What next for Froch?

black panther · Post by **black panther** » 11 May 2008, 05:22

After 6 odd years as a pro Carl has still to fight a genuine top ten fighter(through no fault of his own) but things look on the up as he's the WBC mandatory. But mandatory challengers have been known to have to wait 18 months to get their "shot" and Carl ,at 30, can't afford to hang around for that long. What path do you reckon he should take? I reckon he push for a fight with Lacy - Lacy has still got "name" value and a win over Lacy would increase Carl's stock in bargaining for a fight with Calzaghe. Also with Taylor in the mix its conceivable Carl could actually tempt Calzaghe to fight him - a win over Taylor and Lacy= elite level. I know thats a big if though - and I have a feeling actually making the fights may be as hard as the fights themselves!

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 11 May 2008, 06:13

I just hope he isn't made to wait forever for the title as it's pretty clear Joe won't defend the WBC.

Who to fight? Pascal, if he beats Zuniga. Zuniga, if he beats Pascal. Sanavia or Beyer, former WBC champs. Maybe Sauerland fighter and Euro champ Karo Murat. Universum were problematic but that's not to say the other big German outfit, Sauerland, will be.

Also, Jermain Taylor could figure somewhere as he's up in the WBC rankings and Andre Ward is also on the way up.

WildWaylon · Post by **WildWaylon** » 11 May 2008, 07:14

I am surprised Joe didnt tell Froch he is now a LH instead of buggering around saying if the moneys right. We all know the real money is in a fight with RJJ and that is far more likely to happen. Joe will vacate the belt and Froch will have to fight somebody else. Kessler would be great but somehow I dont see it happening.

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 11 May 2008, 07:20

In the build up Froch acquitted himself well with the Calzaghe phone call. Calzaghe, "Well as you know it's all about the money, the money, the money, if the money's there, the money's there, you know, the money, if the money's there we can fight."

Did Joe know he was being recorded?

Froch's replay, "I'm more interested in the title" came across well.

We all know boxing's about the money but I think it looks bad on a fighter when they go on about the financial side too much. That should be left behind the scenes IMO.

Gray-Fox · Post by **Gray-Fox** » 11 May 2008, 07:37

Calzaghe should sue ITV for recording him without his consent, then fight Froch. That way we'll have the fight, and he'll still get his millions.

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 11 May 2008, 07:59

If Froch gets back on ITV he should do a recurring joke. Picking the phone up and having bad replies, Calzaghe style, dubbed over.

Thought McGuigan was sick saying that Calzaghe is the best ever Brit last night.

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 11 May 2008, 08:15

Needs to really go for it. There's young Yanks on the way up like Ward, Dirrell etc who can be forces. Get the title, force Calzaghe to relinquish and defend as often as possible.

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 11 May 2008, 08:26

Calzaghe really didn't get any respect until he was 34. Didn't fight good fighters til he was going on 30. Froch is 30, and still has time. Tatevosyan and Magee would have been acceptable foes on Joe's WBO ledger. Froch got good stoppage wins. Carl can be a force and I feel gutted that the Inkin fight never happened because that would have really put him on the map.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 11 May 2008, 09:55

Ideal scenerio - but not likely to happen.

Jones jnr vs Calazaghe at the M/S on US TV - with Froch vs Bute on the Undercard.

Winners face off.

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 11 May 2008, 10:02

stujones wrote:Ideal scenerio - but not likely to happen.

Jones jnr vs Calazaghe at the M/S on US TV - with Froch vs Bute on the Undercard.

Winners face off.

I can see Froch being awarded the WBC sooner or later - maybe an elim with someone like Pascal-Zuniga winner - and then after some defences trying to unify with Bute.

But I reckon Interbox will be as hard to deal with - if not harder than - Universum. Signs that Bute's promoter won't take many risks now he has the belt. Universum are horribly cautious, but IB may be worst because they don't get too many champions.

whiskey · Post by **whiskey** » 11 May 2008, 10:11

I think Carl wants to fight someone for the belt not get handed it.

Its really not his style to get given something.

The Hawk · Post by **The Hawk** » 11 May 2008, 10:46

Froch could fight for the WBC and Kessler is due for the WBA belt in June after Mundine gives it up, so a natural good fight would be Froch Vs Kessler for the end of the year. That would be a great match up.

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 11 May 2008, 12:02

G0mez wrote:I think Carl wants to fight someone for the belt not get handed it.

Its really not his style to get given something.

It's like Froch said on the ITV build up, it wouldn't be very honourable of Calzaghe just to give it up & not fight him.

Think Carl came across really well on ITV - much better than the other time he was on ITV vs Barney - and hopefully enough ppl saw him to be interested in such a fight.

It just seems to me you have Calzaghe joining a retirement club on cable TV and you have Froch maybe a terrestrial TV fighter likely to be fighting top 10 WBC, hungry contenders.

whiskey · Post by **whiskey** » 11 May 2008, 12:34

When i spoke to him he said that if it's Zuniga or Fruit Pastille next then cool.

