Froch latest on 'No intentions' aka Jermain Taylor!

[DG.]

WBC Super Middleweight title holder Carl Froch has commented on his April 25th SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING-televised collision with former undisputed middleweight champ Jermain Taylor at The Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut. “He’s talking about going to war and shutting me up but let’s face it, does he really want to get into the trenches with someone like me? He’s going to find out very quickly in there that I can walk the walk as well as talking the talk because this is a major showcase for me to put the world on notice just what I’m all about.”

The bout is seen as a risky assignment by many but Froch says he’s in the business of taking calculated risks. “Winning the world title at home in Nottingham was the proudest moment of my career but there’s no point staying at home and defending your title against nondescript challengers. You need to step out of your comfort zone and I really want to lay down a marker in the sport by taking on and beating the best.

“With the greatest respect to some of the other British guys who’ve held titles recently not many people outside of their own homes would have considered them genuine world champions. Being the world champ is about being the very best in your weight division and taking on all comers to prove that. That’s why I’m putting it all on the line and going to the States to take on Taylor. It’s all about making a statement and proving to people that I am the best super middleweight on the planet.”

Froch says that winning a world title has actually increased and not diminished his hunger for success. “When some people win a world title they start thinking they’ve made it and start looking for a cash out payday. They lose that edge but I’m hungrier than ever right now. I’ve worked my whole career to get to this point and now that I’ve become a world champion I just want to push on and prove beyond doubt that I’m one of the best out there pound for pound.”

Froch is certainly in no doubt that the famous green WBC belt will be returning home to Nottingham with him after his fight with Taylor. “Jermain’s a very good fighter, you don’t unify the middleweight titles and beat Bernard Hopkins twice without being a good fighter but I simply believe I’m the better man and deep down he knows that too, that’s why he had to be forced into taking the fight.”

[tonyevs]

You just can`t help agreeing with alot of what Carl says .. infact he is spot on with almost everything he says in the article
He is really growing on me, at first, i`ll be honest - I thought he was just another of the big mouth brigade that spouts off to get the column inches .. and first oppurtunity goes and does exactly the same thing the guys he critises have done

But now I`m beginning to believe in him, especially liked him on ITV4 recently when they asked his opinion on the forthcoming Khan v Barrera fight .. he was like a breath of fresh air with his honest opinion

I don`t see him beating Taylor .. but now, do hope i`m wrong

[Chambers2]

No matter how the Taylor result goes (Froch KO9) as a fan it's impossible to fault Froch's attitude to the game. At the end of Carls career nobody is going to be left in any doubt of how good he was, good or bad. Froch and Haye are guiding lights in how this sport should develop to keep the likes of UFC in their rightful place.

[CheckHook]

I think Taylor has the edge in this fight, but I'm hoping Froch can pull it off. He might come off as arrogant at times, but the reality is he's not only prepared to back up his mouth, but actually wants to back it up and fight the best. It's good to see a match-up of this standard at 168 since the rest of the top fighters seem happy to sit on there belts a while longer.

If the winner of Froch Taylor wins in convincing fashion do they become the man to beat at 168? Most people would say Kessler is the man right now I'd think, me included, but its hardly like he's fought anyone of Froch/ Taylors standard since Calzaghe. Either way, I hope we get to see some unification showdowns soon at 168.

[Chambers2]

I think Taylor has the edge in this fight, but I'm hoping Froch can pull it off. He might come off as arrogant at times, but the reality is he's not only prepared to back up his mouth, but actually wants to back it up and fight the best. It's good to see a match-up of this standard at 168 since the rest of the top fighters seem happy to sit on there belts a while longer.

If the winner of Froch Taylor wins in convincing fashion do they become the man to beat at 168? Most people would say Kessler is the man right now I'd think, me included, but its hardly like he's fought anyone of Froch/ Taylors standard since Calzaghe. Either way, I hope we get to see some unification showdowns soon at 168.

Taylor followed by Kessler what a year that would be

[tonyevs]

I`m not sure how close to the top Taylor would be at S-middle .. lets not forget he lost twice to Pavlik recently
Styles makes fights as the Taylor/Pavlik/Hopkins trio prove

As said, beginning to really warm to Froch .. but lets not forget that Taylor was his mandatory - and he offers the best money and exposure

Carl does seem to be a rare breed of champion that still hungers for greater things

[CheckHook]

I`m not sure how close to the top Taylor would be at S-middle ..

