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Carl Froch believes a marquee all-British clash with WBO super-middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe can happen and hopes his next fight will be good preparation for a possible future showdown with the Welshman.
The British and Commonwealth super middleweight champion can edge closer to earning a world title final eliminator if he beats Russian Sergey Tatevosyan on March 23rd.
The pair top the bill on the Hennessy Sports “Cobra’s Hood’ event at the Nottingham Arena in an International 12-round contest at Championship weight being shown live by Sky Sports.
Tatevosyan, 34, (26-7), is well ranked and a 21st victory for Froch in his home city will solidify his place in the top five of the WBC, IBF and WBO.
The fight will also be good experience for unbeaten Nottingham hero Froch, (20-0, 16 knock-outs), against a southpaw.
Undefeated Calzaghe, who is also a southpaw, admits he is approaching the end of his distinguished career and Froch is in a hurry to force his fellow Briton into meeting him before he retires.
“If I can beat Tatevosyan, a final eliminator for Joe’s title could be in the pipeline. That would then make a fight with Joe even more of a possibility.
“If I become his mandatory challenger, he will have to face me or give up the world title he has had for ten years. There should be no hiding then. Then people will acknowledge I’m world class and start demanding the fight to happen.
“Calzaghe will not be happy with himself retiring with me on his case saying he should fight me. He’s a proud man and he shouldn’t want to give up the belt to avoid fighting me. But maybe he’s looking to just make a fortune in the easiest way possible before he retires.
“Tatevosyan is a good opponent for me right now. He’s a southpaw like Calzaghe and a few of the others I might have to fight in the next couple years, so it will be good experience. He has fought a few good names, so if I can do a good job on him it will send out a message and hopefully get that final eliminator.
“Calzaghe would be a massive money fight, which I’m sure would appeal to him at this stage of his career. There would be massive interest in it, and it would be a big one for Joe as well.
Froch’s promoter Mick Hennessy is eager for his star attraction to gain experience against left-handers.
He said: “Calzaghe is a southpaw so this will be good for Carl. We are keen that Carl picks up this experience because a lot of the boxers up there at the top at super-middleweight are southpaws, not just Joe Calzaghe but the likes of Lucian Bute and Ronald “Winky’ Wright.
“There’s also chance Carl could be put in with Lucian Bute for a WBC final eliminator, so this fight with Tatevosyan will put him in good stead. Carl is high in the rankings with the WBC, IBF and WBO, so we are looking to get him a final eliminator for one of those belts for the summer.”
Hennessy Sports Proudly Present
Cobra’s Hood
Friday 23rd March 2007
Nottingham Arena
Tickets priced £25, £40, £60 and £80 available on 0870 121 0123.
12×3 International Super Middleweight Contest
Carl Froch vs. Sergey Tatevosyan
(Nottingham) (Russia)
10×3 English Welterweight Championship
John O’Donnell vs. Stuart Elwell
(Shepherds Bush) (Darlaston)
10×3 Lightweight
John Murray vs. TBA
(Manchester) ()
10×3 Midland Area Welterweight Championship
Tyan Booth vs. Darren Gethin
(Sheffield) (Walsall)
6×3 Super Middleweight
Amer Khan vs. TBA
(Sheffield) ()
6×3 Light Heavyweight
Rod Anderton vs. TBA
(Nottingham) ()
4×3 Light Middleweight
Adnan Amar vs. TBA
(Nottingham) ()
4×3 Light Heavyweight
Adie Whitmore vs. TBA
(Alfreton) ()
