Froch v Pascal;quality match-up? (merged)

[Eraserhead]

I am really confident that Froch will leave a pair of smoking boots in the ring this weekend. Pascal is a really poor version of Jones. He is not a natural combination puncher who can rattle off 5-6 shots that move the guy's guard about, he throws a sequence of single shots with pauses for thought, and openings, between each one, he only really rattles off the body attacks. He did this against all of his recent opponents, and has not developed massively since his earlier fights.

I like the left hooks he throws to the body and head, he does step across his guy but he also leaves his guard totally exposed as he does so, a good chance for Froch to get his own right hand across when Pascal moves, or leaps, in. Pascal wings those shots as well, leaves a huge target exposed when doing so.

When a guy throws he just drops his left, gets his right up, and then moves back without tucking his chin away, it was left hanging in the fight with Pittman and he was caught with a stonking left hook in the 7th, he was a bit naive as well because he earlier let the guy whale away with rights on the inside, the guy just seemed to lose interest when he could not put his man away, and nearly paid the price.

Throw in the fact that he leaps in wild, ducks when at medium range, perfect to catch an uppercut, and has no defence when he moves out, and it all points to a good night for Froch, as long as he keeps his head when Pascal wings he can take the guy out clean at some point.

Really optimistic for Froch at the moment.

It's all relative, though. If we take the Carl Froch that was getting outboxed by the fat Aussie Dan Westerman, suddenly his chances don't look so rosy. He also looked pretty poor against Magee until he found the bingo shot in the 11th. Froch at his worst is a horrible sight to watch. Slow, ponderous, disjointed, open defensively and easily outboxed. When he's on fire he's a danger to anyone, but it's definitely not a given with Froch.

I think the intriguing thing about this fight is that neither fighter is the finished article and both have numerous question marks hanging over their head. Neither have beaten a world-class fighter and yet both have taken something of a risk in facing each other.

I can't wait. A genuine 50/50 fight. We'll find out which one of the two is world-class after this.

[Chambers2]

It's all relative, though. If we take the Carl Froch that was getting outboxed by the fat Aussie Dan Westerman,

Outboxed is not the term that I'd have used in describing that fight, granted it was a sloppy performance though

[Eraserhead]

It's all relative, though. If we take the Carl Froch that was getting outboxed by the fat Aussie Dan Westerman,

Outboxed is not the term that I'd have used in describing that fight, granted it was a sloppy performance though

It wasn't pretty, granted. Westerman was whacking Froch on the head, though, and they call the sport boxing. I dunno. Call it what you like. Froch lost a fair few rounds, whatever you want to call it.

[Chambers2]

It's all relative, though. If we take the Carl Froch that was getting outboxed by the fat Aussie Dan Westerman,

Outboxed is not the term that I'd have used in describing that fight, granted it was a sloppy performance though

It wasn't pretty, granted. Westerman was whacking Froch on the head, though, and they call the sport boxing. I dunno. Call it what you like. Froch lost a fair few rounds, whatever you want to call it.

Froch was whacking Westerman on the head as well and he was clearly ahead on the scorecards, so it's not what I'd call being outboxed.

The Westerman and Groenwald performances were his 2 worst imo. I think Carl knew he was in fights that he couldn't lose and he was sloppy, but thats not gonna be the case tomorrow.

[boxerbob]

if you look at frochs record he hasnt fought anybody who is near world class...so all the crap he spouts about people avoiding him is a joke.

his best win is probalby against an old robin reid.

sat night will tell us if froch is what he says and is world class potential , pascal is a big step up to which froch has already faced.

cant believe froch is so highly ranked by fighting nobody...smells the same as amir khan

[forcefraser]

Not strictly correct.

People have been avoiding Froch. Inkin and Taylor for starts.

[Kilburn]

I wonder how many more Froch threads there will be on Saturday night....

[boxerbob]

taylor didnt because it was HBO who asked who froch was and who had he fought.

hes been a pro for 7 years and only won a british and commonwealth title....thats not good enough.

personally i hope tommorrow that all the hype surrounding froch is true , we need more star fighters in the uk as hatton and calzaghe will be finished next year.

[THEBUTCH]

That's right, both performances were under par, but Froch still got the job done well enough, there was no doubt at all who was coming out the winner.

The motivation Froch will be getting for this will be like nothing else he's felt before. We could see the very best of Carl tomorrow. I'm optimistic (but still as nervous as hell, but it's a good nervous. The sort of butterflys you get when you know something special is about to happen).


1 DAY UNTIL FROCH IS CROWNED

[jameswilson]

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/galle ... llery.html

Not sure on the official weights but Id guess they both made weight.

[Asterix]

Thanks James.

Carl 'the Cobra' Froch hit the scales at 11st 12lb 9oz, almost a pound and a half under the limit - whilst Canadian Jean Pascal weighed in at 11st 13lb 10oz.

http://www.livefight.com/news/carl-froc ... s_752.html

[states]

Some video footage of the weigh-in, courtesy of the Beeb:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/7761323.stm

I'd say they're both up for it.

I was a bit surprised when the camera panned round to the crowd and I saw my brother, mind. Lazy fornicator should have been in a lecture.

