What is your opinion on Froch?

[sharpei_louis]

I know this topic has probably been done to death in the past but I must have missed it...

Why does Froch continue to struggle for exposure? I know and understand his limitations as a fighter, but he has been consistently performing at world/even elite level SMW, he has beaten some top guys in exciting fights. He is a decent talker, and even if he irritates that normally sells fights a la Naz/Haye etc.
Where is the guy going wrong? Does anyone know his contractual obligations to Hennessey? Has he got a long term deal that's doing him no good? This guy has much more right to PPV and big TV exposure than the likes of Khan who IMO is only just living up to the hype and cash with the Maidana fight.
I simply don't get Froch's lack of publicity and interest. Any ideas?

[jessi]

I know this topic has probably been done to death in the past but I must have missed it...

Why does Froch continue to struggle for exposure? I know and understand his limitations as a fighter, but he has been consistently performing at world/even elite level SMW, he has beaten some top guys in exciting fights. He is a decent talker, and even if he irritates that normally sells fights a la Naz/Haye etc.
Where is the guy going wrong? Does anyone know his contractual obligations to Hennessey? Has he got a long term deal that's doing him no good? This guy has much more right to PPV and big TV exposure than the likes of Khan who IMO is only just living up to the hype and cash with the Maidana fight.
I simply don't get Froch's lack of publicity and interest. Any ideas?

since his great fight with pascal which was on itv all of his fights have been on primetime live ppv, if he had warren a contract with sky or simply fought joe calzage next he would be a house hold name, but untill any of them 3 happen he wont be.

[TheCobra]

TV. That's the beginning and end of it. If people see it on tv they believe it. TV is the king of our society, people worship it, just look at X-Factor.

[yiddo14]

Promotion.

If he was with allegedly he would be the biggest name in British Boxing right now.

Exciting fights, good talker and isn't afraid to speak his mind. Relatively articulate too. He should be a cross over star.
Hopefully he doesn't let it get to him. Boxing fans and those in the sport know just how good he is. Part of me likes the fact he doesn't go on Loose Women or Soccer AM every other week to promote his next upcoming fight.

[yiddo14]

TV. That's the beginning and end of it. If people see it on tv they believe it. TV is the king of our society, people worship it, just look at X-Factor.

It really is worrying.
So many people listen to what the media tells them.

Never realised just how bad it is until recently. My job got slated recently in certain newspapers and they printed complete and utter lies about our shifts, wage etc etc and that old slag Carole Malone (along with certain politicians) run her mouth on tv a few times about our role, again coming out with complete and utter bullshit. I was amazed at just how many punters took their word for it and believed everything they had read or heard.

[berealman]

I've always been a big Calzaghe fan, but I'm liking Carl just as much these days.....really look forward to his fights

[SteveDow]

I've been a big Froch fan for a number of years now and been to see him fight live 4 times. As a fighter is is everything a fan could want, powerful, brave, good skills and most importantly willing to fight the best home or away. His last 5 fights have been against unbelieveable quality of opposition when you think about it. Pascal, Taylor, Dirrell, Kessler and Abraham is a tough a run of fights as I can remember any fighter having. In an age where elite fighters are only too happy to fight weak opposition and fool the fans Froch's attitude is so refreshing. The guy should be a superstar and the reason he is not is down to poor promotion.

[Hagler2002]

His girlfriend is fit but she knows it.

[mickey1975]

You would think Carl had never been on T.V the way people go on.The truth is he has probably boxed on terrestrial T.V as much as anyone in recent years.Pascal was FOTY,live on ITV,and the Taylor drama was repeated,twice,on ITV.He just never caught on.Like other Hennessy fighters he used a lot of his airtime to go on about another boxer and it just turns a lot of people off.There is still time for Carl,though.Calzaghe took nearly nine years to become an overnight success and Haye was flopping at the box office as recently as November 2008.

