Froch predicts epic fight with Kessler

Carl Froch and Mikkel Kessler have promised an "epic" May showdown as they came together to launch their rematch fight on Monday.

The super-middleweight duo went face-to-face at London O2 Arena to announce a unification fight on Saturday May 25, a bout many are predicting to be one of the tear-ups of the year.

Kessler inflicted Froch's first professional defeat on him when he beat him on a unanimous decision in his home country of Denmark in April 2010, and Froch said on Monday: "When my head hits the pillow on a night I still think about the defeat to Mikkel. I think about it because he took away my world title and my career was in tatters."

He went on: "I have since avenged it by coming back, but that was a bitter pill to swallow and I need to make amends.

"Mikkel is an honourable man and I thank him for coming over for what will be an epic contest."

Kessler's only other appearance on British shores saw him beaten by Joe Calzaghe in front of 50,000 fans at the Millennium Stadium - the defining night of the Welshman's career - and the 33-year-old is glad to be heading to London.

He is still irked that Calzaghe never gave him a rematch after a unanimous decision went against him and has granted Froch a second bite of the cherry with that in mind.

"I am ready for this. I never got a rematch against Calzaghe and I told Carl that I would do the honourable thing and give me one.

"I told him it would happen and now I'm here and I am ready."

Froch's last outing saw him despatch American Yusuf Mack in three rounds in Nottingham last November, while Kessler saw off rugged Irishman Brian Magee over a similar distance.