This Friday at the York Hall, Bethnal Green in London, unbeaten British and Commonwealth Super Middleweight Champion Carl Froch puts both his titles on the line against Belfast's Brian Magee. For Froch, at age 28, now must be the time to enter the elite of the super middleweight division. Supremely talented and confident, he's seeing Brian Magee as a stepping stone for a possible chance this year at world honours.

Unbeaten in 18 bouts with 14 knockouts, he won the vacant British title in 2003 with a seventh round stoppage against Manchester's Alan Page. Froch quickly added the Commonwealth title one year later by outpointing Charles Adamu.

In Magee, Froch is meeting a man he shouldn't under estimate. With only two defeats in 27 bouts, the Irishman just 12 months ago was deemed good enough to challenge world number one Joe Calzaghe in a bout that just 24 hours before it was due to begin, was scrapped following a protest from the camp of Mario Veit.

One look at the opponents of both men and I think Magee's met the better quality opposition. His only two defeats have been against former World Champion Robin Reid and a close call against Vitali Tsypko for the European title.

In terms of boxing style, this appears to be a dream matchup. In Froch you have the smooth boxer puncher; In Magee you have the pressure fighter.

Come Friday Night what can we expect? I just hope that despite the trash talking that has been going on in the last week that Froch's camp aren't taking Magee too lightly. Magee will come to fight and I've a feeling that Froch is going to be in for a tough time. Had it taken place in Magee's hometown of Belfast as originally scheduled then perhaps it could have been tougher.

That being said, the bout is fought in the ring and maybe the change in venue wouldn't have made a difference anyway. Froch, for all his boasts, more time than not has produced the goods. However, on Friday night I think he's going to be in the toughest fight of his life, one that could go all the way.

Click to read more boxing articles by Lee Bellfield

Discuss in Boxing Forum

---

Related Boxing Articles...

• Boxing News: Brian Magee and Carl Froch

  It is with great pleasure that Maloney Promotions announce the re-scheduling of the British and Commonwealth Super-Middleweight title fight between Brian Magee and Carl Froch at the Kings Hall in >
  
  

• Maloney Calls Off Froch - Magee Boxing Press Conference

  The face to face for the double super-middleweight title fight between Carl Froch and Brian Magee which was scheduled for 11.30 am at the Connaught Rooms in London tomorrow has >
  
  

• Froch Declines To Speak About Magee Boxing Showdown!

  The normally confident and talkative British and Commonwealth Super Middleweight Champion Carl Froch was uncharacteristically quiet when asked to contribute to a Maloney Promotions press release publicising the Nottingham man's >
  
  

• Boxing Conference: Carl Froch - Brian Magee

  At a well attended press conference at the Europa Hotel in Belfast today the eagerly awaited British and Commonwealth super-middleweight title fight between Nottingham’s Carl Froch and Belfast’s Brian Magee >
  
  

• Magee Rejects Froch Fight.

  

  British and Commonwealth super middleweight champion Carl "Cobra" Froch looks like he'll have to sit the early part of 2005 out in the cold >
  
  

• British Boxing Update: Carl Froch vs. Brian Magee

  Due for 31st of March, an interesting British Isles bout put on by Maloney Promotions is scheduled to take place. Undefeated yet untested Carl Froch from Nottingham will take on >
  
  

• Froch vs. Magee: Maloney Returns Fire

  I'm glad that British and Commonwealth Super Middleweight Champion Carl Froch has finally resurfaced and woken up to the fact that he is defending his titles this Friday against Brian >
  
  

• Maloney Continues Boxing Feud With Froch

  I'm glad that the champion has woken up and if he fights as well as he counters the press releases he shouldn't have any worries. Which Maloney is he referring >
  
  

• Carl Froch - Brian Magee: Where is the Champ?

  The Carl Froch-Brian Magee title fight has been scheduled for a couple of months now, the posters are out and the tickets are selling well. There has been plenty of >
  
  

• British Boxing: Carl Froch Has Difficult London Outing

  Reigning British and Commonwealth Super Middleweight Champion Carl Froch defended the latter title last night on a Hennessy Sports bill against an older, smaller but very willful Australian, Dale Westerman, >
  
  

---