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, at London’s historic York Hall. But the brash Nottingham native was shocked by the hard Melbourne man for the first half of the contest as Westerman clanged an alarmingly large number of two handed shots off Froch’s chin.
This surprising assault came to a halt by round seven however as the thirty six year old tourist began to tire and the skills of Froch came into play. Westerman could no longer continue his forward drive and paid the price as the double champion began a painful payback in rounds seven and eight before the third man in the ring John Keane ceased the one sided hiding, declaring Froch the winner in the ninth.

Did Froch, now 18-0 (14), simply look past Westerman, 15-6 (7), as his much anticipated defense against Brian Magee in Belfast looms on the horizon? Or did the compact Aussie exploit a glaring weakness in the hands down, reflex based guard of Froch? It’s a question that former southpaw IBO Champion Magee will likely answer one way or another when he and Froch get together on a Maloney Promotion at Kings Hall on March 31st.