By Gav Duthie: We often look back at boxers of yesteryear with rose tinted spectacles. Every fighter during his career is open to criticism i.e. not fast enough, not powerful enough, no chin, one dimensional, not fighting the best etc. When you retire most of those questions disappear. All you can do is look at what they have done, limitations or not and assess.
Carl Froch 33-2 (24) has decided to call it a day instead of fighting Gennady Golovkin and after all is said in done I would like to thank Carl Froch for entertaining us over the past decade at least. Ive criticized Carl many times for his limitations many of which he would admit too himself but very few fighters could expose them over a full 12 rounds.
The Cobra took on all comers and gave 100% in the ring every time. There is a multitude of great fights to choose from for Froch highlight reel but here are my favorite 3.
Carl Froch 23-0 (19) v Jean Pascal 21-0 (14)
6/12/2008
This was the first fight for both boxers at the top level. They were undefeated and fought an all out war. The bout was for the vacant WBC title as Joe Calzaghe had given up his three titles to fight Bernard Hopkins at 175lbs. This was the first time I realized that Froch could defeat a fighter with better technique due to his frantic pace and warrior mentality. Pascal stayed with him for an action packed first six rounds but in the second half of the fight Carl took over to win comfortably on the cards.
Carl Froch 26-1 (20) v Arthur Abraham 31-1 (25)
27/11/2010
This was the Cobra’s third fight in the Super 6 tournament. Both Froch and Abrahams were coming off the first losses of their careers. Froch had dropped a UD in a tough fight against great Dane Mikkel Kessler and Abrahams was DQ against Andre Dirrell for hitting him after a knockdown. At this point Carl was struggling for publicity in his career. He had fought on terrestrial TV channels BBC and ITV but they had both pulled the plug so his fights with Kessler and Abraham were on short lived channel Primetime. Kessler had just edged him in an all out war but hardly anyone in the UK watched it. Froch threatened to pull out of the tournament claiming a hometown decision but he did lose to Kessler in my opinion. Many thought that Abraham would also be too strong. Froch showed a versatility in this fight boxing behind the jab, composed and never got into a tear up with Arthur. He showed in this fight and the Kessler rematch that he can box if need be.
Carl Froch 29-2 (20) v Lucian Bute 30-0 (24)
26/5/2012
This bout was dubbed ‘No easy way out’ by Matchroom promotions. This was exactly what it was. Froch had a respectable super 6 but was well beaten by Andre Ward in the final. It seemed Bute was the only fighter outside the top 7/8 boxers at super middleweight who hadn’t participated in the tournament. At this point many considered the best 168lb fighter even ahead of Andre Ward. This was a huge risk for Froch but he didn’t want an easy win and the IBF title was up for grabs. This fight showed how devastating Froch can be. He destroyed Bute and it seemed that night he would have ran through boiling coal bear foot or through a spartan shield to get his punches off. Bute has only fought twice since.
Legacy
His boxing obituary reads simply ‘Warrior’. He defied the odds and surpassed his technical ability as a boxer to beat some of the best fighters of his time. In this current era in the Super Middleweight division from 2000-2015 he ranks just in behind Ward and Calzaghe who I have tied as #1. He is probably joint with rival Mikkel Kessler at #2. He was also a great entertainer. I could have easily picked Jermaine Taylor, Mikkel Kessler 2 or George Groves 2 as his career defining and best fights. There are few boxers who can boast half a dozen great fight nights against the best of his time. I would have liked him to continue for selfish reasons, a rematch with Ward, James DeGale or even Golovkin but at the end of the day he is 38 years old and his style is not traditionally suited to older fighters. He has made the best decision for him and his family and I would just like to say thanks for the memories.
What are your favorite Carl Froch fights?
How will he be remembered in your eyes?
Would he have beaten Gennady Golovkin?
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