When Carl Froch had to explain who he was to Pierce Brosnan
Former super middleweight world champion and current podcaster Carl Froch was among those invited to interview “Prince” Naseem Hamed last week. Growing up in Nottingham, UK, Froch was a huge Hamed fan, and hoped to learn a few bits at the Wincobank Gym on his journey through boxing that ultimately led to Canastota.
“He can’t believe [he made it into the Hall of Fame],” Hamed joked about Froch, who finished his career in 2014 by knocking out George Groves in front of a sold-out Wembley Stadium. “That’s why he's always talking about the Hall of Fame and talking about 80,000 people. He can’t believe it, the guy.”
I’d been speaking to Froch earlier and had told him to ask Hamed what the biggest live crowd he’d fought in front of was.
Naz was well-prepared. “80,000. Tell us another one, mate,” Hamed adds. “But hey, it's a compliment, though. That’s a compliment.”
It was while Froch and I were waiting for our interview slots when something funny occurred. I was in the hallway with Froch and we chatted. At that point, the undisputed star of the Giant cast, Pierce Brosnan, walked down the corridor towards us and extended his hand to myself and the “Cobra”. I was not due to do anything with Brosnan so gladly shook his hand and allowed him on his way. Froch, however, had other ideas.
He reached out and shook Brosnan’s hand. They actually squared up pretty well up against one another, looking at one another across a narrow corridor. Froch, who had told me he had seen Giant in an advanced screening the day before, praised Brosnan and said how much he enjoyed it. I thought that’s where “The Cobra” might leave it. However, Froch entered a slightly surreal fan-boy-realm and then proceeded to say, almost under his breath, “And I thought you were a brilliant Bond,” referring to Brosnan‘s stint as James Bond. Brosnan, though by now somewhat uncomfortable, accepted the praise.
“It’s all good, it’s all good,” he shyly nodded.
Froch was not done. He added, “I’m going to the premier tonight as well. I’m really excited to see [Giant] again.”
By now, I was feeling slightly awkward but thoroughly amused by what I was watching. Brosnan, plotting an escape, again sent his hand my way to say goodbye and motioned to do the same to Froch.
“I’m Piers,” he said.
“Who are you?” he asked Froch.
In fairness, the former world super middleweight champion swallowed it like a Mikkel Kessler right hand, and then rolled back with, “I’m Carl Froch, four-time world champion, International Boxing Hall of Famer and I sold out Wembley Stadium.”
“Oh, that’s very good,” Brosnan replied.
Brosnan made his exit and Froch turned to me and said, “You should’ve been recording that. That would’ve done millions of views.”
Yes, Carl, it would. Yes, it bloody would.
I didn’t record it.