BoxRec

Froch lays down challenge to Inkin



Carl Froch is a man on a world title mission. Rather than sit back and bask in the glory of his devastating punch perfect win over world operator Sergey Tatevosyan at the weekend, the Nottingham puncher has called on the Russian’s countryman Dennis Inkin to meet him in a final eliminator.

British and Commonwealth super middleweight champion Froch, boxing in front of his loyal hometown fans at the Nottingham Arena, became the first ever to stop Tatevosyan after flooring him with a spectacular right hook in the second round. Tatevosyan beat the count, but was rescued shortly after whilst under a barrage of punches from the merciless ‘Cobra’.

The win cements his place in the world top two. He was already ranked at #3 by the WBO and WBC but Lucian Bute – who was ranked above him in both – was taken the distance last time out by Tatevosyan and has opted to contest a final eliminator for the IBF championship.

With Bute out of the picture, Froch is set to move up and become the #2 contender for the WBO Championship held by his long-term rival Joe Calzaghe. Only Inkin would remain above him.

Froch, however, holds the whip hand over Inkin with the WBC, whose rankings he is set to top. Previous #1 Andrade has just been beaten in his mandatory challenge to champion Mikkel Kessler, whilst Bute was at #2 and Inkin #4.

“I get the feeling Inkin is hoping to sit and wait in his #1 slot with the WBO and get a nice, easy, straight shot at the title,” began Froch. “But I’m afraid, Dennis, that you are going to have come through me.

“I am right on your case. We are going to be #1 and #2 for both the WBC and WBO titles. To find the mandatory there needs to be a final eliminator. Calzaghe’s next defence is due soon. Let’s cut out the rubbish and do it for both titles.

“I’m challenging you to meet me in an old-school fight between two undefeated bangers.

“Don’t swerve me at all costs like Bute has. It was looking like him and me in a WBC final eliminator, but he has gone another route. His team knew I was contracted to box last week so I couldn’t fight an IBF eliminator.

“Don’t look for the easy option and play the ratings game. You’re 29-0 with 23 KO’s; I’m 21-0 with 17 KO’s. We are the highest rated contenders, so let’s do things the proper way.

“You beat me as an amateur. You got a good win on points in an England-Russia International. But don’t forget, in the last round I put you down heavily and only the bell saved you. I want the opportunity to do the job properly this time. I’m going to knock you out.”

I used to hate Froch and his Poor Mans Hearns style, but you have to admit, he has a good attitude towards real fights. He wants Calzaghe to be forced into fighting him or humiliated into vacating the title. Love it.

Wouldn't it be sad if Calzaghe vacates it rather than than fighting a young Froch, just as Steve Collins did rather than get marmalised by a young Calzaghe.

Oh the irony!!

Didn't Collins get injured or twatted silly in sparring or something?

I admire Carl Froch's attitude to the sport, he seems intent on doing things properly, he's worked his way up the world rankings and seems intent on taking on the best fighters his talent can handle.

Froch is also it seems a model pro, whose conditioning is never questioned, and whether or not we agree with his style of fighting, thus far he has made it work for him and is doing the business.

Great stuff!

Agree with all the above. I wasn't sold on Froch for a long while but it's really coming together for me now and he's got my support.

FUCKI NG YES! Am I a clairvoyant or what? I was about to do a column on the super middle situation, and Froch's place in it, which would mean meeting Inkin to vie for a shot at Calzaghe.

This is one hell of a good fight, if it happens. It makes perfect sense -didn't know they were ama rivals. What's the situation with Inkin's cut? Is it better yet?

Froch is turning into a lean, mean bastard. He looked like a stone cold killer last Friday. Like he'd been locked away for 2 months and prgrammed to kill.

Really starting to like him. One thing, he could be off to Deutschland - Universum has a bit more clout than Hennessey.

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Didn't Collins get injured or twatted silly in sparring or something?
:

Na Collins just decided to retire out the blue before fighting Calzaghe saying "everybody recognises me as the best so im retiring now as the best"

A couple of years later he wanted to make a comeback, but got twatted sparring with Howard Eastman and decided against it.

Froch has my support on this too! Offering the fight to Inkin in a final eliminator and you KNOW if it comes up Froch will take the fight. For all his bravado and smack talk Froch seems genuine to me, he says he wants the fights and will face anybody and i believe him.

