Rob McCracken

[rhino222]

Hard to judge as he only gets the cream of the crop and had some potentially naturally talented fighters like Matthew Thirwell and Leo O'Reilly who both underachieved massively.

If Carl Froch didn't have such a granite chin we would probably not even be having this discussion.

I am surprised he was given the job with team GB as he had never trained an amateur in his life.

I actually see Robert as a vastly underrated boxer whose left jab was like a right hand, brilliant chin, (survived the bombs of Ensley Bingham) but was not moved fast enough when he was on fire as a welterweight, nobody seems to talk about his career as a boxer and he really really could fight.

Also like the way he does not get caught up in any trash talking like a lot of today's ego driven trainers and he is always calm and humble.

Don't want to sound harsh about his quality as a trainer but I am a believer that great fighters are made in the womb and what other British trainer would have failed with Froch????????

That's a decent post mate. Thirlwall could bang but I think he was doing too much banging outside the ring, not sure what happened to o'reilly....was it a medical issue as I think he carried on fighting on the closed circuit.

The best thing to happen to froch was hours spent sparring with howard eastmen in the old lennox lewis centre. that, plus robs calm corner work, plus frochs chin have been the contributions to making frochs career as escalated as it has been. I love carl froch, followed his career very closely, penned the majority of his first 15 fights or so for doghouse, but........... in terms of boxing talent I think froch has over achieved. he is a better fighter than a boxer, and his chin is absolutely teak tough as jim watt would say.

some may agree, some may not.

[palooka]

I'd agree with everything you've said about Froch; it shows us that for all the skills and tricks, boxing is a fight at the end of the day and if someone is strong, hard and fit enough they can come out on top.

[Broomhall]

I have to say I wasnt sure about Mckrackens appt as GB coach at the time, and I could see all sorts of conflicts, but he really has proved himself. Not just in his coaching, but in the organisation of the whole set up.

I also liked the fact that a lot of the guys stayed amateur for longer than perhaps they might have, which I think said a lot about the advice he was giving them.

[dapug]

I'd agree with everything you've said about Froch; it shows us that for all the skills and tricks, boxing is a fight at the end of the day and if someone is strong, hard and fit enough they can come out on top.

That is a great point and so very true and that is why I love debating with other boxing fans as they open your eyes to a different prospective on things, make you look at it differently.

When I read your post and think of Julio Cesar Chavez v Taylor 1 it clears up the controversy for me. In layman's terms the hardest man won.

[dbf]

I have to say I wasnt sure about Mckrackens appt as GB coach at the time, and I could see all sorts of conflicts, but he really has proved himself. Not just in his coaching, but in the organisation of the whole set up.

I also liked the fact that a lot of the guys stayed amateur for longer than perhaps they might have, which I think said a lot about the advice he was giving them.

I'm sorry but the 'organisation of the whole set up' was largely left in place by Terry Edwards, Dave Pocknell etc, plus support from the EIS and UK sport who advised on how to build a support staff.

People quickly forget that GB boxing has never had funding like it has before McCracken was in charge. The reason these amateurs are staying in the system longer (I'd question that was a fact) is because they are earning a lot of money provided by lottery and excheqour funding.

Take away the funding (or at least a large portion of it) and see how good the set up is then.