BoxRec

ARTICLE PUBLISHED ON THIS IS NOTTINGHAM.CO.UK – 1st JULY

Carl Froch: My new baby Rocco gives me the grit to fight
back for Super Six victory

DURING the last 18 months I've been consumed with distractions over TV coverage, fighters who didn't want to fight me and numerous injuries and situations crowding my mind.

In the last few weeks – as I prepared to become a dad for the first time – I had the chance to stop and reflect on how hard it's been to get to where I am today.

And, most of all, how I'm not going to let it slip.

Baby Rocco arrived last Thursday, tipping the scales at 6lbs 14.5oz. I'm pleased to say both Rachael and Rocco are fit and well and back at home.

With the start of my own family comes a turning point. Something has clicked that missing piece of the Cobra jigsaw.

That grit has returned and the last fight has renewed my desire to win the Super Six tournament and stamp all over the rest of the competition at super-middleweight.

Next up is Arthur Abraham. The Germans may have defeated us in the World Cup. But this is one England v Germany showdown that requires no hype.

There will be no dodgy officiating for either of us – as we'll be facing off at a neutral venue.

One thing is for sure, this time it'll be 3-0. In the Super Six, you get two points for a win and three points for a stoppage. I'll be gunning for the latter.

Abraham brings fabled power to the table, along with a tight guard. He likes to plod along and reserve his energy for the later rounds, with many of his KOs coming towards the end of his bouts.

Against me, he'll have no place to hide as I'm going to take it straight to him. Looping shots around his guard to his temple and ribs.

He can try to let his bombs go and that's fine by me. He strikes me as not having the engine to fight every minute of every round but that's what is going to be needed for what promises to be one of the best showdowns of the tournament so far.

I won't be denied again and he had a tough time against my former stablemate Howard Eastman a few years ago, who my trainer Robert McCracken used to train. So we know what the plan will be.

My old friend Dirrell was ahead on the scorecards against Abraham, when the German began to come on strong in the later rounds, before being disqualified for an illegal blow when Dirrell was on the floor.
With a spot in the final qualifying stage at stake, neither of us will be cutting any corners.

Abraham commands respect as an individual and a puncher. He's the kind of knock-out artist I like.
But trust me, he strikes no fear into me. I've sparred with much heavier and bigger punchers than him.

We've seen how good my chin is over the last couple of years but Abraham got his jaw broken by Edision Miranda at middleweight.

I'd consider myself a bigger puncher than Miranda and certainly more accurate and awkward. Abraham showed huge guts to fight until the bell in that fight and gets my respect for it.

I plan on bringing brute strength and passion into this fight.

I'll be on total lock-down and not be letting any trivialities get in the way of putting myself through the toughest camp of my career.

I want to ensure that I inflict a beating on him that will send a loud message out that I will not be denied the Super Six trophy.

To be directed to the article on this is Nottingham.co.uk please click or paste the following link
http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/sport ... ticle.html

Froch sounds like hes trying to convince himself.

He knows what Abraham brings and he knows he's going to have to take massive punches to the chin.

I fear for his health in this fight.

Surely Froch has a much bigger reach? Use that great Jab properly Carl instead of the half hearted up jab we saw against Kessler!

It will be a tough night, but Abraham is beatable.

markp wrote:Froch sounds like hes trying to convince himself.

He knows what Abraham brings and he knows he's going to have to take massive punches to the chin.

I fear for his health in this fight.

I fear for both guys in this one! If Froch chooses to stand & trade he could well be out-gunned. Abraham may looked bad against Dirrell, but only an idiot would discount Arthur. If he hurts Froch he won't let him off the hook. Abraham is a viscous fighter indeed.

Both of them will go at it, hell for leather, & regardless who wins/loses, it will take a great deal of both guys!

I must admit that is a fight that I am actually looking forward to seeing when it comes around. Arthur Abraham is tough and will try and walk through all of Carl Froch's shots to land the big shots that will test Froch, but I reckon Froch will try and keep Abraham at the end of his jab and then try and grind him Froch down and then knock Abraham out. But somehow I don't expect that happen with Froch as you know that will get alot of excitement and drama in his fights, as Ring Magazine describe Froch as being the most fun fighter to watch at Super Middleweight in their "State of the Game" Report.

The arrival of a baby will make sod all difference in this fight, so it's bullshit from Froch.............