If he beats Inkin as he may well do then it's down to Calzaghe to drop his coveted WBO bauble or fight him!

Of course with Calzaghe being the WBO darling, maybe his world title organisation can come to his rescue here? The WBO won't be pressing Calzaghe to defend anytime soon if Froch was to beat Inkin as they have proven before (thus forcing Froch elsewhere frustrated at the lack of opportunity). Plus they may not even sanction Froch-Inkin as a final eliminator...So Calzaghe/WBO may yet conspire to avert this matchup.

The only thing Froch has in his favour here, is that Calzaghe is now near the end of his career, and is not particularly active. SN has a good relationship with the WBO for sure, but Froch would be a more active champion if he won it, and has more to prove than Calzaghe at this stage.

I cannot see Calzaghe making more than a couple of more defences of that WBO strap at this stage.

You're probably right though, the WBO have a long association with SN and it's fighters, and they probably won't want to shit on their own doorstep by stripping Calzaghe, and quite possibly won't sanction the eliminator in the first place.

I don't think we've seen anything near the best of Froch. When he stops waiting, messing about & loading up, he's impressive. As was the case v Tatevosyan. He's bigger and hits harder than Calzaghe, for certain. Wouldn't be surprised to see Froch do something special vs Calzaghe. That right hand is a sneaky one and Joe has FOREVER been open to it. Would be hard for him to cope with Calzaghe's pace, admittedly. Very hard, but who knows?

Has to get Inkin first, which isn't easy. Has to actually get him in the ring, too.

I was never really sold on Froch but he is really improving. His last 2 he has looked excellent. Whether he can continue that against the top guys in the division is another thing altogether. Lets not forget Tatevosyan is really a middleweight and a fringe contender at best.

I dont see how this statement is anything else but frochs usual claims at being world class even though he has not fought anybody close to this level.

He beat an above average boxer and in my eyes it was a bit of a quick stoppage as the other guy was still slipping and moving in the corner when the ref jumped in.

If and when he fights and beats a top level fighter (or even close to it) i might change my tune but the guy is 29 now and is yet to break into the top level which suggests that the people behind him may know something we dont. All this i dont smoke or drink stuff could be an excuse for his slow progress and hinting at longevity could also be an excuse to put off till tommorow what he should be doing today.

achybreaky wrote:If and when he fights and beats a top level fighter (or even close to it) i might change my tune but the guy is 29 now and is yet to break into the top level which suggests that the people behind him may know something we dont.

So who is at the top level at Super Middleweight then?

I've always thought of Froch as the kind of guy who fights to the level of his opponent, which is why in turn I've always seen him as a legit threat to all of the top guys. He has flaws that are there for everyone to see, but he also has the talent and self-belief to put it all together on the big stage. Add to that a decent chin and one of the biggest punches of any super middle, and you can see why he's willing to step in the ring with anyone. You've got to respect him for that if nothing else.

Horse wrote:

achybreaky wrote:If and when he fights and beats a top level fighter (or even close to it) i might change my tune but the guy is 29 now and is yet to break into the top level which suggests that the people behind him may know something we dont.

So who is at the top level at Super Middleweight then?

[img]

Tatevosyan certainly isnt. I see froch as having climbed the rankings after this win yes but its doesnt automaticaly make him world class as is being suggested, calsaghe is world class, kessler is world class, bute, mundine and to a lesser extent lacy and are all ahead of froch in my eyes put him in with one of these guys then talk to me about froch being world class.[/img]

well, he's a certain top 10 fighter. and he's asking for an elim against a felow top ten contender, to EARN a title shot.

Froch is World Class for sure
His record is far and away better than guys like Bute
He has proven he has the power to stop anyone thats put in front of him,
how can anyone question that he's world class??
Seems crazy at this point
he is the most interesting fighter in the UK right now,
He is what the sport needs more of!
A fighter who not only challanges the best, but will steps into the ring with them. It's not just talk, he wants these guys ....that makes him World Class in my book

Box Office wrote:Froch is World Class for sure
His record is far and away better than guys like Bute
He has proven he has the power to stop anyone thats put in front of him,
how can anyone question that he's world class??
Seems crazy at this point
he is the most interesting fighter in the UK right now,
He is what the sport needs more of!
A fighter who not only challanges the best, but will steps into the ring with them. It's not just talk, he wants these guys ....that makes him World Class in my book

There is a big difference between calling out the best and fighting people like Tatevosyan! if he gets the fights he is after and comes out with a win then fine but you have to prove your class in the ring not the column inches.

