Mikkel Kessler vs. Brian Magee for WBA 168 Title, Could Andre Ward Be Next?

Denmark’s Mikkel Kessler (45-2 34KOs) will be challenging the U.K.’s Brian Magee (36-4-1 25KOs) for the vacant WBA super middleweight championship before the end of the year, at a site and date to be determined according to a report from boxingnews24.com. 

Kessler will be attempting to win his fourth world championship and will also be looking to enact some revenge for fellow countrymen Mads Larsen and Rudy Markussen, both of whom suffered knockout losses at the hands of the WBA interim champion Magee. 

A win over Magee could put Kessler in line for a rematch with super middleweight kingpin Andre Ward for sometime next year. Ward and Kessler previously squared off against each other as part of the Showtime Super-Six Classic in 2009. 

Kessler, who was the favorite going into the tournament lost to Ward by technical decision. The bout was sent to the scorecards in round 11 after the ringside doctor felt Kessler could no longer continue after suffering a cut from an accidental clash of heads earlier in the match. 

After the loss to Ward, Kessler went on to win the WBC super middleweight title from Carl Froch in his very next fight. 

In his most recent outing, Kessler took on the much-faded Allen Green in a light heavyweight matchup. Kessler was knocked down in the first round, but came back to stop Green in the fourth by brutal knockout. 

Ward, who is the current WBA champion, will either be stripped of his title or elevated to “Super” champion so the WBA will once again have two champions in the same division.