Froch v Degale

[Taansend]

If Degale gets past Bute (I think it's tougher than many do) and Froch comes out of retirement for a bout next Spring - who do you think will win?

[Taansend]

So far, 100% of people think it will end in a draw, which is surprising :geek2:

[black panther]

I'd pick a peak or close to peak Froch on points. Degale will have his moments but mentally he goes AWOL, gives away rounds and has made hard work of a lot of twelve rounders. Froch is a proper twelve round fighter, he wouldn't let him get away with that. I'll be shocked if it happens though.

[Tarkus]

In his prime I would pick Froch to beat DeGale but considering his long absence and age I have to go with DeGale.

[ILikeBeer]

I'd pick a peak or close to peak Froch on points. Degale will have his moments but mentally he goes AWOL, gives away rounds and has made hard work of a lot of twelve rounders. Froch is a proper twelve round fighter, he wouldn't let him get away with that. I'll be shocked if it happens though.

I'd agree with this.

My only worry is that, with Froch's age, how peak will he be? Especially considering it won't get made until early next year. That'd be nearly two years out of the ring for Froch. DeGale may take it, just based on Froch being old and rusty.

The Froch that beat Groves would lay the smack down on DeGale.

[danconnollyeire]

if degale leans on the ropes froch punches through him alla bute

[mickey1975]

It's a very difficult fight for Froch and one I don't think will happen. DeGale is tough with an excellent chin and Froch isn't that devastating a puncher.

[danamba7]

It's a very difficult fight for Froch and one I don't think will happen. DeGale is tough with an excellent chin and Froch isn't that devastating a puncher.

Could say the same the other way round only Froch has more proven toughness/chin/power.

[Syntax Error]

Degale on points.

39 year old ring rusty Carl Froch isn't beating James Degale.

In his prime, I'd pick The Cobra every time, but not in 2016 after a long layoff.

[mickey1975]

It's a very difficult fight for Froch and one I don't think will happen. DeGale is tough with an excellent chin and Froch isn't that devastating a puncher.

Could say the same the other way round only Froch has more proven toughness/chin/power.

Ok. Can't really argue with that. If I did, I'd probably say he hurt Dirrell a lot more than Froch did and Groves never hurt him once....

[danamba7]

It's a very difficult fight for Froch and one I don't think will happen. DeGale is tough with an excellent chin and Froch isn't that devastating a puncher.

Could say the same the other way round only Froch has more proven toughness/chin/power.

Ok. Can't really argue with that. If I did, I'd probably say he hurt Dirrell a lot more than Froch did and Groves never hurt him once....

Groves was on the backfoot Vs Degale but came out hunting for Froch. Degale also never hurt Groves but look what Froch did to his face in the first of course everyone knows about the second!

Froch fought a prime Dirrell. Was a good shot from James though.

[Rexob]

Everything is in Degale's favour but iv'e learn't not to write Froch off! But i'd still go for Degale on points expecially in another years time. Stay retired Froch!

[whiskey]

I think we should reserve judgment until we see Degale vs Bute.

I think he could struggle / lose.

[Rexob]

Bute is done Froch cobra'd him

[ALI]

Pre Dirrell i might have slightly leaned towards the younger fresher DeGale taking a close points win, but post Dirrell, i think Froch would probably wear him down for a late KO. The Dirrell fight was a real eye opener for me, DeGale was dire, i was dumbfounded watching him do sweet fcuk all for most of the fight. If he fought Froch like that he'd get mullered.

[Counter-puncher]

I think we should reserve judgment until we see Degale vs Bute.

I think he could struggle / lose.

The fact that degale isn't a workrate-monkey will certainly help Bute

My suspicion is that Bute will be dead enough at 168lbs that even degale can outwork him, though.

[digzee]

Cant believe how anyone would think Froch faced Dirrell at Dirrells best, for a start that was Dirrells first step up from journeyman level, it was his first and only fight outside of the US, it was his first world title shot (never fought for 12 rounds and had been the 10 round distance only once) and with all that inexperience he fought scared for 10 rounds and when he did open up at the end he clearly won the last 2 rounds, even with all that I think it should have been a draw but have no problem with Carl getting the decision because Dirrell fought like a pussy. The Dirrell DeGale fought was more experienced, he fought at home, and he fought with a better game plan and looked huge. The Dirrell DeGale fought was 10 times better then the one who Froch fought.

Anyway I always thought DeGale was all wrong for Carl, unlike Groves DeGale is good at spoiling/holding when on the ropes and has good movement and being a skilful southpaw I think Carl would have trouble landing clean all night. I'm not saying it would be an easy night for James I just see it around 65/35 in his favour.

[whiskey]

Cant believe how anyone would think Froch faced Dirrell at Dirrells best, for a start that was Dirrells first step up from journeyman level, it was his first and only fight outside of the US, it was his first world title shot (never fought for 12 rounds and had been the 10 round distance only once) and with all that inexperience he fought scared for 10 rounds and when he did open up at the end he clearly won the last 2 rounds, even with all that I think it should have been a draw but have no problem with Carl getting the decision because Dirrell fought like a pussy. The Dirrell DeGale fought was more experienced, he fought at home, and he fought with a better game plan and looked huge. The Dirrell DeGale fought was 10 times better then the one who Froch fought.

