BoxRec

Any thought's on this match up? I would have thought this would be the easy and logical fight to make for Carl Froch for a number of reasons.

Softer opponent to get the WBC belt and unify, resulting in more bargaining power in getting the Ward rematch over in the UK.
Bika being cheaper to get to the UK for the fight??
Another belt for Froch to add to his 'legacy' if he won.

I see a lot of talk of potential matches for Carl going down the HBO route of suggestions - Kessler, Golovkin, JCC then the Groves and DeGale domestic fights..... personally if i was him I would be looking at Bika for that other belt and the other reasons mentioned above, then try get Ward if thats what he wanted (which I think would be the same result as the first fight) then Groves........

What are other people's thoughts on this?

Cheers

Stevolad wrote:Any thought's on this match up? I would have thought this would be the easy and logical fight to make for Carl Froch for a number of reasons.

Softer opponent to get the WBC belt and unify, resulting in more bargaining power in getting the Ward rematch over in the UK.
Bika being cheaper to get to the UK for the fight??
Another belt for Froch to add to his 'legacy' if he won.

I see a lot of talk of potential matches for Carl going down the HBO route of suggestions - Kessler, Golovkin, JCC then the Groves and DeGale domestic fights..... personally if i was him I would be looking at Bika for that other belt and the other reasons mentioned above, then try get Ward if thats what he wanted (which I think would be the same result as the first fight) then Groves........

What are other people's thoughts on this?

Cheers

That fight doesnt really appeal to me. To me it's just a paper title.

Stevolad wrote:Any thought's on this match up? I would have thought this would be the easy and logical fight to make for Carl Froch for a number of reasons.

Softer opponent to get the WBC belt and unify, resulting in more bargaining power in getting the Ward rematch over in the UK.
Bika being cheaper to get to the UK for the fight??
Another belt for Froch to add to his 'legacy' if he won.

I see a lot of talk of potential matches for Carl going down the HBO route of suggestions - Kessler, Golovkin, JCC then the Groves and DeGale domestic fights..... personally if i was him I would be looking at Bika for that other belt and the other reasons mentioned above, then try get Ward if thats what he wanted (which I think would be the same result as the first fight) then Groves........

What are other people's thoughts on this?

Cheers

Those are the only fights HBO would be willing to pay to broadcast.

It should be Bika vs DeGale and Stieglitz vs Groves with Froch fighting the winners.

Horse wrote:It should be Bika vs DeGale and Stieglitz vs Groves with Froch fighting the winners.

I agree on that. Even Groves vs Degale in a rematch would appeal to me.

Horse wrote:It should be Bika vs DeGale and Stieglitz vs Groves with Froch fighting the winners.

Good shout. I think he beats both at the moment, down the line I see Groves in with a chance rather than DeGale. I'm not sold on DeGale

Bike is a tough fight for anyone but Froch would be a heavy favourite to win. He is not for the purest as he is very rough, all heads and elbows but he is proper aggressive and comes to fight so as long as tv buy it I agree with the op, cheap enough, major belt on offer so improves legacy and bargaining power.

It would be good for DeGale or Groves to fight Bika, but Bika is more likely to be steered by Suliaman and Arum towards Chavez Jnr.

If its Bika next for Froch can we expect Manfredo Jr after that?

I'd prefer Degale or Groves to fight him to be honest.

Cunningham has polished away all the rough house style that made him a handful for all the wrong reasons. He's no longer much of a danger man anymore.

G0mez wrote:I'd prefer Degale or Groves to fight him to be honest.

x2

Coco wrote:Bike is a tough fight for anyone but Froch would be a heavy favourite to win. He is not for the purest as he is very rough, all heads and elbows but he is proper aggressive and comes to fight so as long as tv buy it I agree with the op, cheap enough, major belt on offer so improves legacy and bargaining power.

He has been a handful throughout his career but watching him at the weekend there he's on the slide. He's so easy to read and doesn't seem to know how to throw a straight shot. Froch would beat him with ease.

This is a tought fight for froch. Not saying he wouldent win but Bika would give him a hell of a fight. Bika gave both Clazaghe and Ward very tough nights and both of them are better fighters than froch. This would be a toe to toe war, would love to see it get made.

I'd quite like to see it, personally. But I can also see Degale and Groves licking their chops at a chance to win a world title against what looks like a soft opponent. Sakio aint soft. He fought badly on Saturday but can fight a lot better than that when he isn't loading up, which he can't really do. Groves and Degale are in for a shock if they get him, just like Calzaghe was.

Horse wrote:It should be Bika vs DeGale and Stieglitz vs Groves with Froch fighting the winners.

Who would you have Froch fighting in the meantime then?

winkveron wrote:

Horse wrote:It should be Bika vs DeGale and Stieglitz vs Groves with Froch fighting the winners.

Who would you have Froch fighting in the meantime then?

It's going to be a difficult task to deliver an opponent that everyone is happy with.

Ward has triggered a split from Goosen yesterday as I mentioned elsewhere, and it means that wont happen. Kessler 3 seems to be held in little esteem by the fans and Mikkel might not be interested anymore - and perhaps a Groves showdown might be undercooked right now.

Once George has shored himself up with a couple more solid wins, and maybe a title, then he will perform better and will be more confident in himself going into the fight - and it will be a true showdown. But all of that wont occur before November, which rules him out.