I agree with what you're saying, Taylor is something of an unknown at 168 with only the Lacy win behind him and at something of a cross roads in his career. Compare Taylor or Froch to Kesslers recent competition though and there's really no contest. No disrespect to Haussler or Sartison but it wouldn't be unfair to say Kessler seems to be treading water right now.

[CheckHook]

I`m not sure how close to the top Taylor would be at S-middle ..

I agree with what you're saying, Taylor is something of an unknown at 168 with only the Lacy win behind him and at something of a cross roads in his career. Compare Taylor or Froch to Kesslers recent competition though and there's really no contest. No disrespect to Haussler or Sartison but it wouldn't be unfair to say Kessler seems to be treading water right now.

isnt he having loads of trouble with his manager/promoter and is struggling to get fights?

Yes. Not to sure on the ins and outs of it all, but basically there seems to be some dispute on how far into his 3 fight contract he is. Kessler believes he's a free agent right now and Palle don't agree... Think there might be some issue over unpaid fees from as far back as Calzaghe as well that has been thrown in the mix. Someone out there can probably give you a more accurate answer though but thats the general situation right now. It's possible he'll be tied up for the rest of the year potentially.

[CheckHook]

Froch Kessler would be a war. I think Kesslers link to Calzaghe would make Froch really push hard for the KO, which would play into Kesslers hands and it'd be a fight I'd back Kessler to win. That said, I really think Froch is everyones worst nightmare at 168. You know he's gonna stand in front of all those top guys and let his hands go. For me, Froch needs to settle down a little bit and become a more controlled fighter if he really wants to get to the top of the tree at 168.

As for Kessler, I just want to see him fight the best guys in and around 168. He proved he can mix with anyone in the Calzaghe fight. I think he'd beat any of the 160lb guys if they moved up to fight him and he'd have the edge over anyone at 168. 175 is probably where he'll end up in the next few years, but there's plenty to keep him busy at 168 before he moves north. I think, for whatever reason, his career post Calzaghe has been a real disappointment and the sad thing is, I think its gonna get worse before it gets better.

[Pat Butcher]

You just can`t help agreeing with alot of what Carl says .. infact he is spot on with almost everything he says in the article
He is really growing on me, at first, i`ll be honest - I thought he was just another of the big mouth brigade that spouts off to get the column inches .. and first oppurtunity goes and does exactly the same thing the guys he critises have done

But now I`m beginning to believe in him, especially liked him on ITV4 recently when they asked his opinion on the forthcoming Khan v Barrera fight .. he was like a breath of fresh air with his honest opinion

I don`t see him beating Taylor .. but now, do hope i`m wrong

Fan of Froch also and think he'll stop Taylor late on (Taylor will stay on his stool after round 9/10).

What did he say about the Khan fight??

[Maxime]

Froch is certainly in no doubt that the famous green WBC belt will be returning home to Nottingham with him after his fight with Taylor. “Jermain’s a very good fighter, you don’t unify the middleweight titles and beat Bernard Hopkins twice without being a good fighter but I simply believe I’m the better man and deep down he knows that too, that’s why he had to be forced into taking the fight.”

I hope Froch knows that win or lose. He gets to keep his belt.

[Chambers2]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/7956795.stm

Froch targets Bute after Taylor

Carl Froch has targeted IBF super-middleweight champion Lucian Bute if the Nottingham boxer makes a successful defence of his WBC title.

Undefeated Froch, 31, faces Jermain Taylor on 25 April in Connecticut for the first defence of the crown he won by beating Jean Pascal in December.

"I want to unify the division and Bute is someone who is stopping me from doing that," Froch told BBC Sport.

"If I get through Taylor it is a fight I want and a fight I know I can win."

Bute, who was born in Romania but resides in Canada, retained his title with a fourth-round stoppage of Fulgencio Zuniga, with Froch an interested spectator.

And Froch, who holds a holds a perfect 24-0 record with 19 knockouts, would also be willing to travel to Canada to take on the unbeaten, travel-shy 29-year-old.

First, though, Froch must get past American Taylor, someone he knows he cannot take for granted.

Taylor, 30, is a former undisputed middleweight champion and has lost only twice in 31 fights, winning 17 bouts by knockout.

In 2005 he beat Bernard Hopkins to take all four middleweight titles but lost his belts when he was beaten by American Kelly Pavlik two years later.

