By Scott Gilfoid: (Photo Casino / Showtime). I’ve never seen Arthur Abraham (31-1, 25 KO’s) look better than he did today at the weigh-in for his fight tomorrow night against Carl Froch (26-1, 20 KO’s) at the Hartwall Arena, in Helsinki, Finland. 168 really suits Abraham, because he looks strong at this weight and doesn’t have to boil down and sacrifice muscle to make 160 like he used to have to do while fighting at middleweight. Abraham weighed a muscular looking 168 pounds at today’s weigh-in.

Froch, on the other hand, is looking really scared. He wasn’t loose at all, never smiling and showing the hallmark signs of fear all across his face. I’ve seen many of Froch’s fights in the past, but I’ve never seen him look like this before. He had this thousand mile stare the whole time during the weigh-in and looked to be disengaged from what was taking place. It’s like he was in a trance, but a scared looking one. I don’t have a good feeling about this fight for Froch. He doesn’t look mentally ready for this fight.

Physically, Froch likes fine, about as good usual. But I’m worried about the old noggin. I think he’s starting to feel the pressure and is cracking under the strain. He’s set this fight up as ‘Do or die’ type fight where he says he’s going to be considering hand up the gloves if he gets beaten. I don’t think he will, but getting starched by Abraham won’t exactly his confidence any. It’s kind of telling that Froch is talking retirement before the fight. That kind of gives you a big hint about the possible mental stuff that’s swirling around Froch’s head right now.

Normally, fighters don’t talk retirement before fights, and when they do, they often come out and get beaten. I have a feeling this is what we’re going to see happen to Froch on Saturday night. I just hope he uses his head to think in the ring, be smart and not use it as door stop for Abraham’s punches. He isn’t just going to ram his way through this fight like he’s done in the past against domestic level opposition. Abraham is a professional and one of the best in boxing. Using a primitive caveman fighting style against him won’t work, so I hope Froch has a plan B, C, D & E to fall back on for this fight.