Maybe Degale ? he's been out regular of late. Or maybe someone Top 3 with the IBF or WBA, but that could throw up an unknown name that nobody is happy with.

My pick would be Thomas Oostuzien, the tall unbeaten S.African for a stay busy fight - if Adonis Stevenson is not available of course.

I thought HBO had given him the option of four:

Ward
Kessler
JCC Jnr
GGG

G0mez wrote:

winkveron wrote:

Horse wrote:It should be Bika vs DeGale and Stieglitz vs Groves with Froch fighting the winners.

Who would you have Froch fighting in the meantime then?

It's going to be a difficult task to deliver an opponent that everyone is happy with.

Ward has triggered a split from Goosen yesterday as I mentioned elsewhere, and it means that wont happen. Kessler 3 seems to be held in little esteem by the fans and Mikkel might not be interested anymore - and perhaps a Groves showdown might be undercooked right now.

Once George has shored himself up with a couple more solid wins, and maybe a title, then he will perform better and will be more confident in himself going into the fight - and it will be a true showdown. But all of that wont occur before November, which rules him out.

Maybe Degale ? he's been out regular of late. Or maybe someone Top 3 with the IBF or WBA, but that could throw up an unknown name that nobody is happy with.

My pick would be Thomas Oostuzien, the tall unbeaten S.African for a stay busy fight - if Adonis Stevenson is not available of course.

I actually think there's more chance of that fight happening now! It's looking like Ward is going to join Top rank who have broadcasting deal with HBO who showed Froch vs Kessler 2. Hearn was also recently in america for meetings with HBO and they gave him a list of 4 opponents they would be willing to pay to put Froch in with. Also interestingly Hearn had a meeting with Arum when he was out there...... regarding your pick for a stay busy fight being Oostuzien. That is a very dangerous low reward fight. The guy is about 6ft 4 and a southpaw and ive watched a few of his fights and he's also fast to go with his other attributes! Fast hands and fast feet. I dont think it's a smart move.

Bika isn't an easy fight for anyone. He's very physically strong, has a granite chin and never stops coming forward.

black panther wrote:Bika isn't an easy fight for anyone. He's very physically strong, has a granite chin and never stops coming forward.

He looked pretty shitty at the weekend though! It looked like the tough fights he's been in over the years might of caught up with him.

columbo wrote:

black panther wrote:Bika isn't an easy fight for anyone. He's very physically strong, has a granite chin and never stops coming forward.

He looked pretty shitty at the weekend though! It looked like the tough fights he's been in over the years might of caught up with him.

I didn't see the fight but he always looks crude. But he's dirty as eff especially with his head and this is what makes him a rough tough nightmare.

black panther wrote:
I didn't see the fight but he always looks crude. But he's dirty as eff especially with his head and this is what makes him a rough tough nightmare.

He used to be exactly like that, but now he's with Devon Alexander's trainer, he has ironed all of that out of him.

"Slip and slide, move and weave !!" he kept shouting in the corner - and Sakio didn't do a damn thing except stand straight in front of his opponent. But he didn't dive hin head-first and maul his way forward either, which is what always made him dangerous.

I used to say Bika needed a big glove on his head.

G0mez wrote:

winkveron wrote:

Horse wrote:It should be Bika vs DeGale and Stieglitz vs Groves with Froch fighting the winners.

Who would you have Froch fighting in the meantime then?

It's going to be a difficult task to deliver an opponent that everyone is happy with.

Ward has triggered a split from Goosen yesterday as I mentioned elsewhere, and it means that wont happen. Kessler 3 seems to be held in little esteem by the fans and Mikkel might not be interested anymore - and perhaps a Groves showdown might be undercooked right now.

Once George has shored himself up with a couple more solid wins, and maybe a title, then he will perform better and will be more confident in himself going into the fight - and it will be a true showdown. But all of that wont occur before November, which rules him out.

Maybe Degale ? he's been out regular of late. Or maybe someone Top 3 with the IBF or WBA, but that could throw up an unknown name that nobody is happy with.

My pick would be Thomas Oostuzien, the tall unbeaten S.African for a stay busy fight - if Adonis Stevenson is not available of course.

Do we know why he's split from Goosen? I don't know much but from a promotional point of view he seemed to have it all his own way through the Super Six and then ruled himself out of fighting Bute after as he wasn't prepared to travel.

orbtastic wrote:I thought HBO had given him the option of four:

Ward
Kessler
JCC Jnr
GGG

yes. though maybe he won't fight on HBO?

I've got my eye on golovkin. froch seems to be the guy ppl want to fight at the moment, fighters from 160-175 all calling him out. really curious to see how golovkin-macklin turns out. maybe golovkin'll look like a middleweight Tyson this weekend, adding prestige to a froch victory over golovkin...

Autobarn wrote:

orbtastic wrote:I thought HBO had given him the option of four:

Ward
Kessler
JCC Jnr
GGG

yes. though maybe he won't fight on HBO?

I've got my eye on golovkin. froch seems to be the guy ppl want to fight at the moment, fighters from 160-175 all calling him out. really curious to see how golovkin-macklin turns out. maybe golovkin'll look like a middleweight Tyson this weekend, adding prestige to a froch victory over golovkin...

Personally I dont want to see Golovkin come up to 168. He's a great fighter but the guy is a small middleweight! He's not that big in all honesty.