People always come out with the same crap after the arrival of a baby and invariably it all evaporates once the reality sets in lol

Froch will struggle with Abraham big time and i wouldn't be suprised if he lost this one

Styles make fights and this one will be a cracker. In fairness Froch is always entertaining viewing, barring a spoiler like Dirrell but AA will certainly come to fight.
Lets hope this one will get on tv.
Can HS tell us how likely this is to make tv or is it going to be an internet stream again?

Carls missus should be enough motivation to get him through any fight.

Amen brother.....

Rocco Froch...sounds a bit like a fashion label or a box of chocolates, but I won't be telling him that to his face

Jeff Thomas wrote:Carls missus should be enough motivation to get him through any fight.

Does Carl get Royalties everytime his missus gets her name mentioned in articles / interviews. Obviously this one its important, but it seems to be in every fight camp 360, every press release.

HS Press wrote:ARTICLE PUBLISHED ON THIS IS NOTTINGHAM.CO.UK – 1st JULY

Carl Froch: My new baby Rocco gives me the grit to fight
back for Super Six victory

DURING the last 18 months I've been consumed with distractions over TV coverage, fighters who didn't want to fight me and numerous injuries and situations crowding my mind.

In the last few weeks – as I prepared to become a dad for the first time – I had the chance to stop and reflect on how hard it's been to get to where I am today.

And, most of all, how I'm not going to let it slip.

Baby Rocco arrived last Thursday, tipping the scales at 6lbs 14.5oz. I'm pleased to say both Rachael and Rocco are fit and well and back at home.

With the start of my own family comes a turning point. Something has clicked that missing piece of the Cobra jigsaw.

That grit has returned and the last fight has renewed my desire to win the Super Six tournament and stamp all over the rest of the competition at super-middleweight.

Next up is Arthur Abraham. The Germans may have defeated us in the World Cup. But this is one England v Germany showdown that requires no hype.

There will be no dodgy officiating for either of us – as we'll be facing off at a neutral venue.

One thing is for sure, this time it'll be 3-0. In the Super Six, you get two points for a win and three points for a stoppage. I'll be gunning for the latter.

Abraham brings fabled power to the table, along with a tight guard. He likes to plod along and reserve his energy for the later rounds, with many of his KOs coming towards the end of his bouts.

Against me, he'll have no place to hide as I'm going to take it straight to him. Looping shots around his guard to his temple and ribs.

He can try to let his bombs go and that's fine by me. He strikes me as not having the engine to fight every minute of every round but that's what is going to be needed for what promises to be one of the best showdowns of the tournament so far.

I won't be denied again and he had a tough time against my former stablemate Howard Eastman a few years ago, who my trainer Robert McCracken used to train. So we know what the plan will be.

My old friend Dirrell was ahead on the scorecards against Abraham, when the German began to come on strong in the later rounds, before being disqualified for an illegal blow when Dirrell was on the floor.
With a spot in the final qualifying stage at stake, neither of us will be cutting any corners.

Abraham commands respect as an individual and a puncher. He's the kind of knock-out artist I like.
But trust me, he strikes no fear into me. I've sparred with much heavier and bigger punchers than him.

We've seen how good my chin is over the last couple of years but Abraham got his jaw broken by Edision Miranda at middleweight.

I'd consider myself a bigger puncher than Miranda and certainly more accurate and awkward. Abraham showed huge guts to fight until the bell in that fight and gets my respect for it.

I plan on bringing brute strength and passion into this fight.

I'll be on total lock-down and not be letting any trivialities get in the way of putting myself through the toughest camp of my career.

I want to ensure that I inflict a beating on him that will send a loud message out that I will not be denied the Super Six trophy.

To be directed to the article on this is Nottingham.co.uk please click or paste the following link
http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/sport ... ticle.html

I think this proves Abraham has an excellent chin. His jaw was broken but he never looked seriously hurt. Abraham suffered the injury because his mouth was open while he was hit, not because he is fragile. I would also argue that Miranda punches just as hard as Froch but lacks the durability and toughness that has allowed The Cobra to succeed at a higher level.

Going by this article it seems Froch is planning on coming forward and aggressively attacking Abraham. In my opinion that is good news for Abraham. An opponent with poor defence who is relying on "brute strength and passion" plays right into the Armenians very heavy hands.

