Calzaghe says the Froch fight May happen

Froch: It won't be easy for Joe

Published: Sunday, 2 November 2008, 2:10PM

Unbeaten Nottingham star Carl Froch goes for WBC world super-middleweight title glory live on ITV 1 in December when he meets Canadian slickster Jean Pascal.

However 'The Cobra' took time out from his own busy training schedule in Ireland to give his feelings on how big domestic rival Joe Calzaghe's fight with Roy Jones will go in New York next week and also clarify his own position on a potential multi-million pound showdown with the Welshman in 2009.

ITV: Joe Calzaghe is boxing Roy Jones in New York next weekend. The bout is getting the big build up in the media right now but is it a fight that really excites you as a boxing fan?

CF: It's an exciting fight. It's happening a bit late in their respective careers I suppose definitely but it is still Roy Jones Jnr we are talking about. If he can pull back at least 50% of his old skill and that magic he used to have Calzaghe will be in a lot of trouble. It's an interesting fight because I think that Calzaghe is past his best as well. He struggled against Hopkins. I'm not impressed by his work in his last couple of fights I think he has struggled. That fight was close and I felt the judge that gave it to Hopkins was the correct judge. It's still a decent enough fight for the fans though as you've got an old legend fighting against someone who is looking to hang the gloves up so it's one that I'm definitely going to be watching with interest.

ITV: Roy was a wonderful athlete in his prime but he is admittedly a few years removed from his best now. What does the 39-year-old version of Roy Jones have to do to get his hand raised in New York?

CF: He has got to keep himself out of range. Calzaghe is not a devastating puncher. He just has a good engine and throws lots of shots. When he is in range he just throws a hundred shots and he batters the life out of you. Critics say that he slaps and while I don't totally agree with that I don't think Joe is a big puncher now because of all the problems he has had with his hands. But he throws a lot of shots when he is in range. He works in close and peppers his opponents, tries to overwhelm them and catch the judges eye. Roy has got to try and control the fight from the outside with his jab. He's done this for most of his career and I think Roy is a genius in the ring but it's all about what he has left. You said he is 39 but I'm sure he is 40 or 41 because I know he used to train with Robert McCracken. But you know if Roy Jones can produce just 50% of what he used to, and I mean just 50%, and he can maintain it, then I think he's got a great chance on the night.

ITV: The Welshman reckons he'll stop Jones but do you honestly feel he punches hard enough to become just the third man after Antonio Tarver and Glen Johnson and KO the American?

CF: I can't see that no. I don't think he hits hard enough. If it was a younger Calzaghe then maybe he might have stopped an old Roy Jones but my money wouldn't be on that. Although of course you never know in boxing do you?

ITV: Calzaghe had said this will be his final fight but he has dropped one or two hints in the media just recently that we might see him again in 2009. He claims there are no challenges out there but provided you do the business and win the WBC super-middleweight title against Jean Pascal surely a fight between you two could be absolutely mega for next year?

CF: Too right. It's definitely a valid fight. I'd have his old belt. Everyone knows I've been trying to get a fight with Calzaghe for the past 18 months. I'd be the WBC champion. We'd both be unbeaten and what better way for him to end it that a fight against a young gun coming through who is now at the very top of his game? It's a fight people want to see. Honestly it's all people talk about when I walk around Nottingham. It's the first question they ask. It's a massive, massive fight going back to the Benn and Eubank days. It's on that type of scale

ITV: There were even reports in the media this week suggesting your promoter Mick Hennessy has offered Joe £5million to box you. What can you tell us about those rumours?

CF: If you have read something saying that Mick says he has put down a £5million offer for me to fight Calzaghe then he has obviously sat down with the TV companies and discussed it. Nothing has been made totally official at this stage but the conversation has taken place and it's all about getting the finances in place to make this fight happen. A fight between me and Calzaghe would definitely generate massive revenue. Gate receipts alone would be huge. Then you have got the TV revenue coming in. All the advertising on top of that. You know it's realistic, a £5million offer. Although it's not been put down on paper yet it's a genuine offer that he worked out and will hopefully be put to Calzaghe after he does his job against Roy Jones.

