WBC super middleweight champion Mikkel Kessler is heading back into the ring after overcoming an eye injury that forced the Dane to withdraw from the Super Six tournament.
Kessler said Monday that he will fight Mehdi Bouadla of France in a non-title bout on June 4 in Copenhagen.
The eye injury is believed to stem from a Super Six bout against American fighter Andre Ward in 2009. Kessler pulled out of the 2010 tournament in August.
''I still miss a little bit with the left eye,'' said Kessler, who won the belt from Carl Froch of Britain in April. ''The doctors have said my eyes are OK to fight - they gave me the green light. I cannot become blind.
''I am perfectly ready.''
Kessler (43-2, 32 knockouts) will start fighting in the United States after this final bout in Denmark, promoter Kalle Sauerland said. Sauerland said one possible future opponent could be the Super Six winner.
Bouadla (22-3) said he is ready for the bout at Parken national football stadium.
''I hope that I will show you that my trip will not be vain,'' he said.
