Thread: Froch has surgery (interesting Calzaghe comments)

British and Commonwealth super middleweight champion Carl Froch has gone under the knife to rectify a long-term ligament problem after WBO champion Joe Calzaghe refused a £1.6 million offer to defend against him this summer.

The undefeated 29-year-old, who should shortly find himself in the WBC number one position, first damaged his right knee around four years ago in training.

A scan at the time revealed that the anterior cruciate ligament was only partially torn and would in all likelihood heal sufficiently naturally, so after a short rest he went on with the business of storming through the 168lb ranks.

The Cobra' however, has remained under ongoing observation after being advised that the ligament remained a potential weak-point and that through continued use the injury could re-occur at some point in the future if not corrected with surgery.

A few tweaks in the knee whilst training recently have convinced him and his team to sort the problem once and for all, especially now that the possibility of a marquee all-British affair against Calzaghe is out of the question before the summer break.

"It's been niggling me for a while now," Froch said of the injury.

"I have felt the odd twinge and it's been there in the back of my mind, but it hadn't caused too much of a problem until about three weeks ago.

"I was doing a bleep test and I felt the same thing happen as four years ago. There was only a little bit of swelling and it had almost healed, but I wanted to remove any room for doubt in the future

"I would have loved to fight Calzaghe in July and could have been ready. I could have gone back into training next week, but I don't think Calzaghe and his team wanted to risk sampling the power of my right uppercut!

"His promoter made an offer to me that I felt was derisory. They also turned down a very generous offer of £1.6 million from my promoter Mick Hennessy, which valued the fight at twice their amount if you work on the standard terms of the split for a purse bid.

"Bearing in mind that there were no options involved, you can make of that what you want.

"I have now heard his hand injury has ruled him out until September anyway, so the fight isn't happening right now.

"I could have fought somebody else in July, but the European title is tied up in politics at the moment and a final eliminator for a world title couldn't be arranged in that time.

"In the absence of a major fight, it made sense to start the summer break early and sort out the injury once and for all."

The unbeaten Froch underwent surgery in Sheffield last week with one of the country's top knee surgeons.

"I took the advice of Nottingham Forests' Steve Devine and Gary Fleming. They've been a God send for me; they are also going to help me with getting back to the top, fitness wise," he added.

"It was a complete success. The surgeon has told me that the new ligament will be stronger than ever before.

"The really big fights are round the corner for me now and I can go into them knowing that everything is 100%. My training won't be restricted from now on; it won't be in the back of my mind.

"I was annoyed at first when this injury reoccurred, but I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. There was a chance it could have gone in a world title fight instead.

"It could have gone against Calzaghe, but now I have had surgery there is no reason that should happen.

"I will start rehab work straight away and can start running on it again in July. My fitness will be phenomenal by the end of September. Hopefully by then the world title situation will be a bit clearer."

There is, however, a domestic matter that Froch would still be happy to clear up.

"By that time, Glen Catley and Robin Reid should have fought their final eliminator for my British Title," he added.

"The winner of that might make for a good final defence of my Lonsdale Belt.

"I see Reid was shouting off the other day, saying he wanted to be the first to demolish me.

"That's a bit rich given that he has been offered the chance to fight me several times. He went Missing In Action when he was offered the opportunity to challenge me earlier this year.

"I have always respected Reid; I always thought he had more class than to say one thing to the press and then not back it up behind the scenes.

"Maybe he's looking for a last payday and he knows I'm the biggest attraction out there. Either way, there is some unfinished business there now."

He'll murder Reid out of Spite hahaha

I think if he fights Reid it will give us a good indication to how good Froch really is

Reid will get floored inside 3 rounds easily

Hopefully he comes back in full recovery and some good fights at 168 can resume....

Yeah i'm expecting him to have a world strap in the not too distant future

Originally Posted by Smashup

Reid will get floored inside 3 rounds easily

Floored or ko'd

Floored
The ref will save him

Reid had never been down till Lacy and some of them knockdowns were dodgy from elbows and round back of head work i think this would be a good fight for both fighters either Froch proves he's the real deal or Reid bounces back and gets a title shot

i wouldnt be so quick to state that froch would floor or demolish reid. robin reid is a ver tough customer who had never been down since before lacy got to him. and even those knockdowns were questionable. i reckon froch beats him, but maybe by points or a late stoppage.

Originally Posted by Smashup

He'll murder Reid out of Spite hahaha

Smashes. Great read.

Yeah...I'll give you that...he will take Reid to the cleaners.

An on song Reid that has time to prepare, decent run up fights and desire to beat the opponent is a good fighter.

Hopefully he gets 2 more fights before Froch, including Cattley (if he beats him), maybe someone like Groenwald, to sharpen up some more.

By this time Froch will be coming back from injury and has only fought 5 rounds in over a year.

If this happens, Froch does not stop him inside 3 rounds

When Froch is on top of his game he is outmanouvered and misses alot, has a very open defence, this has all been against fighters who had long since lost there desire or were smaller.

If Robin can show something in his fights before Froch then I wouldnt be surprised to see him win, he just needs some rounds, sharpness and a reason to train, which would be Frochs mouth

if anybody serisoulsy thinks that Reid has a chance they are just joking themselves. Froch is in his prime for fighting and look at his last fighter, hadnt really been knocked out and look what CF did to him! a fighter like CF wouldnt give Reid a chance to get into a rhythm and it would be over in the first few rounds, hes too strong and more lethal than lacy IMO. Reid is old and way past his best, its just suicide for him! i can only see Froch being the winner.

Now i know Reid is'nt what he was but lets not forget this is the guy who gave Calzaghe his toughest fight to date

Anybody has a chance to floor Froch, he keeps his hands at his waste for God's sake. Literally at his waist, like sometimes you say that about a boxer who has his elbows up above the waist and his hands at his midsection but Froch's hands are literally at his waste. He is fun to watch but he won't cut at the top imo.