Anybody a little disappointed with Froch's performance?

[johnswan1]

Firstly, I don't to say I was disappointed with the fight, because it was excellent (but apart from the 8th and 12th rounds it didn't carry the same drama as the first fight).

Prior to this fight, people were making out that Froch had greatly improved since the first fight and that Kessler was potentially on the decline.

Having now watched the fight, I think both are around the same level they were at last time, except Froch was much busier, which enabled him to outwork Kessler and get the win.

Reasons I am a little disappointed are because:

1 I thought Froch would be much more physically dominant than he was, and increasingly so throughout the fight
2 Most pundits were tipping Froch to win comfortably on points and I felt to make a real statement he would need to stop Kessler, so he only really did what was expected and no more
3 Last night showed that a rematch with Ward would be no different than before, Froch was too wild and inaccurate with his power shots
4 Froch was probably flattered by the stoppage wins against Bute and Mack (where I felt he had renewed belief and determination) and hasn't really improved since the first Kessler fight
5 It all feels a little anti climatic, and other than Cleverly, I can't think of another opponent for Froch I would be genuinely excited about seeing him in with

Maybe it's just a combination of me thinking Froch was better than he showed and that Kessler's performance far exceeded everybody's expectations?

[Newport Daz]

I thought Froch was excellent myself. Used his jab well, rattled off combinations, hurt Kessler a few times and finished the fight well. I'm not sure why people were expecting the stoppage, Kessler has only been down once and got up to win by KO and has never shown any vulnerability at all. I'd give that performance a 9/10.

[lefthook82]

@John, I feel exactly the same.

Did what he needed to do but still looked crude as hell. That dragon punch of his. Has it ever landed on any oppoenent?

[earsjohn]

Firstly, I don't to say I was disappointed with the fight, because it was excellent (but apart from the 8th and 12th rounds it didn't carry the same drama as the first fight).

Prior to this fight, people were making out that Froch had greatly improved since the first fight and that Kessler was potentially on the decline.

Having now watched the fight, I think both are around the same level they were at last time, except Froch was much busier, which enabled him to outwork Kessler and get the win.

Reasons I am a little disappointed are because:

1 I thought Froch would be much more physically dominant than he was, and increasingly so throughout the fight
2 Most pundits were tipping Froch to win comfortably on points and I felt to make a real statement he would need to stop Kessler, so he only really did what was expected and no more
3 Last night showed that a rematch with Ward would be no different than before, Froch was too wild and inaccurate with his power shots
4 Froch was probably flattered by the stoppage wins against Bute and Mack (where I felt he had renewed belief and determination) and hasn't really improved since the first Kessler fight
5 It all feels a little anti climatic, and other than Cleverly, I can't think of another opponent for Froch I would be genuinely excited about seeing him in with

Maybe it's just a combination of me thinking Froch was better than he showed and that Kessler's performance far exceeded everybody's expectations?

Yeah, the guy's a fraudulent bum and should retire before dragging dragging the good name of British boxing further through the mud. Thank god we have the legendary likes of Nathan Cleverly to keep us entertained with his endless list of no-name, no-hopers.

[mickey1975]

I know I am going to get stick for this, but I think Clev would beat him. He doesn't hit hard enough to stop him and can't outwork him.

[stevedoc]

i thought froch did great for the first 2/3 rounds when he used his jab more then he seemed to run out of steam for a couple of rounds letting kessler back in to it , froch has a bad habit of moving his right leg forward when he throws a right hand almost jumping in .
i think froch showed his age a couple of times last night he couldn't keep the pace going at times, a younger fighter like groves wouldn't allow froch to take a breather like that .
also in the 11th froch was hurt which happens but it shows he's normal and not the hulk.
in the last round the ref was trying to get inbetween the fighters near the end to tell froch to keep his punches up not because he was about to stop the fight as many have said.

decent from froch but he showed his age a bit

[Final round]

? I thought Froch had improved last night than the first fight and thought Kesser looked liked he had declined. His balance wasn't what it was didn't move as fluidly.

