Froch Ready for War to Reclaim His Title

“I’ve already proved myself. I’ve had fights with top level opponents and come out victorious, and I’ve only just lost a close decision to a world-class operator in Kessler. I retired Kessler; he’s not boxing again. So I take a lot of confidence from that loss, but I guess I have something to prove by getting that belt back.”

His clash with Abraham is sure to water the mouths of even the most fleeting boxing fans; touted as a “potential fight of the decade” – albeit by promoter Mick Henessey – both fighters have vowed to do their “talking in the ring”. Amidst a wider boxing scene that has recently permitted farcical no-contests such as Haye-Harrison, the ‘less talk and more action’ motto is one many boxing fans will be relieved to embrace.

“I’m in the game to put it on the line,” Froch insists without hesitation. “When I’m in that ring, I’m in there trying to win. I’m not in there trying to survive, or take my money and run. I’m in there trying to win the title by any means necessary. When you have those ingredients, you have a guaranteed good fight and an entertaining fight – boxing is in the entertainment business.”

Similarities in pedigree between Froch and Abraham include the fact that both have squared up against talented fatigue-merchant Jermain Taylor, each achieving a stoppage in the twelfth and final round. Froch will be testing himself against a tough customer – a man who achieved a unanimous decision against Columbian Edison Miranda, despite suffering a broken jaw from an unintentional headbutt in the fifth round.

“He’s obviously a tough man. He got his jaw broke and carried on fighting - that takes some courage,” Froch concedes.

“If I catch him sweet, he’ll go. He’s not going to get rid of me, I can assure you. I’m a big punching super-middleweight, so he’s going to get a shock if he thinks he can stand there, tuck up and soak up all the blows.”

Whilst both enter the fight off the back losing their undefeated records, the upcoming showdown promises as many differences as resemblances. Stylistically, Froch’s rangy jab and low leading hand facilitate an ability to throw powerful shots with devastating volume.

Abraham will look to employ his customary peek-a-boo defence, withholding token shots in favour of throwing sporadic fight-winning power punches. The stylistic jarring promises to make for a thrilling spectacle – something Froch’s army of fans have become accustomed to. The potential “fight of the decade” is a certain possibility, with many justifiably regarding Froch as Britain’s most exciting and risk-embracing fighter.

“First and foremost I want to jab and move – keep out of his way and not get hit. That’s the game plan. He’s going to want to come forward and clean me out, so I’m going to have to be moving and jabbing. If I’m not having any success, I’ll stand there and whack him, it might end up being a slugfest. He’s shorter than me, so he will want to get in at close-quarters, so it’s my job to keep him long.”

Perhaps the most pertinent benchmark is their respective clashes against flashy American prospect Andre Dirrell. Abraham exhibited his volatile temperament with a disqualification loss that culminated in a malicious overhand right to the temple of a kneeling Dirrell.

Whilst Abraham remained behind on all judges’ cards when that disqualification came, Froch managed to eke out a messy split-decision win over the very same man five months earlier, exhibiting a level of heart and chin that very few can match.

Froch’s heart and insatiable appetite for the sport are exemplified by his attitude to pain. The clash with Abraham was postponed in September due to a chronic back injury that had Froch “laid up for two weeks”.

“The back is a problem, but it’s OK at the minute. I’ve boxed with broken ribs and broken hands, dodgy elbows and a sore back. I broke my hand in round two in my fight with Brian Magee, a real bad break. It was the first metacarpal that connects to the thumb and it had snapped. When you sustain an injury in the fight, your adrenaline takes over and you don’t want to lose, so you just carry on.”

On Saturday night, Carl Froch will be entering the familiar depths of battle alone; “If I need to go to that dark lonely place in the trenches, taking grenades, I will do.”

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Carl Froch trains & fights using Lonsdale equipment & apparel. Lonsdale has been the choice of champions for 50 Years.

For more details, visit www.lonsdaleboxing.co.uk