Froch and Smigga to spar possibly

[whiskey]

Carl Froch keen to spar Smith ahead of Abraham fight

Froch must beat Abraham to make the semi-finals of the Super Six

Carl Froch has revealed he may work with British super-middleweight champion Paul Smith ahead of his fight with Arthur Abraham.

Froch meets Abraham in his final group stage fight of the Super Six tournament in Monaco on 2 October.

"He's rough and tough and a little bit shorter than me, like Abraham," Froch told BBC Radio Merseyside.

"It could be a benefit if I could get some sparring with Paul Smith. He deserves to be British Champion."

Froch says he has been impressed by the determination Liverpool's Smith has shown since taking the Lonsdale Belt, especially in his maiden defence against Tony Dodson.

"It was a rough, tough night for him and he got cut early on," he said.

"He did very well to come through that fight, with a big cut above his eye, he was pretty much blinded through that fight.

"I'm impressed with his persistence and his commitment to stay focused under pressure and do what he has to do."

Froch is now in training ahead of his make or break meeting with Abraham.

Only a win will guarantee the 33-year-old progress to the semi-final stage of the Super Six and a possible return meeting with Mikkel Kessler.

The Dane beat Froch in April, taking his unbeaten record and WBC Title.

After I beat Abraham I've got Mikkel Kessler in America, there's a fight I'm looking forward too and I don't think Mikkel Kessler is looking forward to it

Carl Froch

The man from Nottingham says he is confident of beating Abraham and then exacting revenge on Kessler.

"He [Abraham] hasn't fought anyone who can punch like me at super-middleweight," said Froch.

"He's going in with a real puncher now so he's going to find out if he belongs in this division or not. If I start catching him it could be all over.

"After I beat Abraham I've got Mikkel Kessler in America, there's a fight I'm looking forward too and I don't think Mikkel Kessler is looking forward to it."

Froch, a former WBC World Champion, held the British title between 2004 and 2008.

[avidlemon]

excellent opportunity for Smigga to spar with someone like froch. Would like to know if this actually comes off.

[Smigga]

excellent opportunity for Smigga to spar with someone like froch. Would like to know if this actually comes off.

I'd be an idiot not to, Froch is the only world class 12st fighter in the country and the best possible sparring I could get.
I rate him, respect him and obviously one day would love to fight him! But sparring is sparring and if it benefits both of us then I'm glad to help out. The timing of our fights is ideal for me.

[bennie]

When are you out again, Smigga?

[Smigga]

When are you out again, Smigga?

October

[bennie]

Thanks.

[lefty]

excellent opportunity for Smigga to spar with someone like froch. Would like to know if this actually comes off.

I'd be an idiot not to, Froch is the only world class 12st fighter in the country and the best possible sparring I could get.
I rate him, respect him and obviously one day would love to fight him! But sparring is sparring and if it benefits both of us then I'm glad to help out. The timing of our fights is ideal for me.

I find it abit strange that Froch would wanna spar you mate in preparation for his fight against abraham,not because you're not a good fighter but because your style is very different to abrahams who basically spends alot of fights with his gloves stuck to his head!Ha.Also without being rude you have decent power without being a ko artist whereas abraham hits like a mule!

[dondada]

excellent opportunity for Smigga to spar with someone like froch. Would like to know if this actually comes off.

I'd be an idiot not to, Froch is the only world class 12st fighter in the country and the best possible sparring I could get.
I rate him, respect him and obviously one day would love to fight him! But sparring is sparring and if it benefits both of us then I'm glad to help out. The timing of our fights is ideal for me.

I find it abit strange that Froch would wanna spar you mate in preparation for his fight against abraham,not because you're not a good fighter but because your style is very different to abrahams who basically spends alot of fights with his gloves stuck to his head!Ha.Also without being rude you have decent power without being a ko artist whereas abraham hits like a mule!

Aye, that's a cracking idea mate - spar with someone who hits like a mule and hope he catches you full on so you really prepare yourself for Abraham's power! 8)

[hurlock]

ideal sparring for froch,he obviously watches who's coming through & must rate smith or is just tight

froch's team are clever they know they will get 100% out of smith who'll be putting the feeler's out & can draw confidence from this work & it will certainly stand him in good stead for a tall & long opponent like mcdermot.

[lefty]

I'd be an idiot not to, Froch is the only world class 12st fighter in the country and the best possible sparring I could get.
I rate him, respect him and obviously one day would love to fight him! But sparring is sparring and if it benefits both of us then I'm glad to help out. The timing of our fights is ideal for me.