[Cyclops]

I didn't rate him much at first: I thought he got nailed too much in the Pascal fight against an, at the time, unheralded opponent who I hadn't heard of for a vacant title. I was pleased to have a British world champ, but he didn't look that special. Recent history has subsequently shown that Pascal is real world class and is maybe Carl's best win.

I thought he was losing most of the rounds against Taylor- I remember I didn't even have it close although I haven't watched it since- until he pulled out the KO.

Even though I actually thought he won by a couple of points I thought he looked very beatable against another opponent who I didn't really know a lot about in Andre Dirrell. A lot of people thought it was a hometown decision and it WAS very close. Again, in his next fight Dirrell showed he was a class act and subsequently Froch's win looks a lot more impressive.

Based on those fights, you could say Froch was ready to go. Although the Pascal fight was entertaining there wasn't anything about Carl that looked unbeatable, and Pascal wasn't the marquee name he is now. I'm not saying it's right but you can sort of see why he wasn't getting that much attention, because he seemed like he could always get beat in his next fight.

Then he DID get beat, against Kessler, in one of the fights of the year. I'd started to come round to him during the Dirrell fight (I thought he really worked to make a fight of it and liked how he overcame Dirrell's superior skills through sheer will, despite the fact it was a pretty crappy fight) but I liked him a lot more for such a spirited performance in defeat. It was a good fight. And it might have retired Kessler.

Then you've got the Abraham performance. That's the first time I've seen him absolutely dominate. I'm a proper fan now, you can't take that back to back schedule of world class opponents away from him. I'm very proud of him, and I'm sure he'll get much more attention now.

But he started his run of world title fights under the shadow of Calzaghe, who was very flashy and an entertainer. Despite his detractors Calzaghe was a very good fighter: he showboated, hit his opponents with all sorts of punches and fought in a very fast, weird distinctive style. Apart from Hopkins (and to a lesser extent Bika), Calzaghe dominated his opponents from Lacy onwards and looked good doing it. Even Kessler, which was a closer fight, Calzaghe never really looked like he was going to lose. I suppose if you compare that to Carl, to the casual boxing fan- which most people are- you weren't going to get that excited about him. Most UK sports fans have to suffer following losing football teams so if they're going to shell out to follow a boxer they want a guy that wins. Like I said, Carl looked like he was always that close to a loss. Ironically a loss seems to have made him a much better fighter and if he wins the Super Six he will probably be remembered as the better fighter out of him and Joe. Although I think if he won you'd see Joe coming out of retirement to fight him.

[Jeff Thomas]

I always liked him from the ams but he came across as really big headed so didn't really take to him, but then he kept showing bags of bollocks in all these big fights and you couldn't help but be impressed. Finally when I met him earlier this year, have to say he really is a top lad and a really down to earth bloke. Really nice chap.

[banjo]

Promotion.

If he was with allegedly he would be the biggest name in British Boxing right now.

Possibly but I massively doubt that he'd have had the run of fights that he has had if he was a FW fighter.

Exciting fights, good talker and isn't afraid to speak his mind. Relatively articulate too. He should be a cross over star.
Hopefully he doesn't let it get to him. Boxing fans and those in the sport know just how good he is. Part of me likes the fact he doesn't go on Loose Women or Soccer AM every other week to promote his next upcoming fight.

As daft as it may sound but that is a good way to promote yourself, because you are broadcasting to a much wider audience, Carls problem isn't his ability or anything like that it's mainly because a lot of people probably don't even know he is fighting, chat shows are a great way of changing that, other celebs go on them to promote books, albums, films, tours etc. why not promote a fight? It's got to be better than nothing.

[Yes We Can]

Promotion.

If he was with allegedly he would be the biggest name in British Boxing right now.

Possibly but I massively doubt that he'd have had the run of fights that he has had if he was a FW fighter.

Exciting fights, good talker and isn't afraid to speak his mind. Relatively articulate too. He should be a cross over star.
Hopefully he doesn't let it get to him. Boxing fans and those in the sport know just how good he is. Part of me likes the fact he doesn't go on Loose Women or Soccer AM every other week to promote his next upcoming fight.

