TalkingBoxing Interviews
Froch Considering Options as Super-Middle Heats Up
WED July 20, LUKE CHANCE - Many would say he’s Britains brightest prospect in an excellent crop of rising stars, and certainly Carl Froch, 16-0 with 12 stoppage wins, has shown all the potential necessary to merit him being called world world class. Fresh off a 12 round lopsided decision against the awkward defensive specialist Matthew Barney 21-6-1, ‘The Cobra' is surveying the world scene and looking to get his foot in the door for a title shot sooner rather than later, and as soon as he has recovered from the injury he sustained (which in my opinion prevented him from stopping Barney) he’ll be ready to storm the very top echelons of the division.
“First off I’ve got to get my hand fixed. I’m booked in for surgery next week and that’s actually going to put me out for three months. A lot can happen in three months. Fight wise you’ve got Brian Magee just been beaten by Tsypko, you’ve got Reid fighting Lacy. A lot’s going on in the Super Middleweight division.”
Froch has options on his plate, not just because he is undefeated British and Commonwealth Champion but also because he established himself on the world scene winning an action packed 8 round war with the WBC ranked number 11 Henry Porras in Hollywood.
“Depending on what happens, or what chances come up will depend on whether I stay in Britain to defend my British or whether we plan to go out to America to have a meaningful world ranking fight.”
Despite the fact that he was advised not to fight Barney due to his hand injury, Froch was confident that he could take down the Southampton man with the use of just one arm. He was proved right as the referees scorecard read 118-110 and he had Barney out on his feet in the later rounds. “He was dead on his feet, that’s why he started holding”, but Carl remained satisfied with the decision. "I was happy with that, I got twelve rounds in the bank, and it’s all good experience. It was just his movement and his style, his holding that got him through it. I was doing all the work and I finished strong.”
The Cobra quipped, “I wonder if he thinks boxings easy money still? I bet he won’t be able to move for two weeks after that beating”
Froch now has his sights set firmly on the future, “So once I get this operation out of the way, I’ll sit down with Mick Hennessy go through the possibilities.”
Carl although a big fan of fighting in America is keen that his British fans should also get the chance to see him. Discussing Franks Warrens deal with British TV company ITV he said, “I don’t think they’ve got an exclusive deal with Warren, so hopefully Hennessy can still get coverage on ITV.”
All British fight fans will be hoping that Froch and his other Hennessy Sports compatriots will be able to get their fights shown on ITV, after the second rate card that was dished up by Frank Warren last Saturday evening.
So, in his move towards world title honours it appears Froch has several options, either a defence of his British and Commonwealth titles. For these I see two possible opponents, either Belfasts Brian Magee who will be looking to resurrect his career after a tough loss to Vitaly Tsypko, or Runcorns Robin Reid if Reid loses to Lacy.
His other options are either a European fight, against against Tsypko, or alternatively a world ranked opponent. It seems to me that Magee and Tsypko would be easy meat as I haven’t been overly impressed with either of them, especially Magee who wouldn’t be able to stand up to Froch’s power. Although there is every chance that Reid will beat Lacy, if he doesn’t the ‘Grim Reaper’ would be an excellent test for Froch and would allow fight fans across the pond to directly compare his performance with Lacy’s. My ulterior motive is that it might be in Nottingham, so I’ll be able to pop along and see it as well…
Either way what is for certain is that Joe Calzaghe, Mikkel Kessler, Markus Beyer, Jeff Lacy, Brian Magee, Vitaly Tsypko et. al can rest easy for three months, in the knowledge that ‘The Cobra’ isn’t going to come banging on their door and give them a rude awakening. But he’ll be back with three months worth of waiting to take out on the next poor guy he faces.
TalkingBoxing.com would like to thank Carl Froch for taking time out from his busy schedule top talk to us.
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