Carl Froch

[Spiker]

Certainly makes you appreciate how good Joe c was now.
outboxing kessler and Hopkins etc.
I think he would have beaten ward as he was just so fast hands and feet really.
Could you imagine him in a contest like this though??? .......... Nah he wouldnt have done it, his philosophy was im the champ all cue up.

As for Carl if he can somehow speed himself up he could beat Ward, I sometimes watch Froch and get frustrated at why hes just standing there with his guard down low.
Interesting fight though

[leforge]

Still another good win for Carl. I give him a good chance in the final.

[Emmseegee]

To be honest i havent watched a lot of ward, what previous fights would people suggest i watch to get a good overview.

[TheCobra]

A good win for Carl but not a classic. I had him up by 2-3 points at the end but can see why the americans thought it was closer as they were cheering for Johnson. He's an old tough nut Johnson so it was always going the distance, I agree that Froch's power hasn't travelled up to world class, remember when he was beating up people at British level and I thought thast power would travel up, shame it hasn't but he is still a warrior.

If he could up his workrate and work on more speed then I could see him giving Ward a good argument, as it is I think Ward will deliver a 'better version of Dirrell' type performance to outspeed and outwork Froch to a points decision.

[CiganoBoxer]

A good win for Carl but not a classic. I had him up by 2-3 points at the end but can see why the americans thought it was closer as they were cheering for Johnson. He's an old tough nut Johnson so it was always going the distance, I agree that Froch's power hasn't travelled up to world class, remember when he was beating up people at British level and I thought thast power would travel up, shame it hasn't but he is still a warrior.

If he could up his workrate and work on more speed then I could see him giving Ward a good argument, as it is I think Ward will deliver a 'better version of Dirrell' type performance to outspeed and outwork Froch to a points decision.

I dont see where Ward is as slick as Dirrell tho ...everytime i watch Ward he holds then hits/buts ...although he can box to...i can see Froch v Ward being a bit of an ugly fight to

[Bricks]

Carl froch is one unusual cat as a boxer.

To the unknowledgable layman on the outside he looks like one of those 19th century pioneer type white boxers all sinewy and the apparent lack of balance and slow fists.

But study him and watch him build this incredible run of high class wins and u get the picture..

He has one of the toughest chins in boxing. Allied with incredible durability and a steely win to win. His hands at long range are slow on the inside his quick flurries are fast. It is his lightning reflexes even at 33 and counterpunching which enable him to land so much plus a terrific boxing brain able to adapt quickly. People forget he was a world amateur bronze medalist.....and people vastly underestimate how his power discourages the toughest men. He discouraged abraham,pascal and the first time he hit johnson solid he discouraged johnson a little. The same johnson who steamrolled allan green and yusuf mack.

I just think its incredible that despite this incredible streak of wins over top class foes in boxings most talent rich division...froch may still well end up as the 2nd or 3rd best super middle behind bute and ward.

I do think joe calzaghe would have destroyed ward. I also think ward is overrated and caught kessler on a bad night away from europe and fed on the remains of abraham after froch had dealt with him.

Froch always looks vulnerable despite his chin and heart and record and abilities.

Im going to go with froch to beat ward but carl must be on the ball from the 1st round and not give 3 rounds away early like he did tonight

i had froch beating johnson by 1 or 2 rounds. It was a hard hard tough close fight but jonson faded like he often does in the last 2 or 3.

I thought the scoring of 117-112 was ridiculous.

[housesecond]

Sorry, but I wasn't impressed by Carl last night. I really want to be, but until he tightens up his defence and stops throwing the lazy right hand from his hips I don't think I'll be able to.

Hope he goes on to win the thing, not sure if he had an off night last night he just didn't seem himself to me.

[jameswilson]

not being funny but joe wud destroy ward....too much workrate,movement serious!

I think Joe C would win, but he wouldn't destroy Ward. I know Ward can be hard to watch, but he's got legit skills and talent; he hasn't lost since he was 12 years old.

Did he really have an unbeaten Amateur career?

[davie]

I think the one thing that last nights show taught us, is that with froch and kessler in that division, we're going to get a few more entertaining fights over the next few years.

i believe ward and bute to be the best in the wieght and would come out on top over froch/kessler. both are too easy to hit, froch because of his inability to guard/block and kessler seems a little static. but neither know how to produce a boring fight. kessler was really good to watch last night, he really sets himself for those big punches

i'll be cheering froch on against ward in the final and bute if he fights him later. and i'll be rooting for kessler in any fight against those 2, but i just think ward/bute will be too clever for them.


another kessler/froch fight is an exciting prospect.

