Sergey Kovalev vs Carl Froch (2015)

[EdwardRevolver1993]

The possibility of Kovalev-Froch bout was mentioned by Kathy Duva at the post-fight press conference, after Kovalev's win over Hopkins,

"Another one that I can throw in there is Carl Froch, who might decide to move up. Maybe not now but, again, he’s looking for big fights as well,” said Duva. “There is a big pay-per-view market over there in England, so that’s another possibility in the distance unless he retires. But you never know" (via RingTV).

As Duva mentioned, Froch was looking for money fights at that point in time. Names of Chavez Jr and GGG were mentioned.

But I don't recall Froch/Hearn jumping on Duva's interest and trying to explore the Kovalev fight. Being the IBF/WBA titleholder at SMW, Froch could've gotten an automatic shot at an IBF/WBA/WBO LHW championship upon moving up (plus, making 168lbs was getting tougher at the time).

So, let's imagine they did go that route and enticed Kovalev to the UK with a handsome sum.

Fight takes place in the first half of 2015.

How do you think it goes?

[Noxy]

I think Kovalev would have been a bridge too far for Carl. Defence wasn’t his strongest point and Kovalev was a KO King. I think LH favors Kovalev too.

[Bodyshot3]

Does not go well for Carl for me.......Froch was a feckin' tough, dead busy, organised, heavy-handed and very awkward dude but Kovalev brings way too much firepower and Carl ain't bringing enough serious bombs back either.

However, Froch could box - he had a good amateur career, was also quite rangy - and he did that against Abraham and also the rock hard Jean Pascal. And he always got good gameplans from Rob McCracken, which he largely followed.

So a 'different' Froch - staying on the move, jabbing plenty - and not having a tear-up has a chance.

But mainly for me Froch was a SMW kingpin; very big at the weight, tall, awkward, heavy hands and able to fight at a high pace due to his incredible conditioning.

[TheLeprechaun]

Kovalev hits too hard and has the better skills to win from range. I think Carl gets iced.

[margaret thatcher]

kov at his best was excellent. could really bang and had nice skills. accurate hard punches that could hurt even when he looked to put nothing into them. he hurt and dropped several guys with his jab alone. he also outboxed andre ward from outside in their first fight and it forced ward to get inside and play the maul game

kov did have issues with stamina and he wasnt the most durable, so i wouldnt totally rule froch out from taking a pasting early but coming back, but most likely i think kov wins a clear decision with froch busted up

froch never moved up to 175 despite looking a big 168, i get the sense that he wasnt so confident he could impose himself on bigger guys in the same way

[Les Norton]

Kovalev.

[Bodyshot3]

kov at his best was excellent. could really bang and had nice skills. accurate hard punches that could hurt even when he looked to put nothing into them. he hurt and dropped several guys with his jab alone. he also outboxed andre ward from outside in their first fight and it forced ward to get inside and play the maul game

kov did have issues with stamina and he wasnt the most durable, so i wouldnt totally rule froch out from taking a pasting early but coming back, but most likely i think kov wins a clear decision with froch busted up

froch never moved up to 175 despite looking a big 168, i get the sense that he wasnt so confident he could impose himself on bigger guys in the same way

That's pretty much my view as well.
Carl's ace was a being big, busy and heavy-handed SMW who was a far better boxer than was recognised.

I thought he would fill-out and become a LHW but that didn't happen, mainly because he'd had a whole heap of back-to-back fights against elite opposition, but also because guys like Kovalev were standing in the way at LHW.

Froch could have easily won the British, Commonwealth and European LHW titles and built himself up for a challenge but I think he was largely done with the game by then.....having fought fellow world champs for several seasons.

[gilgamesh]

Kovalev knocks out Froch in a great action fight.