Team Sauerland are delighted to announce a spectacular new addition: Danish superstar Mikkel Kessler (41-1, 31 KOs) has signed a promotional contract with the German boxing team. “We are thrilled to welcome one of the world´s most popular and most respected boxers to the Sauerland family,” General Manager Chris Meyer said at a press conference in Copenhagen. “We have big plans for Mikkel.” When Kessler´s contract with his long-time promoters Bettina and Mogens Palle came to an end, he was free to look for a new promoter. Next up for the Viking Warrior will be the mandatory defence of his WBA World Championship title against Gusmyl Perdomo. “It was very disappointing to be inactive for such a long time,” Kessler said. “I am incredibly pleased that I can start boxing again both in Denmark and on the world stage. All the major promoters were interested, but I have chosen to sign a contract with Team Sauerland because they have had the best offer on every point. This includes everything from the capability of arranging the big and interesting matches to the financial agreements.” Kessler has been inactive since his third-round KO victory over Germany´s Danilo Haussler which Sauerland promoted last October. “I cannot wait to be back in the ring,” Kessler added. He was the long-time WBA/WBC champion before falling to Welsh superstar Joe Calzaghe in an epic showdown at Cardiff´s Millennium Stadium in November 2007. He regained his WBA title with a KO victory over Dimitri Sartison seven months later. Kalle Sauerland has big plans for the 30-year-old Dane. “He is not just a hero in his home country but boxing fans all over the world love him and his spectacular style,” Sauerland said. “We will get him big fights in the United States, in Denmark and in Germany. It is an honour and a privilege to promote one of the world´s best pound-for-pound fighters and we will help him to gain maximum exposure worldwide.”