188 cm)
- Stance: Orthodox
- Divisions: Super-middleweight, Light-heavyweight
Fight-by-fight record
| No. | Date | Opponent | Result | Method | Round/Time | Venue / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20 Mar 1998 | Kelly Mays | Win | KO | 1 (4), 1:09 | Vejlby-Risskov Hallen, Aarhus, Denmark |
| 2 | 3 Apr 1998 | Michael Corleone | Win | TKO | 3 (4), 2:40 | Holbæk Stadion, Holbæk, Denmark |
| 3 | 1 May 1998 | Alex Lubo | Win | UD | 4 | Kolding Teater, Kolding, Denmark |
| 4 | 5 Jun 1998 | Rick Stockton | Win | KO | 1 (4), 2:16 | K.B. Hallen, Copenhagen, Denmark |
| 5 | 4 Sep 1998 | Terry Clark | Win | KO | 1 (4), 2:35 | Koldinghallerne, Kolding, Denmark |
| 6 | 18 Sep 1998 | Sammy Sparkman | Win | KO | 1 (4), 2:54 | Sundbyøster Hallen, Copenhagen, Denmark |
| 7 | 16 Oct 1998 | Edwin Murillo | Win | KO | 2 (6), 2:34 | Aalborghallen, Aalborg, Denmark |
| 8 | 6 Nov 1998 | Anthony Ivory | Win | UD | 6 | K.B. Hallen, Copenhagen, Denmark |
| 9 | 27 Nov 1998 | Dean Martin | Win | UD | 6 | Vejlby-Risskov Hallen, Aarhus, Denmark |
| 10 | 12 Feb 1999 | Jaime Balboa | Win | KO | 6 (6), 2:13 | Falkoner Center, Copenhagen, Denmark |
| 11 | 19 Mar 1999 | Alejandro De Leon | Win | UD | 6 | Falkoner Center, Copenhagen, Denmark |
| 12 | 16 Apr 1999 | Jose Maquina Rojas | Win | KO | 2 (6), 2:10 | K.B. Hallen, Copenhagen, Denmark |
| 13 | 4 May 1999 | Jean Paul D'Alessandro | Win | UD | 6 | Circus Building, Copenhagen, Denmark |
| 14 | 14 Jan 2000 | Sidney Mxoli Msutu | Win | UD | 6 | Koldinghallerne, Kolding, Denmark |
| 15 | 18 Feb 2000 | Charles Whittaker | Win | KO | 3 (6), 2:30 | Aalborghallen, Aalborg, Denmark |
| 16 | 4 Mar 2000 | Israel Ponce | Win | KO | 2 (6), 2:59 | Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, US |
| 17 | 31 Mar 2000 | Tom Younan | Win | KO | 3 (6), 1:35 | Stadionhal, Esbjerg, Denmark |
| 18 | 28 Apr 2000 | Kevin Hall | Win | KO | 2 (6), 2:41 | K.B. Hallen, Copenhagen, Denmark |
| 19 | 1 Sep 2000 | Tony Menefee | Win | TKO | 6 (6), 1:36 | Koldinghallerne, Kolding, Denmark |
| 20 | 9 Feb 2001 | Patrick Rubes | Win | KO | 2 (6), 0:45 | Idrætshal, Odense, Denmark |
| 21 | 9 Mar 2001 | Miguel Julio | Win | KO | 3 (6), 0:30 | K.B. Hallen, Copenhagen, Denmark |
| 22 | 27 Apr 2001 | Rodrigues Moungo | Win | KO | 4 (6), 1:09 | Aalborghallen, Aalborg, Denmark |
| 23 | 13 Oct 2001 | David Mendez | Win | UD | 6 | Parken Stadium, Copenhagen, Denmark |
| 24 | 16 Nov 2001 | Fernando Hernández | Win | TKO | 2 (8), 1:30 | Roskilde Hallerne, Roskilde, Denmark |
| 25 | 8 Feb 2002 | Manny Sobral | Win | RTD | 4 (8), 3:00 | Falkoner Center, Copenhagen, Denmark |
| 26 | 15 Mar 2002 | Arthur Allen | Win | TKO | 6 (8), 0:52 | Stadionhal, Viborg, Denmark |
| 27 | 24 May 2002 | Orlando Javier Acuna | Win | RTD | 6 (8), 3:00 | Aalborghallen, Aalborg, Denmark |
| 28 | 4 Oct 2002 | Gerard Zdziarski | Win | TKO | 8 (8), 2:33 | Holbæk Stadion, Holbæk, Denmark |
| 29 | 8 Nov 2002 | Dean Williams | Win | KO | 1 (8), 1:58 | Falkoner Center, Copenhagen, Denmark |
| 30 | 29 Nov 2002 | Dingaan Thobela | Win | UD | 12 | Falkoner Center, Copenhagen, Denmark — ★ Title fight — Won vacant IBA super-middleweight title |