As daft as it may sound but that is a good way to promote yourself, because you are broadcasting to a much wider audience, Carls problem isn't his ability or anything like that it's mainly because a lot of people probably don't even know he is fighting, chat shows are a great way of changing that, other celebs go on them to promote books, albums, films, tours etc. why not promote a fight? It's got to be better than nothing.

agree 100%. It's shows like this that have helped David Haye become a star.

[Srebmun]

I've always been a big Calzaghe fan, but I'm liking Carl just as much these days.....really look forward to his fights

x 2

I'm not (or wasn't) too fond of his fighting style to be fair, but jeez does he have a pair of stones on him.

Sky's stance that the boxing calendar etc. is full is totally ridiculous.

[stujones]

Carl has actually been a boxer with some of the best exposure in recent years.... hang on bare with me.

Most of his early fights were shown on Saturday evening on the BBC. Not BBC 3, or BBC choice as it was then known, but BBC1. Not many fighters of this generation can boast that much of a begining. Actually, before he turned pro - he had his Amateur fights on the Beeb.

Then Hennessy lost his contract with the Beeb.... but hang on, except for 1 fight (which was out abroad and shown on delay on Eurosport) he had a run over a fair few fights again shown live on Sky - headlining Friday Night Fight. ... Sky all of a sudden seems to be this fortress for expsoure, but at the time we were complaining that Froch was LOSING some exposure.

Then, after Sky - Hennessy got a deal with ITV and low and behold, Froch opponened the Hennessy deal - Fighting Matthew Barney. That bill got a load of press and ITV tried to really hype Froch.

Froch then later graduated to ITV 1, with his world title win on Live primetime ITV 1 on a Saturday night. Again we could count on just over one hand the number of British fighters who have got that this last ten years. ITV 1, Primetime on a Saturday.

Thats not all..... The Taylor and the Dirrell fight were shown on delayed - I think both on ITV 1 also, definately ITV 4 - and not at a rediculous time. So only the Kessler and Abraham bouts have been on the limited platform that is Primetime.

How many other fighters in the Uk whose bills they have fought on (except 1) have all been broadcast live, the majority on terrestial TV.... Not many!

Of course Sky are going to declare an interest if petitions are brought in, with trade paper backing, to showcase Froch.... but the question must be that of ratings. Its hardly like Froch hasn't had the opportunities to get a profile. I think the likability factor, on top of his unaurthodox style are bigger factors.

Easy to play the blame came, but facts are if Froch was pulling in the punters, the TV companies wouldn't need petitions to express an interest. Froch has had more opportunities than most.

Compare Froch with say, Kel Brook. Some of his big fights hidden away on Setanta, and now on PPV...undercards on PPV's. How is he ever going to establish himself a star. Now there is a fighter who has possibly not had the opportunities that Froch has.

[hurlock]

tv people dont have a clue & need a worthy promoter to market there fighter adequatley & hennesy does a poor job, but into relation to that if he would of been with the likes of wazza he wouldnt be as credible. this tournament is making him a big name in the u.s.a & i think the yank's will open british eye's with there intrest as froch is never in a bad fight.

[Yes We Can]

Similar to Clinton Woods to an extent, never really getting the credit or name recognition he deserved from the casual fan. I think the time has passed for him to be a PPV star in the UK, but he will earn himself massive respect and appreciation in the U.S and probably every other boxing country in the world.

[stujones]

tv people dont have a clue & need a worthy promoter to market there fighter adequatley & hennesy does a poor job, but into relation to that if he would of been with the likes of wazza he wouldnt be as credible. this tournament is making him a big name in the u.s.a & i think the yank's will open british eye's with there intrest as froch is never in a bad fight.

TV people might not have a clue, but they understand ratings.... and lets give Hennessy some credit - it is clear when talking to the TV companies he is using Froch as his "big fish".

Who was the member of the Class of 2002 to get his own "cartoon strip" on the Beeb. Okay, rediculous bit of advertising (the one with the snake is still being used which is bizarre cause Froch has aged loads since that promo).