He also wants Mikkel to do well and win the WBA title and then they can fight at the end of the year if everyone is up for it, but will not raise his hopes as he thinks everyone is more interested in defences that unification now Calzaghe is leaving.

Obviously he has to beat Zuniga or Pascal but i think that shouldn't be a hard job.

Zuniga is a banger but fairly crude wheras Pascal is a slicker, but fairly light puncher, which would present little offensive danger to him.

I very much doubt Inkin will ever get a shot for swerving him - i hear the WBC have ostracised him now from the rankings.

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 11 May 2008, 13:04

Zuniga's very crude but he is a tough battle seasoned little bugger. I hope Zuniga beats Pascal as Zuniga will be easier to deal with most likely. I like/respect the Canadian fighters but their promoters are becoming the new Germans.

whiskey · Post by **whiskey** » 11 May 2008, 13:22

Autobarn wrote:Zuniga's very crude but he is a tough battle seasoned little bugger. I hope Zuniga beats Pascal as Zuniga will be easier to deal with most likely. I like/respect the Canadian fighters but their promoters are becoming the new Germans.

What, win a title and defend against bums in front of 20,000 people who know no better?

a lá William Joppy ?

Agreed.

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 11 May 2008, 13:45

That's the sad truth.

Alcine's ppl wanted to offer Jamie Moore poor money and options, as well.

Hate how Adrian Diaconu has turned out as well. He looked promising beating Rico Hoye but after hurting his hand has gone obscure.

lankester · Post by **lankester** » 11 May 2008, 20:57

Autobarn wrote:Zuniga's very crude but he is a tough battle seasoned little bugger. I hope Zuniga beats Pascal as Zuniga will be easier to deal with most likely. I like/respect the Canadian fighters but their promoters are becoming the new Germans.

Alcine and Bute last fight was a low risk, high profit figth. Now interbox want to put Bute on american card. Andrade fight migth be in las vegas on hbo and they plan to keep bute on HBO the more they can. So opponent like joppy should be very rare. For alcine they are planning an unification after santos.

lankester · Post by **lankester** » 11 May 2008, 20:58

Back to the topic .. if pascal wins vs zugina. I dont give him a lot of chance vs Froch. Pascal is faster, slicker than froch .. however his defence is not perfect and his chin and power are "ok" ... since froch has world class power and great chin. Froch should win.

Flav1 · Post by **Flav1** » 11 May 2008, 21:31

I'd absolutely love to see Froch and Bute share a ring. In fact I'm more interested in Froch's next opponent than I am Calzaghe's. There's no denying the bloke's passion for the sport and many boxers need to take a leaf out of Carl's book.

Unfortunately I can't see a big name fighting Froch (although Kessler might if Carl goes to him) until Calzaghe vacates. Inkin would have been a excellent but that's done.

Ted · Post by **Ted** » 12 May 2008, 08:01

Froch would school lacy!

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 12 May 2008, 08:58

Kessler is fighting for the WBA title in June.

Miranda is fighting Abraham again.

So outside of Taylor, who no one knows what he is doing, the WBC rankings looking a little bare of people willing to come to the UK.

Pascal... has got Zuniga

Brahmer (NO), Beyer (maybe), Sarnavia,

Larsen might be a good call for the vacant title?

Maxime · Post by **Maxime** » 14 May 2008, 08:57

monkeybutler wrote:He has to push on - he's not going to get much better than this, and with Calzaghe presumably vacating, he can really clean up.

Not too sure how much appetite Kessler and Bute would have for fighting Froch, but he has to go for one of them. Hard to see one against Mundine unless he goes out to Oz.

Both guys would fight him if the money is right.

Maxime · Post by **Maxime** » 14 May 2008, 09:02

Autobarn wrote:
stujones wrote:Ideal scenerio - but not likely to happen.

Jones jnr vs Calazaghe at the M/S on US TV - with Froch vs Bute on the Undercard.

Winners face off.
I can see Froch being awarded the WBC sooner or later - maybe an elim with someone like Pascal-Zuniga winner - and then after some defences trying to unify with Bute.

But I reckon Interbox will be as hard to deal with - if not harder than - Universum. Signs that Bute's promoter won't take many risks now he has the belt. Universum are horribly cautious, but IB may be worst because they don't get too many champions.

Bute first need to beat Andrade. Which will be a tough fight in my opinion. That fight is suppose to be on US TV. When that's done. It will open doors for him. I hope Bute would at least look into a unification fight with Froch. But there might be better options for him for the year 2009.

A unification between Bute and Pascal would be HUGE in Canada.

I think I'd rather see that then Bute-Froch.

Maxime · Post by **Maxime** » 14 May 2008, 09:09

The Hawk wrote:Froch could fight for the WBC and Kessler is due for the WBA belt in June after Mundine gives it up, so a natural good fight would be Froch Vs Kessler for the end of the year. That would be a great match up.

It's hard to know exactly what route Kessler will take. I think he will be looking for a big fight after he puts his hand on the WBA belt. There might be more money into a Taylor or Winky fight in the USA then a unification bout with Froch or Bute.