Boxing Perspective: Who Next For ‘The Cobra’?

Here we look at potential opponents for WBC Super Middleweight Champion Carl Froch, assessing the box office potential and career enhancements that ‘The Cobra’ could gain from certain adversaries.

Bernard Hopkins: Light Heavyweight (49-5-1-1)

Possibly the biggest draw box office wise, also seems to be hardest to negotiate with money-wise for Froch so far, with Hopkins supposedly playing hard ball over the purse split.

This clash would also mean a step up in weight to 175lbs, but rumours in the press suggest ‘The Executioner’ is set to retire after not finding a suitable opponent since schooling Kelly Pavlik last October.

Chad Dawson: Light Heavyweight (28-0)

A real long shot again at light heavy, could attract some US television coverage after ‘Bad’ Chad’s two victories over Antonio Tarver. Possibly not the fighter to capture the imagination of British audiences because of his technical style either.

An unlikely match-up, with Froch looking to unify the super middleweight division before looking at moving up in weight.

Mikkel Kessler: Super Middleweight (41-1)

The big Dane’s previous UK appearance was a brutal war, with former super middleweight king Joe Calzaghe in 2007, which he lost on points despite an impressive performance particularly in the first six rounds.

Would be a unification fight with Kessler holding the WBA title, and ranked number one at super middleweight. This is definitely a fight boxing fans would like to see, as Kessler is known for his punching power, and has knocked out 31 of his 41 victims so far.

It would also be seen as a risk by Froch, being the unbeaten fighter, and possible having to go to Denmark for this bout, something that Froch has previously stated he has no problem with.

Lucian Bute: Super Middleweight (24-0)

Unbeaten Quebec-based Romanian looks the most likely match-up for The Cobra, as he recently stated at a sports dinner in the North East of England that negotiations with Bute’s camp were progressing well.

The fight is also gaining considerable interest with HBO in the US, which could also be a draw for Froch, after the television debacle for the Jermain Taylor fight.

Bute is not to be underestimated though, with 19 KO’s from 24 victories, and ranked world number four among the super middleweights behind Jermain Taylor, Froch and Kessler.

Joe Calzaghe: Super Middleweight/Light Heavyweight (46-0)

Still the fight that Froch yearns for, which seems to get further away day by day. Calzaghe has continuously refused claims to come out of retirement for Froch, as well as Bernard Hopkins.

The only real pull for the Welshman would be the financial aspect, and a UK farewell fight possibly at the Millenium Stadium in Wales.

The risks are greater for Calzaghe, with an unbeaten record, and also the fact that he has been floored twice in his two most recent fights. It has always been the case that Froch needs the fight more than Calzaghe, with a victory certainly lifting The Cobra’s profile around the UK as well as the world.