Yesterday I met Carl Froch & Co.

KOJOE90 · Post by **KOJOE90** » 30 May 2004, 08:23

I was shopping in Nottingham yesterday, on my way out of the Broadmarsh shopping centre I noticed a crowd of people watching a Boxer in a Boxing ring.

On closer inspection I realised it was a Hennessy Sports promotion, promoting their 2nd June card.

The Boxer in the ring shadow boxing was David Walker, Lee Meager was also there skipping, I watched them for about 45 mins shadow boxing skipping and hitting the hwavybag whilst the MC did the sales pitch over the PA and announced that Carl Froch would be arriving very soon.

Whilst this was going on I got chatting to Frochs former Amatuer trainer Bill, who seemed like a really nice bloke, we chatted on and of for about an hour about Froch and Boxing in general, sometimes other people who seemed to know Bill and Carl joined in the conversation.

I asked Bill if he thought Carl would have problems with this Southpaw Canadian, Bill told me that Southpaws usually were not a problem for Carl, but one of the camp members told me that Carl was completely devestated about about Dodson pulling out, which made me think will Carl be 'up' for this fight.

Also heard that Howard Eastman is not in the UK at the moment, with reference to a Bennie thread of last week, although he has recently been sparring with Carl Froch.

When Carl Froch arrived I watched him shadowbox, and do a few rounds on the Pads with Trainer Robert McCracken, from what I could tell he looked in very good shape. He did however seem to be holding his left just a little higher than usual but that was just my own obsevation.

Another thing I noticed is that Carl didn't seem the biggest super-middle outhere I remember meeting Richie Woodhall when he was still a Middleweight and Richie seemed much bigger, or maybe thats just because Richie is much taller.

Afterwards Carl signed autographs and chatted with the crowd, and yes I got a promo card signed by him to add to my Boxing memorabilia collection and wished him well for his upcomming fight.

This probaly doesn't seem much to some of the guys on this furom who have been closely involved with the game for years, but to me an avid fan who almost never gets to see this sort of thing for one reason or another it was a greatly enjoyable couple of hours.

Also the 'MC' doing the PR on the PA sounded just like BBC's Jim Neilly but I can't recall what Jim looks like, I wonder if it was him?

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 30 May 2004, 08:31

Thanks for that, good story - nice to see a good open air promotion. Was it well advertised? Got the impression that it was a coincidence that you saw it.

I've never been to an open day such as this, keep meaning to go to the ones Dai Gardiner does but always just seem to forget the dates.

Jim Neilly, is a "well built man" with a auburny coloured beard the last time I saw him on the TV. If it is him, then that is interesting.

As for Froch, I remember Bunce labelling Froch as "massive for the weight", well as we all saw he is smaller than Woodhall, but I don't think he is small for the weight either. I would say (at a guess) he is similar to Calzaghe in height and frame.

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 30 May 2004, 08:36

A lot more press would have gone but for this pre-event shit. Lee Meager the best lightweight in Britain my arse. And Carl Froch the future British, European and unified world champion. Don't they realize how stupid this makes them look?

http://www.hennessysports.com/Article.asp?art=69

KOJOE90 · Post by **KOJOE90** » 30 May 2004, 08:42

stujones wrote:Thanks for that, good story - nice to see a good open air promotion. Was it well advertised? Got the impression that it was a coincidence that you saw it.

Jim Neilly, is a "well built man" with a auburny coloured beard the last time I saw him on the TV. If it is him, then that is interesting.

It was by pure luck I saw it, I was on my way back to the train station after blowing a load ao my wages on CD's.

Thinking about it the MC wasn't Jim but his voice did sound familuar.

Looking at Bennie's link I'm annoyed I missed Witter if he did indeed show up.

KOJOE90 · Post by **KOJOE90** » 30 May 2004, 08:48

bennie wrote:A lot more press would have gone but for this pre-event shit. Lee Meager the best lightweight in Britain my arse. And Carl Froch the future British, European and unified world champion. Don't they realize how stupid this makes them look?

http://www.hennessysports.com/Article.asp?art=69

I must admit the 'MC' was going a little overboard with the hype, with the above quotes and describing Charles Adamu as one of the Worlds toughest Super-Middleweights.

He also had a dig at Mr Warren for not letting Witter anywhere near Hatton.

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 30 May 2004, 08:51

KOJOE90 wrote:
bennie wrote:A lot more press would have gone but for this pre-event shit. Lee Meager the best lightweight in Britain my arse. And Carl Froch the future British, European and unified world champion. Don't they realize how stupid this makes them look?

http://www.hennessysports.com/Article.asp?art=69
I must admit the 'MC' was going a little overboard with the hype, with the above quotes and describing Charles Adamu as one of the Worlds toughest Super-Middleweights.

He also had a dig at Mr Warren for not letting Witter anywhere near Hatton.

The MC sounds like he doesn't know what he's talking about. It was Jim Neilly then.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 30 May 2004, 08:59

KOJOE90 wrote:
bennie wrote:A lot more press would have gone but for this pre-event shit. Lee Meager the best lightweight in Britain my arse. And Carl Froch the future British, European and unified world champion. Don't they realize how stupid this makes them look?

http://www.hennessysports.com/Article.asp?art=69
I must admit the 'MC' was going a little overboard with the hype, with the above quotes and describing Charles Adamu as one of the Worlds toughest Super-Middleweights.

He also had a dig at Mr Warren for not letting Witter anywhere near Hatton.

