Mikkel Kessler to fight again at 47, his first bout since losing to Carl Froch in 2013

The Dane faces American Bernard Joseph in Denmark on 28 November: "If you think this is a stunt, a gimmick or a sudden whim, you don't know me well."

By Combat Sports UK Staff · Published Thu 1 Oct, 15:16 UK · AI-assisted reporting

Mikkel Kessler at the Viaplay press conference in Copenhagen announcing his comeback — Photo: Ida Marie Odgaard / Ritzau Scanpix

Mikkel Kessler, the former super-middleweight world champion who fought Carl Froch twice and Joe Calzaghe, is coming out of retirement at 47 for his first fight in more than 13 years.

Kessler faces Bernard Joseph, a 36-year-old American, at Brøndby Hallen in Denmark on 28 November. It was announced at a Viaplay press conference in Copenhagen on Thursday.

"It has been gnawing at me ever since. I want to be back," Kessler said, in comments translated from Danish. He wanted a real professional opponent, and added: "If you think this is a stunt, a gimmick or a sudden whim, you don't know me well."

His promoter Kalle Sauerland said of Joseph: "The level of the opponent is exactly what we want. He has boxed on big shows before and is a typical American professional. At the same time he has also won the lottery, because he gets a chance to beat a five-time world champion in Mikkel Kessler."

Kessler's last fight was his rematch with Froch at the O2 in London in May 2013, which Froch won by unanimous decision. Kessler had won their first fight in Herning, Denmark, in 2010. His other two defeats were to Calzaghe at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff in 2007, and Andre Ward in 2009. His record is 46-3.

He retired in 2015 and tried to come back in 2017, but was struck by Lyme disease after a tick bite and gave up the comeback the following year.