Mikkel Kessler / Photo © Marty Rosengarten / Ringsidephotos.com

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Michael Nelson takes a quick look at the final group stage match-up between Mikkel Kessler and Allan Green.

What once looked like a solid fight on paper, now looks hollow thanks to Green's non-effort against Ward. The good news is that Kessler's more predictable and easier to hit than Andre is. Ghost Dog will have openings to land hard punches and show that his left hook is for real against A-level opposition. Moreover, he won't have to deal with much headbutting, grappling, or inside work of any kind. The bout will undoubtedly feature cleaner contact.

The bad news, at least for Green, is that if he gives the same effort he did a week and a half ago, he's gonna become a bobble-head. And then he's gonna become a 10 count.

Kessler will be the prohibitive favorite, as he should be, and the reason will be less about skill and more about desire. There hasn't been a bout where Mikkel didn't try hard to win convincingly. Meanwhile, Green ho-hummed through the victories where he didn't get a knockout, ho-hummed through his two losses, and beyond a sharp tongue and a strong left hook, appears to be a ho-hum fighter in general.

"Appears" is the operative word. This is his chance - perhaps his last one - to prove his doubters wrong. Kessler's straightforward style will provide opportunities to do so. But if Green doesn't show more competitive spirit, Kessler's path to the semi-finals will be a red carpet.

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