Kessler returns to ring Saturday

Published May. 31, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Four-time super middleweight champion Mikkel Kessler (43-2, 32 KO) returns to action against Mehdi Bouadla (23-3, 11 KO) on Saturday.

The scheduled 12-rounder will be shown via tape delay on Showtime’s World Championship Boxing, prior to the live airing of the Super Six semifinal bout between Carl Froch and Glen Johnson, and will be held at Parken Stadium in Copenhagen, Denmark. Showtime’s broadcast begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

This will mark the first in-ring action for Kessler since his April 24, 2010 title-winning victory over Carl Froch. An eye injury forced Kessler to withdraw from the third group stage of the Super Six tournament, and threatened to end his career. Kessler has twice held the WBA and WBC super middleweight titles, and his two career losses have come at the hands of future Hall of Famer Joe Calzaghe, and current Super Six favorite Andre Ward. Kessler is looking for a victory to put him back in the mix in a deep super middleweight division.

Bouadla last fought on Jan. 29, easily defeating Pavels Lotahs over eight rounds. Bouadla was scheduled to challenge then-IBF titlist Sebastian Sylvester on Jan. 22, but an infection forced Sylvester’s withdrawal. Dating back to a February 2008 loss to Affif Belghecham, Mouadla has won 11 straight.