| 31 | 11 Apr 2003 | Craig Cummings | Win | KO | 3 (12), 1:09 | K.B. Hallen, Copenhagen, Denmark — ★ Title fight — Won vacant WBC International super-middleweight title |
| 32 | 24 Oct 2003 | Henry Porras | Win | TKO | 9 (12), 2:46 | K.B. Hallen, Copenhagen, Denmark — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC International super-middleweight title |
| 33 | 13 Mar 2004 | Julio César Green | Win | KO | 1 (12), 1:20 | Brøndby Hall, Copenhagen, Denmark — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC International super-middleweight title |
| 34 | 11 Jun 2004 | Andre Thysse | Win | TKO | 11 (12), 1:32 | K.B. Hallen, Copenhagen, Denmark — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC International super-middleweight title |
| 35 | 12 Nov 2004 | Manny Siaca | Win | RTD | 7 (12), 3:00 | Brøndby Hall, Copenhagen, Denmark — ★ Title fight — Won WBA super-middleweight title |
| 36 | 8 Jun 2005 | Anthony Mundine | Win | UD | 12 | Entertainment Centre, Sydney, Australia — ★ Title fight — Retained WBA super-middleweight title |
| 37 | 14 Jan 2006 | Eric Lucas | Win | TKO | 10 (12), 1:51 | Brøndby Hall, Copenhagen, Denmark — ★ Title fight — Retained WBA super-middleweight title |
| 38 | 14 Oct 2006 | Markus Beyer | Win | KO | 3 (12), 2:58 | Parken Stadium, Copenhagen, Denmark — ★ Title fight — Retained WBA (Unified) super-middleweight title; Won WBC super-middleweight title |
| 39 | 24 Mar 2007 | Librado Andrade | Win | UD | 12 | Parken Stadium, Copenhagen, Denmark — ★ Title fight — Retained WBA (Unified) and WBC super-middleweight titles |
| 40 | 3 Nov 2007 | Joe Calzaghe | Loss | UD | 12 | Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales — ★ Title fight — Lost WBA (Unified) and WBC super-middleweight titles; For WBO and The Ring super-middleweight titles |
| 41 | 21 Jun 2008 | Dimitri Sartison | Win | KO | 12 (12), 2:00 | Brøndby Hall, Copenhagen, Denmark — ★ Title fight — Won vacant WBA (Regular) super-middleweight title |
| 42 | 25 Oct 2008 | Danilo Haussler | Win | KO | 3 (12), 1:08 | Weser-Ems-Halle, Oldenburg, Germany — ★ Title fight — Retained WBA super-middleweight title |
| 43 | 12 Sep 2009 | Gusmyr Perdomo | Win | TKO | 4 (12), 0:51 | MCH Messecenter Herning, Herning, Denmark — ★ Title fight — Retained WBA super-middleweight title |
| 44 | 21 Nov 2009 | Andre Ward | Loss | TD | 11 (12), 1:42 | Oracle Arena, Oakland, California, US — ★ Title fight — Lost WBA (Super) super-middleweight title; Super Six World Boxing Classic: group stage 1; Unanimous TD after Kessler cut from accidental head clashes |
| 45 | 24 Apr 2010 | Carl Froch | Win | UD | 12 | MCH Messecenter Herning, Herning, Denmark — ★ Title fight — Won WBC super-middleweight title |
| 46 | 4 Jun 2011 | Mehdi Bouadla | Win | TKO | 6 (12), 2:25 | Parken Stadium, Copenhagen, Denmark — ★ Title fight — Won vacant WBO European super-middleweight title |
| 47 | 19 May 2012 | Allan Green | Win | KO | 4 (12), 0:17 | Parken Stadium, Copenhagen, Denmark — ★ Title fight — Won vacant WBC Silver light-heavyweight title |
| 48 | 8 Dec 2012 | Brian Magee | Win | TKO | 3 (12), 0:24 | Jyske Bank Boxen, Herning, Denmark — ★ Title fight — Won WBA (Regular) super-middleweight title |
| 49 | 25 May 2013 | Carl Froch | Loss | UD | 12 | The O2 Arena, London, England — ★ Title fight — Lost WBA (Regular) super-middleweight title; For IBF super-middleweight title |
