Carl Froch last 10 fights

[josh fg]

Was just having a look over Froch's record after last night's heroic's, it strikes me that he's only taken one easy fight in the last 10. I think we underestimate the challenges he sets for himself
Robin Reid - hard hand former world champion
Albert Rybacki - his easy fight who was 15-0 at the time
Jean Pascal - natural light heavy for the world title, won the WBC light heavyweight after Froch
Jermain Taylor - had the beating of Froch until last round, former middleweight champion
Andre Dirrell - tricky, durable and the exact wrong style for Froch
Mikkel Kesslar - Don't even need to explain his quality
Arthur Abraham - never before beaten in the ring and former world milddle champion
Glen Johnson - a man with so many names on his record you'd think he was from the 1950s
Andre Ward - in a world title unification against a former ametre star
Lucian Bute - a world champion, undefeated in 30 fights.

My main questions would be what next?

He has found his level at super middle and I think he could beat Kesslar if they came up against each other again but would struggle against Ward. But assuming he wins one, I feel that he'd do well to fight at Light Heavy before ending his career.

[Pat Butcher]

I think Rybacki was a stand in too (correct me if I'm wrong, I was living aboad at the time)

[gobbles]

Reid was totally washed up when he fought Froch

[NazNaci1]

Reid was finished but it was still impressive to stop him, as Reid still possesed a solid punch and chin. Rematch Kessler, that is a winnable fight and would go some way to elevating Froch further not too mention erasing that close loss in Denmark.

[states]

I think Rybacki was a stand in too (correct me if I'm wrong, I was living aboad at the time)

I was there that night, he was indeed. Froch was meant to be fighting Dennis Inkin that night. I think Rybacki was something like the third or fourth choice opponent. There were a few pullouts that night, I'm sure John Murray was meant to be fighting John Fewkes, for instance.

[josh fg]

Reid was totally washed up when he fought Froch

He was passed his best but had fought Lacy for a world title two fights earlier, certainly a harder oponent than Froch need take. I remember Rybaki being a stand in.

[IRLangmaid25]

I think Rybacki was a stand in too (correct me if I'm wrong, I was living aboad at the time)

I was there that night, he was indeed. Froch was meant to be fighting Dennis Inkin that night. I think Rybacki was something like the third or fourth choice opponent. There were a few pullouts that night, I'm sure John Murray was meant to be fighting John Fewkes, for instance.

Wasn't the Inkin meant to have been an eliminator or something as well as an opportunity for Froch to gain retribution against a man who defeated him in the amateurs ranks. As for Rybacki I think he took the fight on 4/5 days notice if my memory serves me correctly.

[whiskey]

When Inkin withdrew a second time with a weeks notice, it was offered to everyone but only Kingsley Ikeke and Rubin Williams would take it, then the latter never got on a plane.

Rybacki had beaten Tony Dodson previously and had a fight lined up the same night and was the best given the unfortunate circumstances facing Mick Hennessy that week.

Bradley vs Witter got upgraded to headliner.

[crusader]

at that resume.

[Final round]

Great run, Carl maybe you could do with a *ahem easier challenge next...or maybe not see you against Kessler the end of the year chief!

[Goz]

Unprecedented in modern times and that doesn't even highlight the fact that so many of those fights weren't at home (a la Calzaghe & Hatton).

I think had most of the fighters Froch will inevitably be compared to (Benn, Calzaghe, Eubank etc) participated in a super 6 type tournament I think they would have had quite a few more losses.

[stevieb_8006]

i think pavlik in nottingham could be fun

[Deserter]

Unprecedented in modern times and that doesn't even highlight the fact that so many of those fights weren't at home (a la Calzaghe & Hatton).

I think had most of the fighters Froch will inevitably be compared to (Benn, Calzaghe, Eubank etc) participated in a super 6 type tournament I think they would have had quite a few more losses.

Agree completely.

[ShadrachSimmo]

I think Rybacki was a stand in too (correct me if I'm wrong, I was living aboad at the time)

I was there that night, he was indeed. Froch was meant to be fighting Dennis Inkin that night. I think Rybacki was something like the third or fourth choice opponent. There were a few pullouts that night, I'm sure John Murray was meant to be fighting John Fewkes, for instance.

He was and ending up on a hard fight vs al hamidi.

Froch has indeed had prob the hardest run of fights of anyone the last 3 or 4 years. A rematch with Kessler has to be next.

[JC]

Unprecedented in modern times and that doesn't even highlight the fact that so many of those fights weren't at home (a la Calzaghe & Hatton).

I think had most of the fighters Froch will inevitably be compared to (Benn, Calzaghe, Eubank etc) participated in a super 6 type tournament I think they would have had quite a few more losses.