[TheCobra]

Yep the good thing for Froch now is that win or lose in the final, the opportunities after that are still massive. The Super 6 has really created a good interest in what was already a strong division.

[whiskey]

I dont think it was by any means a vintage performance by Carl last night. Looked too laid back and content to be a nose ahead throughout (no pun intended).

I thought Carl was on a curve in this outing - poor in the beginning then gradually got back up to a decent level wheras Johnson was consistently good from beginning to end, didn't like the back-steps by Froch - when he stood his ground in the 4th or so and refused to go backwards, Johnson looked out of his comfort zone. But then Carl reverted back to moving backwards again.

That backwards movement could have haunted him on a Don King promotion as the away fighter.

As it stands it was an entertaining event, perhaps marred slightly by the total panic in Watt & Rawling's commentary.

I think overall Johnson put his very-best performance into it. He was sensing a S6 final and a WBC world title was in his grasp. He deserved a share of the rounds and landed some decent punches which got the crowd going.

Like I said, Johnson sparked-out Allan Green wheras Ward really laboured in a horrible performance. So I did anticipate he would bring it against Froch. I personally read a bit too much into his weight, because he looked big in there when the bell rung.

I got the sense if it was an old-school 15 round fight, then Carl could have actually took him because to be fair he finished fresh, strong and his power was still completely there.

Another banana skin out of the way, roll on Andre Ward.

[the truth]

Calzaghe is the greatest s m of all time, ward would of lost to him who has ward beat that hadn't already been pasted??
Boxing experts on here? Pah...

[whiskey]

Calzaghe is the greatest s m of all time, ward would of lost to him who has ward beat that hadn't already been pasted??
Boxing experts on here? Pah...

I totally agree - Calzaghe was such a consumate professional he took 12 years of learning his craft inside-out before bringing over a fellow belt holder.

In another a masterstroke, rather than fight Roy Jones & Bernard Hopkins in their mid 30's at their peak, he actually waited until they had become "grand masters" of pugilism, well into their 40's before taking them on.

Despite having his nose broken by both men, he came out victorious. He was so gifted that instead of using his epic KO power, he granted us all a masterclass of 24 rounds to cement this historic double.

We don't even have to mention future hall-of-famers and behemoths like Evans "lights out" Ashira and "Iron" Peter Manfredo.

Infact the show would have been called the Super One plus five. Not the Super Six. And we'd have happily paid £49.95 per episode.

[black panther]

Calzaghe is the greatest s m of all time, ward would of lost to him who has ward beat that hadn't already been pasted??
Boxing experts on here? Pah...

I totally agree - Calzaghe was such a consumate professional he took 12 years of learning his craft inside-out before bringing over a fellow belt holder.

In another a masterstroke, rather than fight Roy Jones & Bernard Hopkins in their mid 30's at their peak, he actually waited until they had become "grand masters" of pugilism, well into their 40's before taking them on.

Despite having his nose broken by both men, he came out victorious. He was so gifted that instead of using his epic KO power, he granted us all a masterclass of 24 rounds to cement this historic double.

We don't even have to mention future hall-of-famers and behemoths like Evans "lights out" Ashira and "Iron" Peter Manfredo.

Infact the show would have been called the Super One plus five. Not the Super Six. And we'd have happily paid £49.95 per episode.

[TheCobra]

As it stands it was an entertaining event, perhaps marred slightly by the total panic in Watt & Rawling's commentary.

Agree mate, the commentary just got whiny after a bit. Watt gets on my tits sometimes and this fight was one of them.

[jameswilson]

Froch could have made it a bit easier for himself by starting a bit more aggressively, it wouldn't have taken much for him to win the first round, he seemed a bit nervous, whereas when he fought Pascal he literally marched to the middle of the ring backed Pascal into the ropes and unloaded. Likewise against Abraham he seemed to start much better.

I think the strategy for Ward is to be in the fight with 4 or 5 rounds to go, and then look to work on him when he is tired. A bit like the Taylor fight. Froch will have to get the better of Ward in the clinches, also Froch can learn a lot from what Johnson did to the body on the inside. He seemed to be landing little short shots to the body during the exchanges, against Ward this could pay dividends because even against Abraham who doesn't set any kind of pace he seemed to be breathing heavily towards the end.