Titles & notes
Major title reigns (start–end): WBA super-middleweight title November 12, 2004 – November 3, 2007 (won from Manny Siaca; defended against Anthony Mundine and Eric Lucas; unified with the WBC title October 14, 2006 against Markus Beyer and defended both against Librado Andrade; lost the WBA (Unified) and WBC titles to Joe Calzaghe); WBA super-middleweight title (Regular, later Super) June 21, 2008 – November 21, 2009 (won the vacant title from Dimitri Sartison; defended against Danilo Häussler and Gusmyr Perdomo; promoted to Super Champion in November 2009 and lost to Andre Ward in the Super Six); WBC super-middleweight title (second reign) April 24, 2010 – 2010 (won from Carl Froch in the Super Six; withdrew from the tournament on August 25, 2010 with an eye injury, per the fetched article); WBA (Regular) super-middleweight title December 8, 2012 – May 25, 2013 (won from Brian Magee; lost the rematch to Carl Froch) — reign summary per Wikipedia lead (WBA title, Super and Regular versions, three times between 2004 and 2013, and the WBC title twice between 2006 and 2010) and bout table
- 29 Nov 2002 vs Dingaan Thobela: Won vacant IBA super-middleweight title
- 11 Apr 2003 vs Craig Cummings: Won vacant WBC International super-middleweight title
- 24 Oct 2003 vs Henry Porras: Retained WBC International super-middleweight title
- 13 Mar 2004 vs Julio César Green: Retained WBC International super-middleweight title
- 11 Jun 2004 vs Andre Thysse: Retained WBC International super-middleweight title
- 12 Nov 2004 vs Manny Siaca: Won WBA super-middleweight title
- 8 Jun 2005 vs Anthony Mundine: Retained WBA super-middleweight title
- 14 Jan 2006 vs Eric Lucas: Retained WBA super-middleweight title
- 14 Oct 2006 vs Markus Beyer: Retained WBA (Unified) super-middleweight title; Won WBC super-middleweight title
- 24 Mar 2007 vs Librado Andrade: Retained WBA (Unified) and WBC super-middleweight titles
- 3 Nov 2007 vs Joe Calzaghe: Lost WBA (Unified) and WBC super-middleweight titles; For WBO and The Ring super-middleweight titles
- 21 Jun 2008 vs Dimitri Sartison: Won vacant WBA (Regular) super-middleweight title
- 25 Oct 2008 vs Danilo Haussler: Retained WBA super-middleweight title
- 12 Sep 2009 vs Gusmyr Perdomo: Retained WBA super-middleweight title
- 21 Nov 2009 vs Andre Ward: Lost WBA (Super) super-middleweight title; Super Six World Boxing Classic: group stage 1; Unanimous TD after Kessler cut from accidental head clashes
- 24 Apr 2010 vs Carl Froch: Won WBC super-middleweight title
- 4 Jun 2011 vs Mehdi Bouadla: Won vacant WBO European super-middleweight title
- 19 May 2012 vs Allan Green: Won vacant WBC Silver light-heavyweight title
- 8 Dec 2012 vs Brian Magee: Won WBA (Regular) super-middleweight title
- 25 May 2013 vs Carl Froch: Lost WBA (Regular) super-middleweight title; For IBF super-middleweight title
Photo: Sirocco758 via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0). Featured image: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cd/MikkelKessler2012.jpg
Record source: Wikipedia professional boxing record table (cross-checked against the bout list), retrieved 2026-10-30.
