Froch Passes Defining Test and Finally Hits the Big Time

By Boxing News - 04/27/2009 - Comments

froch342334By Darragh Grimes: In the early hours of Sunday morning, Carl ‘The Cobra’ Froch (25-0-0 20Ko) retained his WBC super middleweight title and finally became a superstar. Froch stopped Jermain ‘Bad Intentions’Taylor(28-3-1 17Ko) in a thrilling match-up at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods. Going into the fight Taylor was the betting favourite, despite Froch’s unblemished record.

Admittedly I thought Froch was going to lose to Taylor, purely based on the better quality opponents Taylor had faced and also a big hand speed advantage.

In the opening rounds it did seem that predicition would be fulfilled, Taylor controlled the centre of the ring with his jab and quick, powerful combinations, putting Froch down in the third. From the first bell Froch seemed lethargic and nervous.

However, as the fight went on, he finally found his range and in the latter half of the fight began beating Taylor to the punch, producing a gutsy display and eventually stopping Taylor with fifteen seconds remaining in round twelve. Though the crowd were mainly Taylor fans, a lot of appreciation and respect was shown to Froch, a testament to how good a fight they had just witnessed.

After Calzaghe’s retirement and handing the excellent Jean Pascal (21-1-0 14Ko) his first defeat, Froch should’ve become a superstar, at least in Britain; he didn’t. Even after securing the Taylor bout, no British broadcaster would show the fight live, highlighting that the British public and media just weren’t that interested in Carl Froch.

Neverless, with this victory, who’s next? Mikkel Kessler (41-1-0 31Ko) holder of the WBA super middleweight would be a favourable and more likely match up, despite Froch seemingly intent on attempting to lure Calzaghe out of retirement, one of his more pointeless career pursuits.

Whoever Froch does fight, let’s hope he brings the same heart and intensity he did to the Taylor fight.



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