[jameswilson]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vLt80xbu7Y

Here's the final section of the showtime coverage, it has the full interviews at the end as well as Andre Ward and Carl Froch being interviewed together. Good interview by the 2 of them, both show respect. Can't fornicating wait for the final, might even head out to see it.

[Finch]

Calfaghe would have lost to Ward.

Well that's it, your convincing argument has me converted!

[jBacca]

I had the fight to Froch by 7 last night. Gave the first to both, third and seventh to Johnson, and the rest to Carl. Johnson was landing some big shots, but Carl was hitting him with a combinations throughout the rounds.

Despite giving it comfortably to The Cobra, I feel Ward will beat him with relative ease. Got in 80/20 in Ward's favour.

[Finn]

Calfaghe would have lost to Ward.

I personally think the kessler that fought calzage would beat ward.

I was watching kessler last night and noticed when he's been inactive for a long time he
still has his hand skills and power but completely looses his footwork and movement, which was what happened against ward. A couple more fights and i think he will be ready to beat the winner of the super six and bute.

I also had froch by seven rounds last night.

[Adamj1987]

Calfaghe would have lost to Ward.

I personally think the kessler that fought calzage would beat ward.

I was watching kessler last night and noticed when he's been inactive for a long time he
still has his hand skills and power but completely looses his footwork and movement, which was what happened against ward. A couple more fights and i think he will be ready to beat the winner of the super six and bute.

kessler hasnt looked good since calzaghe even his tune up fight against some mexican (i think) and sure kessler KO'd him but he couldnt keep his average opponent off him

[Finn]

Calfaghe would have lost to Ward.

I personally think the kessler that fought calzaghe would beat ward.

I was watching kessler last night and noticed when he's been inactive for a long time he
still has his hand skills and power but completely looses his footwork and movement, which was what happened against ward. A couple more fights and i think he will be ready to beat the winner of the super six and bute.

kessler hasnt looked good since calzaghe even his tune up fight against some mexican (i think) and sure kessler KO'd him but he couldnt keep his average opponent off him

He's hardly fought since calzaghe and even then he could beat froch. He only needs one or two more fights and he'll be bobbing and weaving again.

[Pat Butcher]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vLt80xbu7Y

Here's the final section of the showtime coverage, it has the full interviews at the end as well as Andre Ward and Carl Froch being interviewed together. Good interview by the 2 of them, both show respect. Can't effing wait for the final, might even head out to see it.

Nice one putting the link up . Was a bit pissed off they didn't show all the interviews on sky after staying up all night. Ward came across well and I liked the comments from Froch about failed olympic medalists, naming DeGale with Audley :) Think thats a bit harsh on DeGale but still amusing

[Asterix]

kessler hasnt looked good since calzaghe even his tune up fight against some mexican (i think) and sure kessler KO'd him but he couldnt keep his average opponent off him

Agreed. Kessler was stunned in his first comeback fight, in the first round, against Dimitri Sartison. Gusmyr Perdomo (Uruguayan, the guy I think you're referring to) gave him something to think about until Kessler landed a flush shot.

Against Ward, Kessler was overconfident. He had been thought of as the favourite to win the Super Six and it went to his head. He didn't even have a game plan. Madness.

Today's Kessler is battle-worn, imo. He has suffered lots of rumoured injuries and shows zero upper body movement, head movement or lateral movement. Put him in with someone who uses movement well, and they'll beat him.

Kessler is still World class, though.

[Adamj1987]

kessler hasnt looked good since calzaghe even his tune up fight against some mexican (i think) and sure kessler KO'd him but he couldnt keep his average opponent off him

Agreed. Kessler was stunned in his first comeback fight, in the first round, against Dimitri Sartison. Gusmyr Perdomo (Uruguayan, the guy I think you're referring to) gave him something to think about until Kessler landed a flush shot.

Against Ward, Kessler was overconfident. He had been thought of as the favourite to win the Super Six and it went to his head. He didn't even have a game plan. Madness.

Today's Kessler is battle-worn, imo. He has suffered lots of rumoured injuries and shows zero upper body movement, head movement or lateral movement. Put him in with someone who uses movement well, and they'll beat him.

Kessler is still World class, though.

yes thats the guy, i hadnt looked it up when i typed my responce, i remember arguing about this fight with THE LAW
agreed

i had abraham as the fave going in, how wrong was i?