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Froch Scythes Down “Reaper Man” Reid
British Champion Carl Froch has often been the man calling out Joe Calzaghe and other world champions at super middleweight, but against former WBC titlist Robin Reid last night at the Ice Arena in Nottingham, England, Froch showed that he has the power and accuracy to mix it with the best.
In five exciting rounds, Froch took a lot of solid body shots from Reid, but when he opened up, he had Reid in trouble, time and again, eventually putting Reid down twice, and a third time which was generously deemed a trip by the referee.
When opening up, Froch, 22-0 (18), looked impressive with some huge straight rights and left uppercuts which really dug in into Reid, 39-6-1 (27), and was also resilient in taking some good body shots and overhand rights from Reid.
At times Reid looked to have the upper hand, but the power of Froch stole his momentum each time, before Reid was forced to retire from the fight whilst on his stool at the end of the fifth round.
After the fight, Reid announced his retirement from boxing.
Round by round action:
Robin Reid comes in to a chorus of boos, and Phil Collins’ “Coming in the Air Tonight”, reference to his rumoured appearances as a porn star perhaps? He looks ripped, focussed and fired up, and I definitely don’t think that he thinks he’s there for an easy pay-packet.
Carl Froch’s entrance is so dramatic, letting the atmosphere build for a minute as “We Will Rock You” builds up. Then a portcullis raises before him, to see him standing in black hood and cape, and the crowd explodes in welcome. Sounds like an amazing atmosphere in there.
As he comes into the ring, Froch walks straight into Reid and they push against each other for a minute, before the ref pushes them to their respective corners. I’m starting to fancy those 100-1 shots on a Reid KO. Next up, round one.
They both get a “reception” when they’re announced, just that Reid’s is a chorus of boos and Froch is a deafening roar. Froch says a quick word to Reid as they touch gloves.
Round one: Reid immediately looks to leap in past Froch’s long punches, getting into a clinch, then a left hook as he comes out of there. Froch being fairly cagey with long jabs not landing, then Reid charging in quickly again, almost running in. Good hard jab from Reid, then a body shot within the clinch.
He’s tying Froch up, and throwing annoying little digs. Reid gets in again. Froch popping out the jab, but Reid won’t let himself get caught. Another bit of a wrestle, and Reid puts in to the body. Froch with a short hook in the clinch. Junior Witter looking a little bored at ringside. Froch with a nice left hook.
I think Reid did the better work in that one, spoiling a lot on the inside, 10-9 Reid.
Round two: Overhand right from Reid, but more of a range finder. Reid taunts Froch. Reid with a body shot, then catches two Froch jabs on his gloves. Body shot in a clinch from Reid. Reid with a short flurry, landing another right. Froch with two shots that just slip over Reid’s head. As Reid comes in, Froch pings a hook as he steps aside.
Two good more body shots from Froch. Reid warned for a rabbit punch, and Froch is coming in with some good long shots. Froch attacks again, and a big right puts Reid down. Ref says no knockdown….legs were tangled, but it was a punch for me. They clash shoulders as they return to their corners.
19-19 if we’re not counting the knockdown.
Round three: Reid looking to duck under Froch’s punches, and lands a couple of hooks to the body. Decent jab from Froch. Two boy shots from Reid as Froch falls short. A Reid body shot and they clinch. Froch getting jabs caught on the gloves. Reid with a few more body shots, and takes an elbow in the clinch. Ref warns them both.
Reid with a flurry, including a nice left, but Froch comes back with five good straight shots upstairs, then a body shots. Great exchange. Reid’s body shots as he goes into the clinch looking a little wearied, but still scoring. They both miss as Reid comes in and Froch slips sideways. Good jab and upperhook from Froch. Froch pushes Reid back with some good hooks, and Reid goes down on the bell.
29-27 to Froch, with that last minute knock-down
Round four: Reid composes himself and comes out with a few more body shots. Reid with a charge in and more body shots, but gets caught with more of Froch’s right hooks and jabs, but Reid catches Froch with a body shot and a right hook up top as he comes in. Reid looking to duck under shots again. Nice uppercut from Froch. Another left uppercut, and Froch grows in stature. Another jab.
Reid lands a huge winging overhand right, Froch doesn’t look that flustered, but still looked mean. Froch looking riled however, coming forward with big shots, hooks especially, but Reid comes bock with body shots. Reid with some good shots in return, especially a right hand that would have crippled lesser men.
Tight round, call it evens, though if forced to pick I’d put it to Froch. 39-37 Froch.
Round five: Froch gets caught on the way in again. They get into a clinch after Froch’s jabs repeatedly find gloves, and Reid with some body shots. Another clinch, and more body shots from Reid. Good straight right from Froch, but Reid covers up quickly. Froch’s jab isn’t doing as much as it could, but this round is quieter now. Reid with a body shot.
Froch just not doing anything. However, comes forward with two body shots and a hook, maybe one body shots landing. Good right from Froch, but Reid ducks under with more body shots. Froch pierces the guard with a straight right, and that was a surprise. Froch looking to come in.
Before that knockdown, I had Reid ahead, but Froch 10-8 and he leads the fight, 49-45.
Reid’s pulled out of the fight in the corner, and I guess that’s it for the Reaper Man, Robin Reid. I guess Froch’s power was just causing him too much trouble. The announcer said that Reid was pulled out with an injury to the right shoulder.
They share a nice hug at the end, and seem to be fairly cordial towards each other. I didn’t think Froch had the workrate, but the swinger in this one was certainly his power. It’ll count as a decent victory for him, and he’ll be hoping that it leads to a world shot.
Reid giving Froch some coaching afterwards, telling him where he was doing well.
Carl Froch said afterwards: “It was a great performance by myself, it was a comeback fight and I was pacing myself. He was obviously past his best, but he’s had 10 weeks training and he really wanted to get this title.
“I’m on Calzaghe’s tail at the minute and I’m making it public that I’m willing to step up to light-heavyweight to make that fight.
“I was coming back from a knee operation and I haven’t fought in seven months. Nobody’s ever done a number on Reid like I did tonight. I’ll be going home a very happy man.”
In action from the undercard, John Murray, 22-0 (12), proved that he is a real prospect in demolishing Dean Hickman, 15-4-1 (5), to claim the English lightweight title with a fifth round KO.
In what was due to be a keep-busy non-title for super bantamweight British title holder Esham Pickering, 32-6 (12), he got comprehensively outworked, outpunched and nearly got knocked out in the seventh round of eight against game journeyman Sean Hughes, 14-6-1 (1), who celebrated hugely, and must have pushed himself into some sort of title contention.
Afterwards, Johnny Nelson called on Pickering to retire.
Also on the bill, Sheffield’s Paul David, 8-3 (3), outfought well traveled journeyman Michael Monaghan, 17-22 (2), to pick up the Midlands Area Super Middle belt.
Southpaw Adnan Amar, 19-1 (4), of Nottingham stopped Darren Gethin, 8-11-5 (2), in the tenth round to annex the Midlands Area Welter crown.
Doncaster cruiserweight John Anthony, 6-7 (4), shocked Kelly Oliver, 19-3 (9), via fifth round stoppage.
Nottingham light heavyweight Tyrone Wright, 7-1-1 (3), outpointed cagey Simeon Cover, 16-36-2 (4), over four rounds.
Warrington prospect Amir Unsworth, 3-0 (1), kept on track with a four round points victory over Leonard Lothian, 4-4-2 (0).
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