[Counter-puncher]

Firstly, I don't to say I was disappointed with the fight, because it was excellent (but apart from the 8th and 12th rounds it didn't carry the same drama as the first fight).

Prior to this fight, people were making out that Froch had greatly improved since the first fight and that Kessler was potentially on the decline.

Having now watched the fight, I think both are around the same level they were at last time, except Froch was much busier, which enabled him to outwork Kessler and get the win.

Reasons I am a little disappointed are because:

1 I thought Froch would be much more physically dominant than he was, and increasingly so throughout the fight
2 Most pundits were tipping Froch to win comfortably on points and I felt to make a real statement he would need to stop Kessler, so he only really did what was expected and no more
3 Last night showed that a rematch with Ward would be no different than before, Froch was too wild and inaccurate with his power shots
4 Froch was probably flattered by the stoppage wins against Bute and Mack (where I felt he had renewed belief and determination) and hasn't really improved since the first Kessler fight
5 It all feels a little anti climatic, and other than Cleverly, I can't think of another opponent for Froch I would be genuinely excited about seeing him in with

Maybe it's just a combination of me thinking Froch was better than he showed and that Kessler's performance far exceeded everybody's expectations?

Yeah, the guy's a fraudulent bum and should retire before dragging dragging the good name of British boxing further through the mud. Thank god we have the legendary likes of Nathan Cleverly to keep us entertained with his endless list of no-name, no-hopers.

[Counter-puncher]

john, with respect I disagree with you entirely, not only because i though the second fight clearly outshone the first, both from a technical perspective and from the standpoint on drama, but also because i thought that was an excellent performance, Froch's best.

1 I thought Froch would be much more physically dominant than he was, and increasingly so throughout the fight
you were a bit silly, don't blame Froch for not meeting unreasonable expectations, or indeed because you under-rated Kessler's strength
2 Most pundits were tipping Froch to win comfortably on points and I felt to make a real statement he would need to stop Kessler, so he only really did what was expected and no more

most people, pundits included, clearly don't know sh1t about boxing. again, you're making a strawman to criticise based on expectations which were wrong
Last night showed that a rematch with Ward would be no different than before, Froch was too wild and inaccurate with his power shots

no shame in that, though.
4 Froch was probably flattered by the stoppage wins against Bute and Mack (where I felt he had renewed belief and determination) and hasn't really improved since the first Kessler fight

indeed he was flattered, but he certainly improved from the first kessler fight, techincally he was far better last night, better jab, better defence, negated the right to the body, mostly, by blocking it
5 It all feels a little anti climatic, and other than Cleverly, I can't think of another opponent for Froch I would be genuinely excited about seeing him in with

if its anti-cmiactic based on your own wrong assumptions, whose fault is that, Froch's or yours?

[johnswan1]

Not Froch's fault, he gave it everything and got the win., My expectations of him were probably too high and Kessler had better stamina and more desire than I expected too.

[Counter-puncher]

maybe have a rewatch in the cold light of day, mate? i only say that because its interesting, while you were being disappointed i was breathlessly texting my mate about how both fighters were technically much better than in the first fight, i rewatched that a couple of months ago, compared with last night there was quite a lot of slightly awkward mauling type exchanges, more holding and coming together, with far fewer clean punches than last night, much better offensive skill last night, just, a fvcking great fight and IMO two very good performances from two very good fighters

[binipop]

I know I am going to get stick for this, but I think Clev would beat him. He doesn't hit hard enough to stop him and can't outwork him.

After the Bute fight I came in for a fair bit of ridicule on this site for suggesting Froch v Clev would be a good competitive fight but that Froch would win clearly by 3 or 4 rounds so i don't hold out much hope for you mate! Everyone else was saying Froch would wreck him in 5/6 rounds. I still stand by my original opinion.

[binipop]

maybe have a rewatch in the cold light of day, mate? i only say that because its interesting, while you were being disappointed i was breathlessly texting my mate about how both fighters were technically much better than in the first fight, i rewatched that a couple of months ago, compared with last night there was quite a lot of slightly awkward mauling type exchanges, more holding and coming together, with far fewer clean punches than last night, much better offensive skill last night, just, a fvcking great fight and IMO two very good performances from two very good fighters

i agree, the first may have been a better fight but last nights was a better, cleaner boxing match.

