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Carl Froch has offered to end the search for Joe Calzaghe’s next opponent and has told the Welshman that fighting him in London this July will make him more money than if Russian Denis Inkin was in the other corner.
British and Commonwealth Super-Middleweight Champion Froch, 29, is currently ranked third by the WBO and promoter Mick Hennessy has asked the governing body to match the undefeated Nottingham fighter in a final eliminator with Calzaghe’s #1 ranked challenger Inkin, after #2 Lucian Bute opted to fight for the IBF crown.
The governing body, however, are yet to make a decision and WBO holder Calzaghe already has his 21st defence pencilled in for the 02 Arena this summer. WBC and WBA counterpart Mikkel Kessler and Middleweight champion Jermain Taylor have both been mentioned as possible opponents, but both appear out of the frame.
Kessler’s handlers have already turned the fight down and Taylor is set to face Cory Spinks in a defence of his WBC and WBO middleweight championships in May. Reports this morning suggest that Inkin has come into the picture, but this would appear a strange choice with Froch on Calzaghe’s doorstep.
“Joe has said he is looking to make the most money possible from his next fight,” began Froch. “Given the options open to him, that must mean fighting me. It certainly wouldn’t mean someone like Inkin.
“The fight would sell out in an instant; it would be one of the biggest in British boxing history. For domestic broadcasters, there isn’t a bigger contest out there. They would really get behind it.
“The excuse that American TV wouldn’t be interested wouldn’t wash either. I am highly ranked and I am known in the States. US TV would be far more interested in me than anybody else he has a realistic chance of facing in July. There would definitely be more interest in me than Inkin; he is a complete unknown to everyone.
“And it should be about more than money. It should be about the best fighting the best. I will give him a proper fight: I am no Peter Manfredo.
“Joe’s got some making up to do after that debacle. I don’t believe the broadcasters can have been happy with that match; but I don’t really want to waste any more breath on that fight. I thought it was a joke.
“I just want to give the British fans a fight they deserve. I am a proper challenger. I am the best in the division and politics shouldn’t stop us meeting.
“Joe’s promoter has gone on record showing his confidence in his man over me. Unless he totally contradicts those opinions and starts asking for options, there is no reason this fight cannot happen.
“It would be an exciting battle before I smoked his boots.”