No matter what happens it should be a great fight though. When it comes to what he says and writes, I think Froch is full of it most of the time but there is no denying he is an entertaining warrior in the ring.

I wonder if Froch's wife will stay around if he keeps losing. She seems like the type who is with him mainly for the limelight. She manages to pop her head into the camera pretty much everywhere he goes and when he is fighting he makes sure everyone can hear her screaming.

crusader wrote: I think this proves Abraham has an excellent chin. His jaw was broken but he never looked seriously hurt. Abraham suffered the injury because his mouth was open while he was hit, not because he is fragile. I would also argue that Miranda punches just as hard as Froch but lacks the durability and toughness that has allowed The Cobra to succeed at a higher level.

Going by this article it seems Froch is planning on coming forward and aggressively attacking Abraham. In my opinion that is good news for Abraham. An opponent with poor defence who is relying on "brute strength and passion" plays right into the Armenians very heavy hands.

No matter what happens it should be a great fight though. When it comes to what he says and writes, I think Froch is full of it most of the time but there is no denying he is an entertaining warrior in the ring.

I wonder if Froch's wife will stay around if he keeps losing. She seems like the type who is with him mainly for the limelight. She manages to pop her head into the camera pretty much everywhere he goes and when he is fighting he makes sure everyone can hear her screaming.

This is the most accurate thing that anyone has ever said about Carl. He may come out with a load of BS outside of the ring but he sure gives it everything when he gets in. Styles make fights and I predict a possible fight of the year against Abraham. Don't miss this one for the world guys!

frochs biggest weakness is that he freezes & gives most a headstart until he gets going.somtimes when a fighter talk's it up too much & let's you know what he's thinking, it could be that it's playing on his mind & it's not really confidence.
froch is one of the best in the world & certainly britains finest, so hopefully he can get the win.

I'm a Froch fan but saying that Abraham will have to fight 'every minute of every round' is rubbish. The main thing that frustrates me about Froch is how he takes his foot off the gas and cruises. He's hardly got great work rate. Yes, he's good when things warm up but otherwise he just labours a bit.

winkveron wrote:I'm a Froch fan but saying that Abraham will have to fight 'every minute of every round' is rubbish. The main thing that frustrates me about Froch is how he takes his foot off the gas and cruises. He's hardly got great work rate. Yes, he's good when things warm up but otherwise he just labours a bit.

Agree with every word. He makes so many fights harder than he needs to as a result.

froch is the best value British fighter in the game today.

I don't see him taking it straight to Arthur....not for a few rnds anyway.
Because anybody taking it to Arthur...especially one with a leaky defence and chin that has been wobbled by every world class fighter he has faced - plays straight into Arthurs hands.

McCracken will know this. So will have Froch using his excellent jab at first. Then its a question of how long carls concentration lasts...before his chin goes up and hands come down....

Froch again talking crap. Ah well Abraham is going to give Froch a well earned beatdown.

i really hope there is trained medical staff at ringside because if frochs chin holds up for a few rounds, he might get seriously hurt and I mean seriously. Lets hope not.

winkveron wrote:I'm a Froch fan but saying that Abraham will have to fight 'every minute of every round' is rubbish. The main thing that frustrates me about Froch is how he takes his foot off the gas and cruises. He's hardly got great work rate. Yes, he's good when things warm up but otherwise he just labours a bit.

I do believe Abraham will beat froch more convincly than Kessler...i think he will stop him late 9rds onwards....

You have a baby and all previous bets are off
Why wouldn't Froch change ?

Evander wrote:You have a baby and all previous bets are off
Why wouldn't Froch change ?

Having a baby does not improve your defense, technique, or hand speed and it is the lack of these attributes that will prevent Froch from beating Abraham, in my opinion. Perhaps it will make the average person more determined to succeed so they can provide a good life for their child but Froch has always shown a lot of determination and heart. Becoming a father might change Froch in some ways but those changes won't help him when he steps in the ring to fight Arthur Abraham.

crusader wrote:

Evander wrote:You have a baby and all previous bets are off
Why wouldn't Froch change ?

Having a baby does not improve your defense, technique, or hand speed and it is the lack of these attributes that will prevent Froch from beating Abraham, in my opinion. Perhaps it will make the average person more determined to succeed so they can provide a good life for their child but Froch has always shown a lot of determination and heart. Becoming a father might change Froch in some ways but those changes won't help him when he steps in the ring to fight Arthur Abraham.