ITV: Joe admits it's all about the cash for him at this stage of his career but I get the impression that the money is secondary for you at this stage and you just genuinely want to test yourself and prove to the world you are the real deal?

CF: Of course. That's exactly what it is. Becoming undisputed champion and beating the best means the money comes with that anyway but I'm not motivated by that. I just want to be recognized internationally by all the other top fighters and the fans. I want the world's best to be saying 'Yeah that Froch's a decent fighter', gain their respect and get my 'pound-for-pound' ranking up. When a man starts talking about how much money he is earning before he fights and that he is fighting for this amount and that amount then for me you can tell he is getting towards the end of his career. You can't blame him though. He has been a good servant to the game. A pro for 11 or 12 years and I guess he just wants to get what he can. He's made some good money from the sport but I don't think he is a multi-millionaire in the way say a 'Prince' Naseem Hamed was so I guess he's looking at banking a few quid and turning it in.

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Originally Posted by Tam Seddon

well make sure your watching the Pascal fight because your going to see carl at his best. Carl has never ever been down EVER! I dont even think in the amatuers, but im not 100% sure of that.

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This is a boxer you're talking about, not a super-hero. An untested boxer at that. Remember, there is a first time for everything.

Jermain Taylor, for instance, had never been down in 28 professional fights until he met the wrong guy in Kelly Pavlik.

Roy Jones didn't hit the mat until his 37th pro fight until Lou Del Valle put him down in the 8th.

There are tons of instances of this. Carl's measley 23 pro fights, never above C level competition, without a KD thus far, mean absolutely nothing. NOTHING. And above all, it certainly does not make him invincible.

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Originally Posted by littlerock

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Originally Posted by Tam Seddon

well make sure your watching the Pascal fight because your going to see carl at his best. Carl has never ever been down EVER! I dont even think in the amatuers, but im not 100% sure of that.

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This is a boxer you're talking about, not a super-hero. An untested boxer at that. Remember, there is a first time for everything.

Jermain Taylor, for instance, had never been down in 28 professional fights until he met the wrong guy in Kelly Pavlik.

Roy Jones didn't hit the mat until his 37th pro fight until Lou Del Valle put him down in the 8th.

There are tons of instances of this. Carl's measley 23 pro fights, never above C level competition, without a KD thus far, mean absolutely nothing. NOTHING. And above all, it certainly does not make him invincible.

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i'm not much more than a pedestrian boxing fan, but i do try to keep up... before this forum, i'd never paid much attention to him. if he were invincible or could walk on water, you'd think he'd be a little better known.

At this stage of Joes career im not sure what weight he would be best fighting again if he does after the Jones fight.

After Two fights at light heavy and ebing 36, im not so sure he would want to get back down to super middle, he might make the fight but at light heavy, if Froch thinks he can beat Calzaghe hed take the fight whatever the conditions or options, which is why im not sure he does seeing as hes already turned it down.

Joe needs to stay at light heavy at this stage of the game or no fight, Joe has earned the right to call the shots and if anyone on Frochs level wants to lure Calzaghe in to a meaningless match they will have to do it under Joes conditions.

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Originally Posted by hfahrenheit

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Originally Posted by littlerock

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Originally Posted by Tam Seddon

well make sure your watching the Pascal fight because your going to see carl at his best. Carl has never ever been down EVER! I dont even think in the amatuers, but im not 100% sure of that.

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This is a boxer you're talking about, not a super-hero. An untested boxer at that. Remember, there is a first time for everything.

Jermain Taylor, for instance, had never been down in 28 professional fights until he met the wrong guy in Kelly Pavlik.

Roy Jones didn't hit the mat until his 37th pro fight until Lou Del Valle put him down in the 8th.

There are tons of instances of this. Carl's measley 23 pro fights, never above C level competition, without a KD thus far, mean absolutely nothing. NOTHING. And above all, it certainly does not make him invincible.

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i'm not much more than a pedestrian boxing fan, but i do try to keep up... before this forum, i'd never paid much attention to him. if he were invincible or could walk on water, you'd think he'd be a little better known.