Anyway I always thought DeGale was all wrong for Carl, unlike Groves DeGale is good at spoiling/holding when on the ropes and has good movement and being a skilful southpaw I think Carl would have trouble landing clean all night. I'm not saying it would be an easy night for James I just see it around 65/35 in his favour.

Got to politely disagree Digzee.

Dirrell had about 8-9 fights at a decent level on Showtime / HBO in the 2 years prior to fighting Froch. He was a very active fighter.

In the 6 years since he boxed Carl, he had just 6 fights. He didn't box at all in 2012 - and the level he boxed at was not even journeyman at times, some of them were club fighters.

For a fast-reflex kind of fighter like Dirrell, that lack of activity really hurt him going into the world title.

In the degale fight, he was cocksure he was going to pick up that title - and he played to none of his strengths and all of his weaknesses.

Against Froch he wouldn't initiate any attacks, he was slipping and sliding, ducking and holding - and he was mainly countering. The times he hurt Froch at the end, was because Carl had gotten used to throwing first for the previous 10 rounds or so and it was a surprise.

Whereas against Degale he was throwing first and initiating attacks, he was coming forward and trying to pressure - none of which we have seen Dirrell do much of before. It wasn't his style and he got caught a lot more. He was noticeably slower and his timing / judgement of distance was exceptional before - whereas it was pretty crude this time.

[digzee]

Cant believe how anyone would think Froch faced Dirrell at Dirrells best, for a start that was Dirrells first step up from journeyman level, it was his first and only fight outside of the US, it was his first world title shot (never fought for 12 rounds and had been the 10 round distance only once) and with all that inexperience he fought scared for 10 rounds and when he did open up at the end he clearly won the last 2 rounds, even with all that I think it should have been a draw but have no problem with Carl getting the decision because Dirrell fought like a pussy. The Dirrell DeGale fought was more experienced, he fought at home, and he fought with a better game plan and looked huge. The Dirrell DeGale fought was 10 times better then the one who Froch fought.

Anyway I always thought DeGale was all wrong for Carl, unlike Groves DeGale is good at spoiling/holding when on the ropes and has good movement and being a skilful southpaw I think Carl would have trouble landing clean all night. I'm not saying it would be an easy night for James I just see it around 65/35 in his favour.

Got to politely disagree Digzee.

Dirrell had about 8-9 fights at a decent level on Showtime / HBO in the 2 years prior to fighting Froch. He was a very active fighter.

In the 6 years since he boxed Carl, he had just 6 fights. He didn't box at all in 2012 - and the level he boxed at was not even journeyman at times, some of them were club fighters.

For a fast-reflex kind of fighter like Dirrell, that lack of activity really hurt him going into the world title.

In the degale fight, he was cocksure he was going to pick up that title - and he played to none of his strengths and all of his weaknesses.

Against Froch he wouldn't initiate any attacks, he was slipping and sliding, ducking and holding - and he was mainly countering. The times he hurt Froch at the end, was because Carl had gotten used to throwing first for the previous 10 rounds or so and it was a surprise.

Whereas against Degale he was throwing first and initiating attacks, he was coming forward and trying to pressure - none of which we have seen Dirrell do much of before. It wasn't his style and he got caught a lot more. He was noticeably slower and his timing / judgement of distance was exceptional before - whereas it was pretty crude this time.

Yeah against James he had to imitate the attacks because of the knockdown and James' great start, I honestly think it was because DeGale is so awkward to catch that Dirrell couldn't find his timing, so I think DeGale should get some credit. I hope Dirrell gets a decent fight lined up soon so we can see where he's at.

I saw an interview with Hearn yesterday and he said Carl told him there's only 1 fight out there for him and that's against GGG, I will be behind him all the way if it happens, he doesn't have anything to lose if it happens does he as if he losses its due to his age and ring rust but he will get another big pay day.

[Cyclops]

I dunno. Like somebody else said, I thought before the Dirrell fight Degale would probably win. Having watched that, where he sat on his lead from the knockdowns, did absolutely nothing for long periods and looked clueless at times, I would have to say I think that would be the worst thing you could do against somebody like Carl Froch. Maybe Froch has significantly faded? But if he still has that engine and that will to win, I just can't see Degale being busy enough and, although I think Degale has decent power, I don't think he has enough to keep Carl off of him.

I like Degale, though. I was pleased to see him get the title and it would be nice to see him beat Badou Jack. Imagine if Degale beat both Jack and Froch? George Groves would be somewhat miffed.

[Crease]

Probably a Froch pts victory.

[jamesmcdonnell]

I dunno. Like somebody else said, I thought before the Dirrell fight Degale would probably win. Having watched that, where he sat on his lead from the knockdowns, did absolutely nothing for long periods and looked clueless at times, I would have to say I think that would be the worst thing you could do against somebody like Carl Froch. Maybe Froch has significantly faded? But if he still has that engine and that will to win, I just can't see Degale being busy enough and, although I think Degale has decent power, I don't think he has enough to keep Carl off of him.

I like Degale, though. I was pleased to see him get the title and it would be nice to see him beat Badou Jack. Imagine if Degale beat both Jack and Froch? George Groves would be somewhat miffed.

If you leave space for Froch to punch, he'll clobber you.