[jameswilson]

Some video footage of the weigh-in, courtesy of the Beeb:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/7761323.stm

I'd say they're both up for it.

I was a bit surprised when the camera panned round to the crowd and I saw my brother, mind. Lazy fornicator should have been in a lecture.

Wasn't a lecture on the boxing fight between Carl Froch and Jean Pascal was it? If so I think you're being harsh.

[states]

I actually gave you all totally the wrong link there. Hang on a second.

Wilson, I'm always harsh on my brother.

[states]

Right, actual weigh-in footage here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/7766984.stm

[Asterix]

Right, actual weigh-in footage here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/7766984.stm

I find it a little worrying how confident Pascal is. I hope Froch comes through for us.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Pascal is unbeaten, he will be confident, but confidence before the event is often misleading, it's what happens when Froch starts unloading that matters.

[Asterix]

Pascal is unbeaten, he will be confident, but confidence before the event is often misleading, it's what happens when Froch starts unloading that matters.

I almost always feel nervous for British fighters in World title fights, so don't mind me. I really don't have a clue how this one is going to turn out.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Being canadian doesn't confer any special advantage on Pascal, nor would it if he were American.

Froch is fighting at home, is as confident as they come, hits like a mule, and has well above average skills. Sure, Pascal is faster, but neither man has any significant edge in experience, and Froch has a massive edge in power.

Froch could just not be good enough, but confidence or lack of it will not be the issue here.

[whiskey]

Pascal has been sickly sweet all this week, yet he bared his teeth at Froch at the head to head and that focused Froch's mind.

The best weapon is actually McCracken. He is so laid back about it all and keeps Froch in the right frame of mind under every scenario.

I admit that Pascal looked immense at the weigh-in. Usually Froch is the one with the superior stature, but Pascal seemed on another level.

It could actually be too his detriment though, as he was rippling with muscle and his skin was tissue-thin. Like a bodybuilder. That may affect his stamina in the latter half of the fight.

Pascal has a huge team with him. He has an entourage from masseur, dietician to personal trainer. Plus his coaching team and promoter. GYM have really rolled out the big guns for this. He has a large group of friends and family too for this.

One thing that is definitely apparent, is that from watching his last 3 fights, is that his shoulder has been screwed. Now they say it's 100% they believe he can return to the form of the earlier part of his professional career.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Come fight night, Froch will look far the bigger man. I've seen him once in the flesh in the dressing room, I'm 6'3" and 212 lb and Froch made me feel small, he is absolutely bloody huge, how he makes 168 is beyond me. He must wallk around nearer 190, and with a layoff I'll bet he's nearer 200, the guy is a monster at 168, at least as big as Kessler.

[Maelstrom]

Come fight night, Froch will look far the bigger man. I've seen him once in the flesh in the dressing room, I'm 6'3" and 212 lb and Froch made me feel small, he is absolutely bloody huge, how he makes 168 is beyond me. He must wallk around nearer 190, and with a layoff I'll bet he's nearer 200, the guy is a monster at 168, at least as big as Kessler.

Sorry James - but that is a terrible post.

Everyone knows Froch is one of those rare fighters who walks around near his fighting weight. He only has to lose around 3 or 4lb for every fight.

Plus he is not bigger than you. No way. If he is taller than 6ft it's by no more than half an inch.
You sure you werent drunk that night!

That said - he is the real deal and creams this fight.

[jamesmcdonnell]

I was a little drunk - to qualify - he wasn't taller than me, but BIGGER. Huge shoulders, arms like a gibbon, big legs, massive massive frame.

If he walks around near his weight, it is only through being in the gym constantly, like Bernard. I am 212, but I'm probably about 12 lbs if not 15 over my best weight, but physically, I would look like a rake standing beside Froch.

If Froch had a few months out of the ring, he would be a 14 stoner at least, he has the frame of a big light heavyweight.

By Similar token, when I met Jonny Nelson, I was amazed at how huge he was, he had shoulders like a linebacker and hands like shovels and was my height and a much much bigger man.

Maybe it is that thing of not realising how big you are yourself, I know that when I stood next to froch I was confronted by his physical presence.

[chinny]

I really fcuking hate all those goldenpalace temp tattoos. I hope he doesn't wear one tomorrow night.
When I see a boxer doing this I just think 'he must be getting paid chump change' for the fight.

Pascal looks very confident. I can't wait to watch this. Come on the cobra, lets set up some more big fights.

(for the first time with Froch though I sense some doubts and some of Gomez' comments above don't bode well)

[jameswilson]

I really fcuking hate all those goldenpalace temp tattoos. I hope he doesn't wear one tomorrow night.
When I see a boxer doing this I just think 'he must be getting paid chump change' for the fight.

Pascal looks very confident. I can't wait to watch this. Come on the cobra, lets set up some more big fights.

(for the first time with Froch though I sense some doubts and some of Gomez' comments above don't bode well)

Some German based fighters used to wear them adverts on their backs. I remember Sven Ottke wearing a German condom brand on his back and Sinan Samil Samm wearing some kind of advert on his back during a fight. Id imagine both got paid ok for the actual fight.