I dont dislike froch as i think he coud push on but im willing to reserve judgement cos in boxing we have heard this sort of talk all to often.

i`ve never really taken to froch`s arrogant style and all those `cobraman` cartoons when he started out on the BBC didnt help either but to be fair to him he now looks the real mccoy.
i`d actually fancy him to beat calzaghe, if joe brings the same game he brought into the ring against bika it could be pass the torch time.

the funny thing is that everyone was unconvinced by Calzaghe's style at one time. Adrian Dodson was the best looking British prospect in the middle-ish divisions - before getting ruined by Winy - as well as Dean Francis who became very good but got that shoulder injury...But it was Calzaghe with his off kilter style that ended up getting some achievements at the top level.

Now we have Froh, with his own weirdo style...But it seems McCracken may be putting him in check and making him get his act together...After Magee, Froch must have known that he'd have to do things differently. To his credit he has looked better since that gut check.

Tatevosyan, while not world level, is good. Interestingly, he's about as good as Magee, who was very even with Tsypko, who was seemingly outboxing Lacy...

tatevosyan is damn good he has never had the glamourous build up through the ranks but he deserved a draw with Eastman IMO.
Knocked out Rudy, Gave Kessler HELL in sparring, he beat Gogiya who went on to beat Chanet and Mger M....He stopped the once beaten Kranjc.

That is good form, he isnt a superstar but you dont get many better than him on his night.

What i will say is he is getting on a bit and to fight Froch 7 weeks after a very hard 12 rounder probably meant we didnt get the best of him in Nottingham that night.

I fancy Froch could KO Inkin who looked vunerable against Veit and McKenzie briefly.

Froch has learned and improved and deserves a chance at world level now - I still say his style will let him down though, and Inkin may be too much for him - Kessler is maybe a better chance but still ba very difficult opponent for him to beat - As for Calzaghe I am 100% certain at the moment Froch would lose against him - Froch wants the best and doesnt want to dodge anyone so lets see him in with the top men and see how he gets on - Inkin although a tremendous risk would tell us all how good Froch is - If he could get a decisive win over Inkin I would be forced to change my view with regard to his chances with Calzage - For the moment and until Froch gets over the next hurdle none of us can be really sure if he can mix it with the very best.

I think Kessler's just too well schooled. Maybe Kessler will or won't beat Calzaghe...But he can beat ANY challenger out there with less bother than JC.

overhand_right wrote:

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Didn't Collins get injured or twatted silly in sparring or something?
:

Na Collins just decided to retire out the blue before fighting Calzaghe saying "everybody recognises me as the best so im retiring now as the best"

A couple of years later he wanted to make a comeback, but got twatted sparring with Howard Eastman and decided against it.

I think you are being a bit unfair on/dismissive of Steve Collins.

The facts of the matter are that he had peaked as a fighter and was having dificulty with motivaion after gaining public recognition and battering his two British contemporaries of the time, Benn and Eubank.

His decision to retire came at the end of a long successful career, with extended spells in tough American gyms and a number of signature wins (not to mention very respectable points losses..)

The fact that he retired after the poor showing against Cummings, in stead of facing a then rising but far from well known Calzaghe, should nt be held against him.

At least he had the balls to go to the states and put his reputation on the line countless times.

Respect where it is due.

achybreaky wrote:He beat an above average boxer and in my eyes it was a bit of a quick stoppage as the other guy was still slipping and moving in the corner when the ref jumped in.

I wondered why Tatevosyan was protesting so much that the fight was stopped instead of standing in the corner with a relieved look on his face as if to say "Thankyou ref".

split_decision wrote:

achybreaky wrote:He beat an above average boxer and in my eyes it was a bit of a quick stoppage as the other guy was still slipping and moving in the corner when the ref jumped in.

I wondered why Tatevosyan was protesting so much that the fight was stopped instead of standing in the corner with a relieved look on his face as if to say "Thankyou ref".

It's evident,
They stop the fight way to early.
Tatevosian was having a hard time and he was not even hurt.