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The only people outside of the UK that have ever heard of the guy hang out on boxing forums.

He seems to have a bit of potential, mainly based on what appears to be devastating power, but he's not even remotely technically sound much less indestructible, and he's not even been tested against the likes of Miranda, Green, Andrade, etc.

But his fans continue to mention his name in conversations about Calzaghe, Taylor, Kessler, etc, with claims of, "You'll see!" :rolleyes:

Still so sad anybody thinks the Pascal fight matters or says a damn thing. I'd call Pascal vs Manfredo a pickem. :p

I think calzage would win and would win easy

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Originally Posted by ross

Im fed up of reading Tams craap about Froch and anyone elses that think hes any good:p

The man hasnt fought anyone with power to prove he has a good chin and if you are basing his good chin on the amount of punches landed on it so far by mediocre opponents than that doesnt bode well for him in a Calzaghe match up.

Who has he fought and stopped that had a proven chin? Thee only person I can think of is Reid and hed been dropped a few times by Lacy 2 years before hand.

I think Joe just said this and not meant it, imagine yourself in Joes shoes right now, your the best in and around your weight, your fighting a legend, youve earned your money, after years at the top youve finally got your recognition and the man that you supposedly struggled with has just completly piissed all over your biggest percieved threat, the only fight that you may have been considering after this one.

Froch is completely unknown to the TV audience, he has no belts, he is nowhere near the p4p rankings, he has no decent, eye catching performances to whet the publics appetite for a match, hes 31 and hasnt fought a world rated fighter yet.

If warren was miffed at having to let Joe fight Veit a second time, a Froch matchup wouldnt even cross his mind, it would make no money at all and would prove nothing for Joe, if he beat Froch as easy as he should do then whats he done? Hes beaten someone with no world pedigree or experience, big deal!!

Froch was offered this fight just before Joe beat kessler, Froch shiit his pants and hid behind his promoter.

There was a video clip from a telly interview with Froch where the interviewer phoned Calzaghe and handed the phone to Froch, Carl went very quiet and with a bemused look on his face and a shaky voice he asked Joe to fight him, Joe told him its all about money and Froch had no answer because he knows hes not a star or a draw oir even relevant in any big fight match ups;D

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God forbid we should talk about boxers on a boxing forum. :rolleyes:

You should be ashamed Tam.

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Originally Posted by RozzySean

Still so sad anybody thinks the Pascal fight matters or says a damn thing. I'd call Pascal vs Manfredo a pickem. :p

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Pascal, to this point, is pure mediocrity. Froch beating him means relatively little.

Put Froch in with someone who can bang back and watch him go down like a sack of shit. I hate how he has fought absolutely no one yet might get a big money fight v Joe just cos he is a fellow Brit. Guys like Andrade, Bika, even Miranda deserve it more, any of them would blast out Pascal.
Pascal is just a poor mans wannabe powder puff RJJ. Beat someone who is tough and durable before getting a shot at Calzaghe.

i dont get it why would he fight Froch if anything Froch and Kessler should fight and then the winner should fight calzaghe, It would just be another homecooking fight for Joe thats it.

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Originally Posted by kingfrnk

i dont get it why would he fight Froch if anything Froch and Kessler should fight and then the winner should fight calzaghe, It would just be another homecooking fight for Joe thats it.

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What has Froch ever done to deserve a shot at even Kessler? He has never ever ever beaten anyone in the top 30 at 168.

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Originally Posted by CFH

[God forbid we should talk about boxers on a boxing forum. :rolleyes:

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Thats slander

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Originally Posted by Tam Seddon

Why not though ? Carl hasnt ever really came against sombody who can hit as hard as Froch. Lacy's power is overrated, it was rated so highly by the Americans because they wanted JC to be scared of him. JC will have constant pressure on him for 12 rounds and he has been caught before. Carl is awesome at finishing fights off, I admit he is big underdog here, but I can see an upset happening.

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Is Froch fighting himself ?

...the roy fight "is" going to happen, loose and many won't care who joe fights next.