Then he headlined Sky shows and got a fair amount of advertising for his debut on the ITV network. So Hennessy is (or at least was) selling him very well, for 3 big TV companies to have so much initial faith with the advetising. Ratings might be an issue though and thats why support hasn't been there.

Not that I am suggesting Froch is a reason why the likes of ITV and BBC didn't extend a Hennessy deal - but ratings and previous ratings might be a reason why Sky haven't biting their hand off everytime Hennessy has been out of contract.

[hurlock]

a cartoon of him getting his weener bit off by a cobra D

it was impressive but there wasnt no story of him fighting a name or hennessy securing such fight's as all door's seemed closed & it resulted in him going to the states boxing a porras etc. there wasnt anything bubbling & sky lost intrest.

[stujones]

a cartoon of him getting his weener bit off by a cobra D

it was impressive but there wasnt no story of him fighting a name or hennessy securing such fight's as all door's seemed closed & it resulted in him going to the states boxing a porras etc. there wasnt anything bubbling & sky lost intrest.

Froch was involved in fights with some big names on Sky and moved to the #1 with the WBC.

He had fights with Reid, Magee and Dodson all of which had some major domestic interest. Reid was well known, Magee was considered a gate keeper for world class and considered Froch's hard fight and between them he fought Dodson - who is a popular ticket seller who was stating the fact that Froch never beat him for the British belt. There was some big hype for that one.

Even before that, his fight with Groenwald got a fair amount of attention. Groenwald a known decent opperator.

After the Reid fight he was #1 for the WBC title..... so of course things were bubbling. Bubbling so much that ITV picked up Hennessy. But the question remains, why didn't Sky have interest when ITV lost theirs?

[McCannW14]

TV. That's the beginning and end of it. If people see it on tv they believe it. TV is the king of our society, people worship it, just look at X-Factor.

It really is worrying.
So many people listen to what the media tells them.

Never realised just how bad it is until recently. My job got slated recently in certain newspapers and they printed complete and utter lies about our shifts, wage etc etc and that old slag Carole Malone (along with certain politicians) run her mouth on tv a few times about our role, again coming out with complete and utter bullshit. I was amazed at just how many punters took their word for it and believed everything they had read or heard.

It is worrying. Huge numbers read the Sun, shop at Iceland, watch the XFactor and do so religiously. The majority of the population are half-wits at best.

[black panther]

TV. That's the beginning and end of it. If people see it on tv they believe it. TV is the king of our society, people worship it, just look at X-Factor.

It really is worrying.
So many people listen to what the media tells them.

Never realised just how bad it is until recently. My job got slated recently in certain newspapers and they printed complete and utter lies about our shifts, wage etc etc and that old slag Carole Malone (along with certain politicians) run her mouth on tv a few times about our role, again coming out with complete and utter bullshit. I was amazed at just how many punters took their word for it and believed everything they had read or heard.

It is worrying. Huge numbers read the Sun, shop at Iceland, watch the XFactor and do so religiously. The majority of the population are half-wits at best.

Agreed it's highly worrying. I just can't understand how so many people can read what is IMO utter drivel. Back to the topic at hand, my opinion on Froch? Pascal, Taylor, Dirrell, Kessler and Abraham in a row? Screw the tv networks and shame on them. My opinion is he's the EFFIN' MAN.

[Spud]

Name another fighter that has ever come from the UK who has taken the ultimate risk of taking on all comers in his weight division.

The normal seems to be once a fighter has made his money he gets his so called career defining fight and thats it.

From the outset Hennessy matched Froch relatively toughly and since he arrived on the world stage he has been involved in some top class fights producing top class performances.

Froch has made a lot of money dont worry about that - I honestly do not believe he would have made anymore being with Mr W arren although he would have been a bigger name - tell me something though - W arren is a fantastic promoter the best the UK has produced - but - I do not believe for one minute he would have risked Froch in the Super 6 tournament.

[Collins2000]

Welcome home, Spudly.

[MacTavish]

He's THE man. No mistake.