Can Mack Pull Off A Major Upset Of IBF Boss Froch?

Carl Froch is back in action tonight, fighting in front of a hometown audience for the second consecutive time as the IBF super middleweight champion meets the challenge of America’s Yusaf Mack at the Capital FM Arena in Nottingham, England.

Froch, 29-2 (21), is coming off a career best victory in May, belting out longtime IBF king Lucian Bute in just five rounds in a bout many expected him to lose.

However impressive Froch’s destruction of the Romanian southpaw was, Mack, 31-4-2 (17), is a very different kettle of fish than Bute and could give “The Cobra” a much more difficult night than is generally expected.

As a USBA super middle titlist, Mack was 22-0 before getting gunned down by KO artist Alejandro Berrio in a IBF #2 eliminator in 2006, after which Berrio won the vacant IBF belt by stopping Robert Stieglitz.

Two bouts later, Mack was attempting to win back his old USBA strap and got into a barnburner with future two-time world title challenger Librado Andrade, dropping Andrade in the first before getting decked himself three times and halted in the seventh.

In 2008, Mack moved up to light heavyweight and won the NABF and NABA titles with victories over Chris Henry and Daniel Judah before former IBF champ Glen Johnson finished him off in six during an IBF eliminator in 2010.

Mack got right back on the horse and won the USBA light heavy belt with a split decision against Otis Griffin before getting stopped by IBF champion Tarvoris Cloud after eight competitive rounds in 2011.

Mack won both his fights in 2012, a USBA title bout against Omar Sheika and a six rounder over Sabou Ballogou.

On paper, it’s easy to see how Froch, who has fought in eight straight world title contests, winning three belts while only losing to Ward and Mikkel Kessler, would be a big favorite over the somewhat chinny Mack.

But the 32 year old Philadelphian fights in much the same American style as Andre Ward, who defeated Froch, Andre Dirrell, who lost a disputed decision to the Englishman and Jermain Taylor, who was handily beating Froch until getting knocked out in the last round.

Mack is faster than Froch in the hand speed, foot work and reaction time departments while having a superb left hand that either shows up as a sharp jab or quick lead left hook along with a right that comes in the form of an uppercut or sneaky lead.

When boxing from the outside, Mack is a very good operator but the American’s flaw is that he likes a tear up on the inside without having the sturdy chin necessary to trade in the trenches.

If he commits the same error against Froch, it will almost certainly be lights out for Mack in the second half of the contest.

However, if Mack can remain disciplined enough to stick and move for 12 rounds, he definitely has a chance to outpoint Froch, who may be looking ahead to a very lucrative rematch with Bute in Montreal.

Distance will be of utmost importance here; if Mack can maintain it and not stand in front of Froch, but rather punch and get out of proximity, we could have a new champion but if Froch can narrow the space and get within range, the awkward Brit will almost certainly win by either KO or wide points verdict.

The undercard sees a vacant WBC Silver light heavy title scrap between Liverpool’s Tony Bellew, 18-1 (12), and Argentina’s Roberto Feliciano Bolonti, 30-1 (19).

Former Commonwealth king Bellew has faced the better competition, narrowly failing to knock off WBO champion Nathan Cleverly a year ago before stopping former European beltholder Danny McIntosh for the British title and ex-two weight world title challenger Edison Miranda for the WBC International Silver bauble.

Bolonti has gone 26-0 since 2006 and although he has captured the WBC Latino, South American and Argentine crowns, there are no opponents above domestic level on his resume, which has been crafted entirely in Argentina.

Things don’t look good for Bolonti, who is unlikely to bring the WBC silver title home from his British excursion.