Ward: Cobra's venom will be too strong

Carl Froch has been tipped to stop Mikkel Kessler in their eagerly awaited re-match by the only man who has beaten both fighters.

Froch goes into this weekend's showdown with Kessler for the WBA and IBF super-middleweight crowns at the O2 Arena seeking to avenge his first professional defeat at the hands of the Dane in 2010. The Nottingham brawler has since gone on to defeat world-class operators Arthur Abraham, Glen Johnson and Lucian Bute..

That success was preceded by the second points defeat of his career against Andre Ward, who also defeated Kessler in 2009 and is rumoured to fight the winner of Saturday's bout. But Ward told Boxing News magazine: "Carl Froch has been in some tough fights but I think he has more in the tank,"

He added: "I think Kessler has kind of dipped a little bit since he and I fought, and even since he fought Froch the first time. Even though it's going to be a tough fight, it's going to be back and forth, I can't see Kessler winning this.

"Kessler's last two performances, he hasn't fought the best guys - a shopworn Allan Green then Brian Magee, who's very tough but limited - and he's going to look good against them but I don't know if he has the same fire as when he fought Froch the first time.

"I would be shocked if Kessler got his hand raised. I think Froch wins and I wouldn't be surprised if Froch caught and stopped him."