Yeah, that is OTT. Meager and Froch are both good fighters but labelling Meager the best Lightweight in the UK in Britain is direspectful to the 9 Lightweights ranked above him, it is also putting undue pressure on the Kid.

Similarly for Froch, it is practically impossible to unify the belts and if Calzaghe decides to go back to Super Middle, he will have to unify the four belts before he can call himself the unified champ. That has never been done in the 16 years of the WBO. We might get the chance in September, but I cannot see DLH or Hopkins pleasing the 4 governing bodies for long, without being stripped.

People ridiculed Aufley for his "British champ in 5 fights" B/S, this is identical, the difference being it is not Froch saying it.

Southpaw Stylist · Post by **Southpaw Stylist** » 30 May 2004, 09:03

Carl's amateur trainer Bill?

I don't think so lol.

KOJOE90 · Post by **KOJOE90** » 30 May 2004, 09:22

Southpaw Stylist wrote:Carl's amateur trainer Bill?

I don't think so lol.

I'm sure his name was bill, he looked about 70, he had some photo's on him when Carl looked about 12 holding a Boxing Trophy, I think he was Carls first Boxing Trainer, when carl was a young teenager.

Matchfixer · Post by **Matchfixer** » 30 May 2004, 12:02

The powers from above have asked me to post a question in here as opposed to in a thread by itself so here goes...

I know the Real Class of 2002 comprises certain boxers such as David Walker, Lee Meager etc (I assume when they turned professional) but is it just a one-off name or will there be a Real Class another year?

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 30 May 2004, 12:28

Matchfixer wrote:The powers from above have asked me to post a question in here as opposed to in a thread by itself so here goes...

I know the Real Class of 2002 comprises certain boxers such as David Walker, Lee Meager etc (I assume when they turned professional) but is it just a one-off name or will there be a Real Class another year?

Can't see why not? Just there hasn't been a batch yet that have turned pro at the same time, signed with Hennessey.

Southpaw Stylist · Post by **Southpaw Stylist** » 30 May 2004, 19:41

KOJOE90 wrote:
Southpaw Stylist wrote:Carl's amateur trainer Bill?

I don't think so lol.
I'm sure his name was bill, he looked about 70, he had some photo's on him when Carl looked about 12 holding a Boxing Trophy, I think he was Carls first Boxing Trainer, when carl was a young teenager.

Many people claim this. I know who you mean though.

KOJOE90 · Post by **KOJOE90** » 31 May 2004, 08:17

Southpaw Stylist wrote:
KOJOE90 wrote:
Southpaw Stylist wrote:Carl's amateur trainer Bill?

I don't think so lol.
I'm sure his name was bill, he looked about 70, he had some photo's on him when Carl looked about 12 holding a Boxing Trophy, I think he was Carls first Boxing Trainer, when carl was a young teenager.
Many people claim this. I know who you mean though.

A lot of the camp seemed to know him, like Carl, his brother (Lee?) and others I didn't know or recognise.

shakermaker · Post by **shakermaker** » 31 May 2004, 08:28

Dale McPhilbin was the man who did a lot of work with Carl

I went along Saturday to have a look and the MC was funny!!!

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 31 May 2004, 08:29

shakermaker wrote:Dale McPhilbin was the man who did a lot of work with Carl

I went along Saturday to have a look and the MC was funny!!!

Tell us more.

shakermaker · Post by **shakermaker** » 31 May 2004, 08:42

bennie wrote:
shakermaker wrote:Dale McPhilbin was the man who did a lot of work with Carl

I went along Saturday to have a look and the MC was funny!!!
Tell us more.

which bit?!

The MC was from N Ireland but I'm 99% sure it wasn't Neilly. The guy had pages of script, he wouldn't keep quiet but he entertained the lookers on! He did say Adamu was one of the worlds best SM and Froch really proved his chin that night!!

Froch had 2 stints at boxing, when he was a youngster which must have been when Bill trained him........he then took a while out and came back to Pheonix (Nott'm) when I used to go down there. Dale was the main trainer then and Carl must have been 18/19.

I believe this Bill because I did meet him when he fought Monaghan last year and like the poster said above he was introduced and got a clap ansd nobody objected from Frochs crew!!!

KOJOE90 · Post by **KOJOE90** » 31 May 2004, 08:56

shakermaker wrote:
bennie wrote:
shakermaker wrote:Dale McPhilbin was the man who did a lot of work with Carl

I went along Saturday to have a look and the MC was funny!!!
Tell us more.
which bit?!

The MC was from N Ireland but I'm 99% sure it wasn't Neilly. The guy had pages of script, he wouldn't keep quiet but he entertained the lookers on! He did say Adamu was one of the worlds best SM and Froch really proved his chin that night!!

Froch had 2 stints at boxing, when he was a youngster which must have been when Bill trained him........he then took a while out and came back to Pheonix (Nott'm) when I used to go down there. Dale was the main trainer then and Carl must have been 18/19.

I believe this Bill because I did meet him when he fought Monaghan last year and like the poster said above he was introduced and got a clap ansd nobody objected from Frochs crew!!!

I think many of the posters here would have enjoyed the MC's dig at Warren not letting Hatton anywhere near Witter.

The MC was indeed reading from a script a lot of the time and was at times talking totall nonsence, but he was entertaining at times even if not for the reasons he may have intended.

I suppose he was just there to try and get the crowds to gather around etc.