BoxRec

He's had 4 wins at world level, with only 1 KO in the last round against Taylor, who'd already been knocked out by Pavlik.

On the other hand, who else out of Pascal, Kessler, Dirrell and Abraham has been really hurt? He wasdiscouraging Abraham all the way through that fight, if not outright hurting him in the 11th with body shots.

dookus wrote:He's had 4 wins at world level, with only 1 KO in the last round against Taylor, who'd already been knocked out by Pavlik.

On the other hand, who else out of Pascal, Kessler, Dirrell and Abraham has been really hurt? He wasdiscouraging Abraham all the way through that fight, if not outright hurting him in the 11th with body shots.

Kessler was clearly hurt in the first round of his fight with Sartison; Pascal was hurt by Brian Norman, Omar Pittman, Diaconu (first fight), and Dawson in the last round; and Dirrell was dropped by AA and some unknown Mexican. I don't think AA had been seriously hurt before, and he wasn't tonight, although Froch did seem to bother him with a good body shot. Froch is not a huge puncher at the word level. His physical strength makes more of a difference.

I think Froch has finally come to the realisation that he's not a huge puncher at this level and ironically this is a real bonus for him.
I'm so ecstatic about not only the result last night, but also, based on what I've read, the manner in which it was achieved - he didn't just stand and trade, he used his under-rated boxing skills and focused on a better defence.
For me, if he utilises this new approach (while still being prepared to mix it up when the occasion demands) this could really improve both his results in the short-term against the likes of Ward, and ultimately ensure a better career in the long-term, as employing these methods rather than just going to war each time will definitely ensure better career longevity and less 'burn-out'.
The only downer for me was that I set the alarm over here for 2.25am - woke up and listened to Bunce and co for about five minutes and then my Radio 5 Live feed suddenly announced that it couldn't be aired in my region and they'd be switching to a recordings from earlier shows...!! gutted...

on the prefight chat froch said he felt he didnt have the engine to stop kessler, but IMO looking at those end rounds, a fitter froch (if he was unfit of course) would have stopped him. As for Pascal and Abraham, AA has a style which I think makes it difficult for him to get hurt - what percentage of frochs shots actually landed clean to the head? not TOO many id say. And Pascal looks like he might be difficult to budge by anyone not just froch. KO's are as much about style/technique as they are power

MatthewS wrote:KO's are as much about style/technique as they are power

But that proves the point - at a lower level Froch could look devastating (e.g. the Brian Magee KO), but because so much of it as you climb in level is about style/technique, he hasn't got the same ability to blast his opponents out of there i.e. he's fighting opponents more durable and/or smarter than he faced on the way up. Ergo it follows that it's better not to just try to blast them out of there as that strategy won't work.

He is up against world class fighters - who steps up to world class and keeps thumping people out? His power has been enough to stop Taylor when needed and broke the heart of Pascal and Abraham as effectively as any KO.

He's not the Tyson of SMW but I'm struggling to think of anyone else who matches him for sustained heavy hitting over 12 rounds.

MatthewS wrote:on the prefight chat froch said he felt he didnt have the engine to stop kessler, but IMO looking at those end rounds, a fitter froch (if he was unfit of course) would have stopped him. r

I'd have to slightly disagree there mate. Getting hit by a hundred straight rights to the ribs off Kessler is why Froch couldn't fight at a pace that could stop Mikkel; at one point (after the ninth or tenth I think) if you listen closely with the sound turned up McCracken asks him how he is & Carl replies "He's fvcking killing me with those bodyshots". McCracken then jumps up & knocks the microphone away.

Hence why the Dane deserved the win, imo.

sendo wrote:He is up against world class fighters - who steps up to world class and keeps thumping people out? His power has been enough to stop Taylor when needed and broke the heart of Pascal and Abraham as effectively as any KO.

He's not the Tyson of SMW but I'm struggling to think of anyone else who matches him for sustained heavy hitting over 12 rounds.

Right. He's like the walking definiton of "heavy-handed", as opposed to "explosive".

Froch could have closed the show on Abraham last night, but I'm actually proud he didn't give into his caveman instinct and starting chucking bombs in.

To be slowly eaten alive is far worse than being swallowed up in one bite.

Froch is definitely a big puncher, no one is knocking out Pascal, Kessler and AA at the minute. There are some great chins at super middle these days. Maybe the weakest chin of the elite is Andre Ward, who’s been troubled before. Although now he’s near impossible to hit., Carl will have a puncher’s chance in that one.

Froch was fantastic last night, at last he boxes like his corner have been pleading for him to do. He’s really grown on the world stage, coming on from that nervous start to the Taylor fight. Nothing fazes him now, even an intimidator like Abraham is brushed off. That was a masterclass.

Shame they can’t just make Froch v Ward now, and not bother with anymore meaningless semi finals. It’s a borderline super fight and should really be made now. AA and Johnson can fight on the undercard.

world class punchers meet world class chin's.froch has a dig. abraham wouldnt come out his shell & was badly redding up :!: remember miranda broke arthurs jaw & he kept coming.these are tough,tough, guy's :!:
these guy's can break your jaw with one shot, perforate your ear drum,damage your eye socket at anytime of the fight, fan's forget how dangerous it is in there.

Froch last night = Vitali Klitchko