I find it abit strange that Froch would wanna spar you mate in preparation for his fight against abraham,not because you're not a good fighter but because your style is very different to abrahams who basically spends alot of fights with his gloves stuck to his head!Ha.Also without being rude you have decent power without being a ko artist whereas abraham hits like a mule!

Aye, that's a cracking idea mate - spar with someone who hits like a mule and hope he catches you full on so you really prepare yourself for Abraham's power! 8)

I understand the point you're making but its better to be prepared properly for a huge puncher rather than go in the ring unprepared!I remember Chris Eubank always that it was important that he/boxers in general get beaten up in sparring as otherwise when the going gets really tough you're out of your depth!

[lefty]

ideal sparring for froch,he obviously watches who's coming through & must rate smith or is just tight

froch's team are clever they know they will get 100% out of smith who'll be putting the feeler's out & can draw confidence from this work & it will certainly stand him in good stead for a tall & long opponent like mcdermot.

You say ideal but im not sure!Smith and Abraham are completely different!I dont see how sparring Smigga would prepare you for Abraham when there styles are so different!One guy that would prepare froch for Abraham is Karo Murat the guy cleverly is gonna be fighting.There styles are basically carbon copies but unfortunately Murat is with Sauerland like Abraham is so thats never gonna happen!

[hurlock]

never left you in good stead did it lefty D

[lefty]

never left you in good stead did it lefty D

No need for insults hurlock

[avidlemon]

i think it is quite obvious why Froch wants to spar Smigga - size. Abraham and Smith are about the same height, with not too disimilar stature. Obviously there is a difference in terms of their styles, but differing sizes create different openings and angles which Froch needs to learn to exploit.
From Smiggas point of view like he said, he couldn't get much better sparring in this country from someone in his own division.
I think it is a win win situation.

Hope you get the chance to get in the ring with someone of Froch's calibre one day too smigga, in the echo!

[hurlock]

never left you in good stead did it lefty D

No need for insults hurlock

i think you'll find avid is doing that D

[avidlemon]

never left you in good stead did it lefty D

No need for insults hurlock

i think you'll find avid is doing that D

I don't get it - am i being stupid??

[Cotto16]

Paul smith is good sparring for froch, smith is very tuff and has a cast iron chin so he will be able to give carl a good spar, if smith does spar froch i would like to know who punches harder froch or bellew because both of them punch like heavyweights

[crusader]

Someone on the CS said Froch was going to spar with David Lemieux as well. Is this true or was it just a rumor? Lemieux resembles AA quite a bit--a short, but very powerful and compact brawler.

[hurlock]

that lemiux look's the buisness 8)

that's a fighter who can exploit defences with severe hook's.

[jameswilson]

Someone on the CS said Froch was going to spar with David Lemieux as well. Is this true or was it just a rumor? Lemieux resembles AA quite a bit--a short, but very powerful and compact brawler.

I think I recall hearing he has sparred him before when he was in Canada sparring Jean Pascal.

Edit - Scratch that I think it was Sebastien Demers.

[lefty]

No need for insults hurlock

i think you'll find avid is doing that D

I don't get it - am i being stupid??

well that makes two of us

[tonyevs]

As said - Smith is no carbon copy of Abraham. The high tight defence and heavy punches being the most obvious.
But I'm sure his higher work-rate and in your face style will benefit Froch - maybe even get Froch working longer each round.

[avidlemon]

i think you'll find avid is doing that D

I don't get it - am i being stupid??

well that makes two of us

[hurlock]

saying smith is off the same stature

the guy's 3 inche's smaller with sloping shoulder's & a simon cowell waist line.

abraham's jab is pretty effective, if it's taken away from him & he's made to walk on to uppercut's or lunge in with big hook's the fight's won.
i read carl's analysing of him & he said he's not big enough & im gonna make him feel what a big 12stoner has to offer, if he apploy's these tactics arthur will be licking his lip's.

[lefty]

saying smith is off the same stature

the guy's 3 inche's smaller with sloping shoulder's & a simon cowell waist line.

abraham's jab is pretty effective, if it's taken away from him & he's made to walk on to uppercut's or lunge in with big hook's the fight's won.
i read carl's analysing of him & he said he's not big enough & im gonna make him feel what a big 12stoner has to offer, if he apploy's these tactics arthur will be licking his lip's.

If froch tries to brawl with Abraham i can see him getting his head taken off!