by Luke Chance
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Good wins against the powerhouse Ghanaan Charles Adamu, who Froch put on his seat, the tough and cute Canadian southpaw Mark Woolnough and now a chance to beat a very talented fighter in Damon Hague have put him at the very front of the queue as far as British prospects are concerned. Be under no illusions Carl Froch is the real deal, he has a sturdy chin, a great jab, power in both hands, stamina and desire. Furthermore in Robert McCracken and Hennessy Sports he has a great team behind him and is ready to go all the way to the top.
Carl meets WBF King Damon Hague on September 24th and although Hagues WBF strap won't be at risk, the vacant British Super Midlleweight title which was vacated by a reluctant Tony Dodson is up for grabs. Carl was good enough to take time out from his busy schedule to share his thoughts on Hague, Dodson, Calzaghe and a host of other things;
CARL FROCH
Luke Chance: So Carl, you're in training at the moment for WBF Champion Damon Hague, how's that going and did the change of opponent affect your training in any way?
Carl Froch: Well, not really, no. I didn't expect Dodson to turn up anyway, and my trainer said the same. We weren't really training for Dodson. He's pulled that trick before, so the third time it wasn't really a surprise.
Luke Chance: Now Damon has made a lot of the fact that he has been sparring with the likes of Brian Magee and Sven Ottke this year, and he thinks it will give him an edge. Are you at all worried by the fact that he has had such good sparring?
Carl Froch: Well no I've got Howard Eastman in the gym. I've been sparring with Howard Eastman, I mean he has been sparring with Magee and Ottke and I don't really rate Magee, no disrespect to a fellow fighter, but I don't rate him, and Sven Ottke, well, he's finished.
But it is good sparring, no matter how you look at it, it is very good, but that doesn't worry me as I say, I've got the best middleweight in the world. You can't really beat that can you.
Luke Chance: You were, as you said, slated to meet British Champion Tony Dodson but he pulled out for a third time. It's becoming a bit of a standing joke in Boxing circles. Why do you think he keeps backing out and will he ever face you?
Carl Froch: I think he keeps backing out because he knows he going to get beaten. He knows it's going to be on national television, and because he has been rubbishing me for so long what's happened is when he gets close to the fight it dawns on him that he's got to actually step into the ring with me and basically he just bottles it.
I mean third time maybe he might have had an injury, but then he's probably got used to the fact and thought 'Lovely , this works'. He maybe hoped I would fight somebody and get beat, or take a different route, and that gives him a bit more of an opportunity to do something else for the British. Fight somebody else.
Because I didn't go away and I kept winning, I picked the Commonwealth up, then defended it in style. He's thought to himself 'I'm not fighting Froch now. No chance'. So he keeps pulling out.
Luke Chance: Do think that has delayed you in your career at all?
Carl Froch: I mean, it's delayed me in the sense that I've not been able tom put the British up and defend it and then move on to the European because I want to defend the British and get the Lonsdale belt outright, before I move on to the European.
In terms of moving on as a pro fighter, I mean I boxed Commonwealth champion Charles Adamu, who'll give any Super Middleweight in the world trouble. I beat him, then I defended against that tough Canadian [Mark Woolnough] so I've got 12 rounds and 11 rounds in the bank. It's great experience.
It's a bit of a bad scenario, and it's not perfect or ideal, but boxing isn't an ideal sport, and things don't always happen how you want them to. You just take things in your stride. As an amateur I've travelled all over Europe, and fought all over the world against all different kinds of opponents. I'm used to fighting different styles day after in things like European Tournaments, the Multi Nation Championships and the World Games which I took part in.
Luke Chance: Now I'd say that Damon Hague is actually a better class of fighter than Dodson, are you happy with this step up, and is that what you are looking for, guys with ambition who have something to bring to the table?
Carl Froch: Yeah definitely, that's what I want. I mean as a fighter I want to fight the best out there, and I think Damon Hague is a better fighter than Tony Dodson, he's got one ingredient that Dodson hasn't and that's heart. That's something that all good fighters have got.
So I'm glad to be fighting Damon, like I say he's shown what a man he is and he's stepping up to the plate and he's going to have a right go. So I've got a lot of respect for him
Carl Froch: Well, probably whichever comes along really I'll do. Ideally I want the Lonsdale belt outright, but just looking at the opposition that we've got, the standard of opposition, there's probably not going to be too many jumping at the chance to step in with me. So if it seems to be a drawn out and long process then we'll have a look at Europe. But we'll see.
I'll speak to Robert [McCracken], my trainer and might have a word with Mick Hennessy and we'll do what's right for me. But ideally I do want that Lonsdale belt. I've wanted it since I turned pro.
Luke Chance: Now you've looked very impressive in your last couple of fights, as you said against Charles Adamu and Mark Woolnough. You're obviously on a steep learning curve, do you feel ready for the likes of Brian Magee and Robin Reid?