[danconnollyeire]

Froch showed many sides. 1st 3 rounds he boxed beautifully behind the jab. The only reason Kessler came back is because he's world class himself. He showed he can adapt and box different styles and learns from previous mistakes

[kaiserbill]

It was an interesting and exciting fight, and I personally think Froch deserved it, although it was close.

The thread title here is interesting, because I actually thought whilst watching this fight that I was watching 2 fighters who have just crested the hill, and are at the beginning stages of the downhill run in their careers.

Close to their best, sure, but I just had that nagging feeling in some of the rounds...

It was ebb and flow, and there was definitely a conservation of energy going on with a paucity of sustained combinations being thrown.

[kaiserbill]

i thought froch did great for the first 2/3 rounds when he used his jab more then he seemed to run out of steam for a couple of rounds letting kessler back in to it , froch has a bad habit of moving his right leg forward when he throws a right hand almost jumping in .
i think froch showed his age a couple of times last night he couldn't keep the pace going at times, a younger fighter like groves wouldn't allow froch to take a breather like that .
also in the 11th froch was hurt which happens but it shows he's normal and not the hulk.
in the last round the ref was trying to get inbetween the fighters near the end to tell froch to keep his punches up not because he was about to stop the fight as many have said.

decent from froch but he showed his age a bit

I had pretty much the same impression.

[oliverc]

I know I am going to get stick for this, but I think Clev would beat him. He doesn't hit hard enough to stop him and can't outwork him.

Pure postulation. There is no evidence to support this claim seeing as Nathan's chin has hardly been tested by a real puncher. His opponents have been largely feather fisted.

[Wrists]

Jesus disappointed with froch after last night!? That's like saying Man U winning the champions league final but only 1-0 and therefore a disappointed.

Christ on a bike what do some of you want? If you can't be happy after that then you never will be.

Why not congratulate the man on a great win etc etc.

British disease picking fault

[kaiserbill]

Jesus disappointed with froch after last night!? That's like saying Man U winning the champions league final but only 1-0 and therefore a disappointed.

Christ on a bike what do some of you want? If you can't be happy after that then you never will be.

Why not congratulate the man on a great win etc etc.

British disease picking fault

Read the thread, not what you want to see.

And poofball?
How can you compare a team sport to an individual sport?

Personally, I thought Froch was magnificent, but judging from others comments also, one has the feeling that the very first signs of father time may be making their appearances. Kessler too, once you think about it.

I for one wasn't disappointed in his performance, but I'm a realist about some of the signs.

I reckon Carl has 2 or 3 fights in him maximum, but then a firm decision must be made to retire in 18 months at the most, when he'll be approaching 38 years of age.

[Wrists]

The point being sometimes is it not just prudent to say well done and not nit pick. World class fighters the pair of them and a credit to the sport

[kaiserbill]

The point being sometimes is it not just prudent to say well done and not nit pick. World class fighters the pair of them and a credit to the sport

Oh, I agree with you completely there.

But I think everybody has paid respect to Carl in the thread, and are just mentioning a few things that I noticed myself.

I thought it was a great fight, and a great performance by both boxers.

[Wrists]

Yeah maybe I'm a little prickly.

It just winds me up when after a fight like that people see fit to disect it, but I guess that's actually one of the good things on here that we can debate intelligently etc etc

[ScottDetonator]

Disappointed?!

It was excellent and Froch put on a fantastic performance.

What a credit to boxing as a whole. The HOF awaits.

[iamasadlittleboy]

I admit I expected to see him go and try to make a statement by trying to stop Kessler (whilst the Dane is a toughman he's certainly hurtable) but he did what he had to to get a win over a very good fighter, credit where it's due even if it wasn't as thrilling as the first.

[leprechaun]

Froch was very robotic fighter for me in the past,
but the boxing skills he produced in some of the rounds last night, was fantastic.

If he can carry on from that performance and get revenge over ward
He will go down in history, as one of britains top 5 fighters..

And i truly believe he can beat ward in the uk..