I have to agree, Froch has always had enormous confidence in his abilities. Comming off a loss he needs to convince himself and others, he will be even better now. I really cant see it and I think AA will be far too much for him. I can see Froch retiring soon.

WildWaylon wrote: I can see Froch retiring soon.

Me too, if he loses to AA then him having the baby will be a perfect excuse to hang up his gloves to spend time with the family and all that

Quite often there is an anti-Froch comments in blogs, but the tone on this one is just about right. Just like Kessler rebounded after his big loss, we could see Froch, the wounded dog, come back to bite. Its has the makings of an explosive battle, and I too fear for the health of either fighter here especially if they both open up early as Froch predicts. I can see Froch winning behind a solid jab & following up, but when he loses concentration Abraham could cause some destruction that I am not sure even Froch's granite chin can take. Lets see, this is one fight I won't be betting on, but will be watching.

British strongman Carl Froch takes on German strongman Arthur Abraham in a hefty super-middleweight clash later this year at a neutral venue to be announced.
It says something for the durability and stamina of both fighters that neither is prepared to concede home advantage to the other, hence the neutral setting. This is likely to go 12 lusty, even brutal rounds, and one could visualize Froch taking the verdict in his home city of Nottingham and Abraham getting it in Germany. Who knows? Maybe it will be a draw. Froch, 26-1 (20), has never lost in Britain but comes off a loss in Denmark to Mikkel Kessler, which proved that the big, punishing, granite-jawed Midlander is only human, even though there was no secret to Kessler's success. The great Dane worked away while Froch fought in seemingly casual spurts, almost as if he were boxing in Nottingham or felt that one big shot could turn the fight his way. This was never going to happen and cost Froch on all three scorecards.
At least Carl's chin held up because Abraham comes off a defeat himself in which he was floored for the first time in his career by American slickster Andre Dirrell in Detroit. Like Froch, Abraham, 31-1 (25), went into it unbeaten but went down in the fourth round and rarely got a grip of things. His frustration showed in the 11th when, trailing on all three scorecards, he thumped Dirrell on the floor after a slip. Referee Laurence Cole immediately slung him out. The similarities between Froch and Abraham are abundant, two heavy handed aggressors who load up, who trade on strength and power, who start slowly and finish strongly and who expect to win. Their recent taste of defeat will be a wholly unpleasant one and, at the risk of repeating oneself, we can expect a real blood an' guts brawl as they strive desperately for victory.
Froch has long arms and can box when he wants to, using a good jab, but it is doubtful he boxes much on the night. "The Cobra" likes nothing more than to whip in the big punches, body and head, and even if he admires his work, which he does, he knows how to nick the later championship rounds of a fight and took out American Jermain Taylor with only 14 seconds left of their 12-rounder, behind on two of the cards, although Abraham also stopped Taylor with only seconds remaining which shows you how evenly matched they are.
Froch is three years older than Abraham at 33 but has never been overused and looks to have shaken off a succession of injuries he suffered in recent years, including a badly broken thumb against Brian Magee, the current European super-middleweight champion. Abraham famously shrugged off a broken jaw to outpoint Edison Miranda, hammering the Colombian in four rounds in a rematch. Despite the injury and the Dirrell knockdown, "King" Arthur probably has a tighter guard than Froch, who always carries his hands low.
The consenus among British boxing fans is to favour Abraham but these Germans are shrewdly matched from the beginning. Who has Abraham actually beaten apart from the used-up Taylor (used up by Froch) or the wild-swinging, much smaller Miranda? His other handpicked victims include old men like Raul Marquez, Kofi Jantuah, Howard Eastman and Wayne Elcock, or gimmees such as Elvin Ayala, Mahir Oral and Shannan Taylor. Arguably the first first live one he encountered picked him off and beat him - a man Froch had beaten.
Froch took a tight verdict over Andre Dirrell last year in Nottingham when Dirrell was unbeaten. He also snapped the unbeaten record of Canada's Jean Pascal in a 12-round war in Nottingham in 2008, and Pascal now holds the WBC light-heavyweight belt. Froch is huge for super-middleweight whereas Abraham boxed at middleweight as recently as last year. I can see Froch starting the faster of the two and building up a lead. Abraham piles it on from the middle rounds but Froch stays with him, smirking at the best blows of his rival before firing right back to the final bell. Froch, for me, takes home the bacon.