Carl Froch: Oh definitely yeah. Brian Magee and Robin Reid, I'd fight them tomorrow. I'd fight them next Friday for the British no problem at all, and Joe Calzaghe for that matter, as long as he doesn't step up to Light Heavyweight.
Luke Chance: In the current climate it seems like fights are increasingly influenced by money and reputation, especially in the US, at what point are you thinking of going to the US to showcase your skills?
Carl Froch: Well at the moment I've got something lined up with the states, but because I've had a lot on domestically which has been holding me up we have left it alone. If it's quiet defending the British here what we're going to do is go over there and showcase my skills.
We might even be doing something like that before Christmas, if not most certainly in the New Year. If I go over there British and Commonwealth Champion, then I'll have a few strings to my bow and people will take me seriously. That's what I'm looking to do, and maybe before Christmas after this fight if I can't get matched up. If not definitely in the New Year.
While there's a lot of stuff happening on the domestic front you've got to stay over here, before you start heading oveseas.
Luke Chance: Is there anybody in the division that you can't wait to get in the ring with?
Carl Froch: Not really. There's not anybody that really stands out for me. Joe Calzaghe I'd like to fight, probably next year after a couple of fights for the British, I think I'd be ready to get in their with Calzaghe. I know exactly what to do to beat someone like him, I know exactly what to do against his style, so I'm really confident going in there that I'd look brilliant against him.
That would be an outrageous win because he's a good fighter, a very strong fighter, he's been around a few years, and I just feel I've got exactly what you need to beat him. But he's really the only one out of all of them, other than a guy called Jeff Lacy in the states. He's ranked up there.
I'll be intrigued to see the result of his [Lacy's] next fight. He's ranked something like 6th in the world and I think I'm about 20th. I was supposed to fight him as an amateur, but he never came over on the England v USA match.
Jeff Lacy is definitely one for the future for me.
Luke Chance: As an up and coming fighter, do you think that alphabet titles are starting to lose some of their weight and titles like the EBU are becoming more sought after and gaining a lot more respect?
Carl Froch: I don't know if any of the alphabet titles have ever had any weight have they?! British, Commonwealth, European. They are the three good ones, the third one obviously beats the first two. The Britis titles brilliant. Commonwealth, not the greatest title in the world but it's a decent title, then the European and major world titles.
Luke Chance: what titles do you consider worth winning?
Carl Froch: The WBC, WBA and IBF are about the only ones I take seriously. The WBO isn't too bad, but that's only because Joe Calzaghe has had it for a few years. Other than that the alphabet titles, no disrespect to any fighter that's got them, because any fighter that steps through the ropes to fight for something they've got my respect straightaway, but I'm not interested in any of the alphabet titles.
When I win a world title, I don't want people to say 'Oh he's a world champion' who don't know what they're on about. I want the respect of other fighters, so fighters over in the States can say 'Carl Froch from England, he's a good fighter.' I'll have got a proper title and I'll be recognised.
You can't be a world champion with one of those alphabet titles and not even be ranked in the top 30 in the world, I mean, who are you trying to kid? You can't kid proper boxing experts and you won't get respect off proper fighters.
That's not what I'm out to do. I'm out to shake up the world. I want to leave my mark on boxing. I want people to remember who I am when I retire.
Luke Chance: You're one of a very talented crop of British fighters that's come through in the last few years, are there any of your fellow prospects who you think can make it to the same heights as you?
Carl Froch: Well at the minute, I mean [Matthew] Thirlwall is still on a learning curve, and we've got to slowly step him up in class over the next few fights which is what we're looking at doing.
The mainone who has surprised me, I mean we've got John O'Donnell and Billy Corcoran, and John O'Donnell is talented, a very talented southpaw. A four nations champion and he's fought for England.
We've got to bring them on steady, but the surprise of the camp from when I turned pro down here in London, who's turned a massive corner, is Lee Meager. I've been working with him in the gym now, running with him, training with him and he's come on in leaps and bounds in the last year or eighteen months.
He's fighting Danny Hunt soon, and I think he'll shock a lot of people in that fight, pick up the English, then he's going to be on for the British. I mean who is it? Graham Earl, Bobby Vanzie or Dave Stewart, he beats all of them. He's a man to watch in the lightweight division for the future.
I'd like to thank Carl for taking the time out of his busy schedule to talk to me, it was a pleasure to talk with him, and Jason Frost at Hennessy Sports for making this interview happen. I'm sure that fight fans can look forward to seeing much more of him in the future in some great fights!
Jeff Lacy is definitely one for the future for me 
Carl Froch
Luke Chance: Now should you beat Damon and claim the British belt, what will you look to do then, will you go after defences and try to get the Lonsdale or are you going to look for good fights in Europe?
Brian Magee and Robin Reid, I'd fight them tomorrow
Carl Froch
There's been a big package sent over there of myself, a video of myself some of my good fights and my good wins as a pro, have been sent over as a promotional package. A couple of the American promoters seem to be really interested in me, and they are really excited to get me on the undercard of a big fight.
