By Jim Dower: WBC super middleweight champion Carl Froch is making a name for himself lately as a part-time boxing analyst. Just this week Froch made the bold prediction that former cruiserweight champion David Haye has a great chance of beating both of the Klitschko brothers. Now, Froch is predicting that lightweight Amir Khan will beat World Boxing Association light welterweight champion Andriy Kotelnik in their July 18th bout at the M.E.N. Arena, in Manchester. “If Khan can keep himself out of harm’s way and display usual work rate, he should nick a points decisions,” Froch said to The Sun.
In the same interview, however, Froch admits that he hasn’t seen many of Kotelnik’s fights. Let’s hope that Froch at least saw Kotelnik’s fights against Junior Witter and Marcos Maidana. Kotelnik beat Maidana by a 12-round split decision and law a narrow 12-round decision to Witter.
Froch believes that the combination of having fast hands, good defense, and excellent trainer in Freddie Roach should be enough for Khan to edge the fight in a close decision. Froch doesn’t believe that Khan will be able to knock Kotelnik out, because of the Ukrainian’s strong chin. Boxing experts are undecided on who should be favored in this fight.
Khan has the better speed, size and offensive skills, but Kotelnik is the much more experienced fighter and has proven himself against top level opposition during his nine year pro career. Additionally, Kotelnik has the much better chin compared to Khan, who has been knocked out previously in one round by Breidis Prescott and has been dropped by lesser opposition on several occasions already.
Khan will be facing an opponent in Kotelnik who is much better than most of the fodder that Khan has been in with since turning pro in 2005. Froch, 32, recently had to come from behind to score a 12th round TKO over Jermain Taylor in April 2009. Froch was knocked down in the fight and had to desperately claw his way back in order to pull off the knockout victory.
Ruiz lashes Out at Arreola
Upset with comments that unbeaten heavyweight contender Chris Arreola made at a recent press conference in which Arreola said “There are a lot of old guys and former champions sitting around there that we need to take care of. There time is up. They need to go,” former two-time heavyweight champion John Ruiz (43-8-2, 29 KO’s) said that he would be willing ton fight Arreola if the World Boxing Association doesn’t make WBA heavyweight champion Nikolai Valuev defend his title against him next.
Ruiz pointed out that he previously called Arreola out in May. However, neither Arreola or his management attempted to approach him to make the fight happen. Ruiz says that he won’t be an easy win for Arreola like Chris’ recent 4th round TKO victory over Jameel McCline in April 2008. McCline, 39, came out of retirement for the fight and wasn’t in particularly good condition. Although Arreola ended up getting the win, he was staggered twice by McCline before eventually stopping him in round four.