A tired looking Mikkel Kessler could not find the answer to the quicker and rawer Andre Ward on Saturday

It was worse than feared for Danish boxing champion Mikkel Kessler on Saturday night, as the Viking Warrior lost his WBA Super Middleweight belt to Andre Ward in his first Super Six World Boxing Classic bout.

Kessler’s camp had been worried prior to the fight that on the one hand it was taking place in the American’s hometown of Oakland, California – and on the other hand that one of the fight’s judges and the referee were Californians.

But Ward punished Kessler as no boxer ever had before, both legitimately and what many believe was outside the rules.

The fast-punching American obviously surprised the Dane with his speed and gameplan, choosing to fight inside and throw as many quick combinations as he could get in. Kessler was behind on points by the eighth round, when the second of two clear head butts proved to be his ultimate downfall.

Kessler’s corner complained vigorously to referee Jack Reiss about the butts, Ward’s constant holding and his liberal use of elbows. But Reiss never cautioned Ward at all during the bout and the eighth-round head ram significantly worsened a cut under the Dane’s left eye.

Reiss finally stopped the bout in the 11th round, giving Ward the victory. At that point the American was ahead by four to five rounds on all three judges’ scorecards.

Despite what he felt was underhanded tactics by Ward, Kessler admitted the American was the better fighter on Saturday night.

‘He was the best man, but I would have liked to go at least a minute longer,’ Kessler told Sporten.dk. ‘It’s obvious I can’t be the gentleman boxer anymore. I’ll have to use some of the dirty tricks I know to stay in the game.’

But Kessler’s camp will have to rethink their strategy for the Dane’s next two Super Six first round bouts – the first at home on 6 March against WBC champion Carl Froch, who won a split decision victory over Andre Dirrell in his first tournament fight.

Kessler fights Jermaine Taylor in his third Super Six bout. That date has yet to be set.

The Super Six tournament includes six of the world’s top super middleweight fighters, who compete in a two group, three-fighter round-robin programme.

In the round, each boxer participates in three fights against opponents chosen by a draw, and the standings are determined through a point system format. A win by decision is worth two points, while a victory by knockout is worth three. No points are awarded for a loss.

After the round, the top four fighters move on to the semifinals, where the first round’s top scorer faces the fourth place fighter, while the second and third place boxers also meet.

Kessler, now 42-2, has never lost a fight in Denmark. His only defeat prior to Ward was to Joe Calzaghe, who many experts consider to be one of the greatest ever in his weight class.