"I'm not complacent," said Froch. "Taylor's big and strong and he has beaten some very good boxers so I'll have to be in the same shape as I was for the Pascal fight.

"If I am, there's only going to be one winner - me."

Froch has tucked himself away at a gym in Loughton, Essex, as he prepares for his first title defence and will head to America two weeks before the fight.

"Training is going well," said Froch.

"I've had a few setbacks, such as a twisted ankle suffered while sparring, my rib still gives me problems from my last fight and my hand is sore, but that is an old injury.

Luckily, I've managed to stay clear of anything serious. Boxers are never 100% going into any fight but I'll be ready for Jermain Taylor."

The contest at the Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket will be shown live by American broadcaster Showtime.

Although there is no confirmation of which UK broadcaster will show the fight, Froch did reveal talks with several television stations are under way.

"Mick Hennessy, my promoter, is in talks with various networks," stated Froch. "ITV have shown an interest, as have Setanta.

"Setanta call themselves the home of boxing, so it would be a shame if they didn't broadcast the fight."

[black panther]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/7956795.stm


"Mick Hennessy, my promoter, is in talks with various networks," stated Froch. "ITV have shown an interest, as have Setanta.

"Setanta call themselves the home of boxing, so it would be a shame if they didn't broadcast the fight."

I really hope its on ITV - its silly of them to build a fighter up and show his fights, then fail to fork out out when gthe big fights come around. But I suppose it's all about the benjamins at the end of the day!

[nobby_nobbins]

So Froch is leaving for the States only two weeks before the fight now? I thought he wanted three weeks to get over the jetlag?

[Roars Like Me]

I would have had Taylor all the way until I saw him fight Pavlik. He looks weak to me and he's up a weight these days. Froch is no soft touch and as much as he always bangs on about 'going into the trenches' before most fights, he's right and he will do that. Post Pavlik I'm not convinced Jermain has it in him.
I am sticking my neck out and saying Taylor will lose and the best we saw of him was left in the ring with BHOP imo.

[Max Molyneux]

I would have had Taylor all the way until I saw him fight Pavlik. He looks weak to me and he's up a weight these days. Froch is no soft touch and as much as he always bangs on about 'going into the trenches' before most fights, he's right and he will do that. Post Pavlik I'm not convinced Jermain has it in him.
I am sticking my neck out and saying Taylor will lose and the best we saw of him was left in the ring with BHOP imo.

Froch hasn't even fought anyone as good as Spinks or Hopkins though. Taylor didn't lose the Pavlik rematch either but they give the decisions to the draw. Taylor's looking less negative since he moved up too as he was quite negative at Middleweight.

[Roars Like Me]

I wouldn't deny that at all but he needs to find his ko punch again because we haven't seen it since before Hopkins and that's a long time ago now. Froch has his and if he connects, Taylor goes again.

[Phenomenal-Nutrition]

Looking at in boxing terms what does Froch do better? He's easier to hit, he's less athletic, he's slower, he punches wider and more telegraphed and he doesn't set that high a workrate. Froch stands a very outside chance of scoring a KO, but Taylor should school him

[Dioufy]

Taylor didn't lose the Pavlik rematch either but they give the decisions to the draw.

I agree, I had Taylor by a single point, close, but I give the edge to Taylor.

[Roars Like Me]

Looking at in boxing terms what does Froch do better? He's easier to hit, he's less athletic, he's slower, he punches wider and more telegraphed and he doesn't set that high a workrate. Froch stands a very outside chance of scoring a KO, but Taylor should school him

I can't belive I'm sticking up for Froch
He punches harder and he has a better engine imo, I say Taylor runs out of gas easier. These are the only 2 things that he is better at but they are the 2 things that will win the fight.

[Counter-puncher]

RLM i think Froch has better chin than Taylor too

[Dioufy]

RLM i think Froch has better chin than Taylor too

I think Taylor can have his heart broken. If he doesn't get Carl out of there after six (which I think is more possible than others) then it's Carl's to throw away. Also, Taylor's stamina isn't good at all, whereas Carl's is red-hot. Froch TKO9.

[Counter-puncher]

you're wrong dioufy apparently Taylor can beat Froch with his jab alone

[Dioufy]

you're wrong dioufy apparently Taylor can beat Froch with his jab alone

Carl's going to have to suck it up early on, and then take Taylor out late.

[Counter-puncher]

aye. get the feeling he will take a lot of shots early?