Yes, the beauty of the Super Six tournament is that by making the best fight the best we now know all we need to know about the participants, a bit like the Fab Four era. Abraham went way down in people's estimations, Froch up, Ward way up, Kessler down a little etc.

[winkveron]

Froch has mentioned the possibility of his next fight being a mandatory. Any idea who that could be? Maybe later in the year, and then a Kessler rematch in Notts next Summer to end it all

[Adamj1987]

Froch has mentioned the possibility of his next fight being a mandatory. Any idea who that could be? Maybe later in the year, and then a Kessler rematch in Notts next Summer to end it all

adonis stevenson is mandatory
he needs to fit the bute rematch in montreal in there somehwere aswell

[dondada]

I did a bit for Boxing Monthly in Feb 2011 about what was then Froch's five-timer. I concluded thus (though I can't remember if it made the mag):

"Whichever way you cut it, of all the better known British world champions in history, none has had such a high quality run of opposition as Nottingham’s Carl Froch. His relatively low profile, even within the sport, is nothing short of a disgrace. If you live until you’re 100, you might not see a better five-timer than Fantastic Froch. And with what he might have lined up for 2011, his rank among the all-time British greats might rise even higher."

The only British world champion I could find who had a better run of five than Froch was Jimmy McLarnin. Froch has now gone up to eight. I just looked again and McLarnin had another three quality opponents off the back of the five I chose, which started with Benny Leonard in October 1932: Barney Ross (for the third time on the bounce), Tony Canzoneri (twice) and then Lou Ambers. In fact, he fought another top quality bloke before the start of the five-timer I chose for him, so he had at least ten world class/world champ opponents in a row.

So Froch should fight another three hard opponents next if he wants to top McLarnin

Seriously though, absolutely unbelievable. Talk about a throwback. There's not a single fighter boxing today with such a run of difficult opponents. Is there?

[winkveron]

Froch has mentioned the possibility of his next fight being a mandatory. Any idea who that could be? Maybe later in the year, and then a Kessler rematch in Notts next Summer to end it all

adonis stevenson is mandatory
he needs to fit the bute rematch in montreal in there somehwere aswell

Assuming Bute wants the rematch, which is up in the air at the moment

[Adamj1987]

I think Rybacki was a stand in too (correct me if I'm wrong, I was living aboad at the time)

I was there that night, he was indeed. Froch was meant to be fighting Dennis Inkin that night. I think Rybacki was something like the third or fourth choice opponent. There were a few pullouts that night, I'm sure John Murray was meant to be fighting John Fewkes, for instance.

you are correct, i was there aswell.

up until the day before froch was fighting william joppy as he was first replacement after inkin

[damianhucker1]

I think Rybacki was a stand in too (correct me if I'm wrong, I was living aboad at the time)

I was there that night, he was indeed. Froch was meant to be fighting Dennis Inkin that night. I think Rybacki was something like the third or fourth choice opponent. There were a few pullouts that night, I'm sure John Murray was meant to be fighting John Fewkes, for instance.

you are correct, i was there aswell.

up until the day before froch was fighting william joppy as he was first replacement after inkin

[JDC]

Hopkins is an option... tough fight, but winnable. In Canada... with Bute and Pascal having fights, on the undercard.

[dbf]

Froch has fought absolutely everyone worth fighting at 168. He's a complete animal - he's the boxer that every fan had been crying out for - fight the best one after the other!

Super Six was a great tournament and its a testament to Carl's clean living, dedication and indomitable will, that he managed to get through it without injuries and too much wear and tear. But then to go back into top level fighting an undefeated world champion and ripping his title away in the fashion he did is unthinkable. I'm so pleased for Carl he deserves it.

Not just boxing, but there are few sportsmen in this country who can live with that kind of run of performances, especially given the nature of boxing.

Carl Froch is in shape all year round, and the sooner other boxers realise the importance of this the better.

Sky fought really hard to get back Froch on their screens and despite the Ward loss they must be made up for Carl following his victory at the weekend.

[josh fg]

The more I think about it the more I think the Kesslar fight and all being well a couple of fights at light heavy then hang up his gloves, he's a top bloke who has achieved as an ammeter and professional I understand he's been investing his money wisely and I hope he can leave this sport by the end of 2014 hopefully with recognition but defiantly with him and his family secure.

[Ezzard]

I love Carl Froch.

He went into the Bute fight knowing it might be his last. I think he needs to go into every fight like that from now on, because it can all fade very quickly when you put your body through what Carl does.

I think, in no special order… Pavlik, Kessler II, Hopkins, Bute II, Ward II…then end on a fight with the winner of a Groves-DeGale rematch.

Those are the fights he should take. Carl has a warrior mentality and I think Hearn is making an error if he lines up a soft touch. Though some might say Pavlik and Bute II will be soft touches…but they’ll come to fight.