BoxRec

How might Froch have struggled were it not for his ability to hold a good shot?

Personally, despite the clear impression that he obviously had a LOT of confidence in his own ability -the self-styled "Cobra", to me, I never really viewed him as especially "slick" at putting work together. I was mightily surprised to see him flop George Groves the way he did, for instance.

I think that his ability to withstand hard shots and just grind his opponents into situations were they became vulnerable is ultimately what his strength was.

Not to take away anything from him by the way, I just think he owed a lot to his chin. We've all probably seen fighters that have taken what Froch has and ended up looking worse. I think he allowed himself to take too much punishment in his career. I think he's a pretty rare one is Froch too. He possessed an exceptional drive to win - and a refusal almost to be bested by anybody.

Whaddya all think?




Nb. Froch is also probably in a minority of boxers to have had a dismal relationship with that Olympic coach, Terry Edwards. In his book, Froch said that the bloke shot his confidence to pieces, in not so many words, and their association was brief.

Froch was just a tough, hard punching fighter who took what you had and kept grinding you down

A very confident and determined man in the ring, it may have been different for him if he wasn't teak tough yes

His skills are underrated, ask Arthur Abraham. He was extremely professional, always in fantastic shape and lived the life. Made the most of his ability and mentally very tough.
Great coach in McCracken too.

samwbr wrote: ↑29 Oct 2018, 16:58 His skills are underrated, ask Arthur Abraham. He was extremely professional, always in fantastic shape and lived the life. Made the most of his ability and mentally very tough.
Great coach in McCracken too.

Some good points there indeed. Yes, I agree. Always kept himself in good condition, didn't he?
He actually made a deal of having studied sport nutrition at college, but even so - very professional approach - cos he also had more than one serious injury to contend with - and yet he kept performing at the highest level. Even his recovery down time was professional. Good mentality as you say.

Oiky wrote: ↑29 Oct 2018, 16:57 Froch was just a tough, hard punching fighter who took what you had and kept grinding you down

A very confident and determined man in the ring, it may have been different for him if he wasn't teak tough yes

Exactly. Agree. Certainly a very good career for boxing fans to enjoy

I think his toughness is what set him apart, in that he didn’t have better skills than some of the blokes he beat. He had a good jab, I remember that, a long reach too.

As for his chin, it was seriously hard. He took some whacks without going down. Groves 1 sticks in my mind. George could punch too.

samwbr wrote: ↑29 Oct 2018, 16:58 His skills are underrated, ask Arthur Abraham. He was extremely professional, always in fantastic shape and lived the life. Made the most of his ability and mentally very tough.
Great coach in McCracken too.

Exactly. I know he looked a bit awkward and ungainly sometimes (most notably earlier in his career when he used to attempt that ridiculous corkscrew uppercut that always missed by a mile), but Froch had plenty of skills when he used them.

Yeah tbf froch did have a cracking jab as mentioned and I agree he did live the life, a very fit man

He had one horrendous schnozel

forcefraser wrote: ↑29 Oct 2018, 18:29 He had one horrendous schnozel

First Englishman to medal at the world champs, that says a lot about his boxing skill

decent power, decent skills..but was world class in the following areas...

chin
mental approach
nose
hunchback

Will Froch always be remembered more for the close Groves fights - which of course he won decisively - than being compared against the superior Cslzaghe that he always craved?

Coco wrote: ↑29 Oct 2018, 18:34 First Englishman to medal at the world champs, that says a lot about his boxing skill

i think this is a bit of a misconception re the am thing, ive seen it suggested a lot that being a good am must be a statment about skill, but there are a lot of different styles that have done well in the ams. look at guys like murata and beterbiev and joyce, crudish sluggers but were top flight ams in 3 round point fights. same for a guy like ivgen khtrov, world amateur champ yet getting handily outboxed by guys like brandon adams

Another thing he had was great timing - was consistently able to land on guys much quicker than him (i.e. everyone at world level) with full leverage.

The look on Bute's face when he hit Carl with his best shots and Carl just ploughed straight into him without blinking. Totally broke Bute's heart.

Ketchel wrote: ↑30 Oct 2018, 06:51 The look on Bute's face when he hit Carl with his best shots and Carl just ploughed straight into him without blinking. Totally broke Bute's heart.

I thought Bute hurt him. Can’t remember when, but he landed.

I wonder what McCracken's previous fighter, Howard Eastman, could have done with Froch's dedication and willpower?

Tuan_Jim wrote: ↑30 Oct 2018, 07:22 I wonder what McCracken's previous fighter, Howard Eastman, could have done with Froch's dedication and willpower?

That guy was frustrating ! As far as Froch goes he had a good skill set, i think sometimes people confuse looking good with being good, some guys just have the body type that makes them look quite graceful whilst others look a bit more rough around the edges when in actual fact both types are doing the same thing its just that one looks pretty and one doesnt.

mickey1975 wrote: ↑30 Oct 2018, 06:53

Ketchel wrote: ↑30 Oct 2018, 06:51 The look on Bute's face when he hit Carl with his best shots and Carl just ploughed straight into him without blinking. Totally broke Bute's heart.

I thought Bute hurt him. Can’t remember when, but he landed.

Bute can't either. He got destroyed.

Croch probably was more of a fighter, than a boxer, but we shouldn't underrate his skills. He wasn't some hard-chinned brawler from the bar. He would have been outboxed against every top competitor, if he was, but he has won in almost every big fight.

dookus wrote: ↑30 Oct 2018, 05:29 Another thing he had was great timing - was consistently able to land on guys much quicker than him (i.e. everyone at world level) with full leverage.

Yeah, often helped that we threw from weird angles. His uppercuts were so unconventional and he'd throw straight right hands almost from his knee. Especially in the Pascal fight, never see them coming

il get a lot of stick for this but when he fought Bute I was more shocked with how bad Bute dealt with Froch than impressed with how Froch blew Bute away. Froch kept charging in like a man rucking outside a pub there was no skill in what he was doing and Bute looked all
At sea. Froch must of been more than confident he could walk through Bute to fight that recklessly

smiling assassin wrote: ↑30 Oct 2018, 11:03 il get a lot of stick for this but when he fought Bute I was more shocked with how bad Bute dealt with Froch than impressed with how Froch blew Bute away. Froch kept charging in like a man rucking outside a pub there was no skill in what he was doing and Bute looked all
At sea. Froch must of been more than confident he could walk through Bute to fight that recklessly

No, you’re right. Bute was a mover, he just stood in front of Carl with his hands up. I remember wondering at the time what Bute was playing at. I thought maybe Carl hurt him early on and Bute wasn’t thinking straight or summat.

Yea Bute definitely wasn't himself that night, for a man of his skill level and the way he usually fights, when he fought froch he went about it all wrong didn't he and paid the price