Froch has surgery (interesting Calzaghe comments)

British and Commonwealth super middleweight champion Carl Froch has gone under the knife to rectify a long-term ligament problem after WBO champion Joe Calzaghe refused a £1.6 million offer to defend against him this summer.

The undefeated 29-year-old, who should shortly find himself in the WBC number one position, first damaged his right knee around four years ago in training.

A scan at the time revealed that the anterior cruciate ligament was only partially torn and would in all likelihood heal sufficiently naturally, so after a short rest he went on with the business of storming through the 168lb ranks.

The Cobra' however, has remained under ongoing observation after being advised that the ligament remained a potential weak-point and that through continued use the injury could re-occur at some point in the future if not corrected with surgery.

A few tweaks in the knee whilst training recently have convinced him and his team to sort the problem once and for all, especially now that the possibility of a marquee all-British affair against Calzaghe is out of the question before the summer break.

"It's been niggling me for a while now," Froch said of the injury.

"I have felt the odd twinge and it's been there in the back of my mind, but it hadn't caused too much of a problem until about three weeks ago.

"I was doing a bleep test and I felt the same thing happen as four years ago. There was only a little bit of swelling and it had almost healed, but I wanted to remove any room for doubt in the future

"I would have loved to fight Calzaghe in July and could have been ready. I could have gone back into training next week, but I don't think Calzaghe and his team wanted to risk sampling the power of my right uppercut!

"His promoter made an offer to me that I felt was derisory. They also turned down a very generous offer of £1.6 million from my promoter Mick Hennessy, which valued the fight at twice their amount if you work on the standard terms of the split for a purse bid.

"Bearing in mind that there were no options involved, you can make of that what you want.

"I have now heard his hand injury has ruled him out until September anyway, so the fight isn't happening right now.

"I could have fought somebody else in July, but the European title is tied up in politics at the moment and a final eliminator for a world title couldn't be arranged in that time.

"In the absence of a major fight, it made sense to start the summer break early and sort out the injury once and for all."

The unbeaten Froch underwent surgery in Sheffield last week with one of the country's top knee surgeons.

"I took the advice of Nottingham Forests' Steve Devine and Gary Fleming. They've been a God send for me; they are also going to help me with getting back to the top, fitness wise," he added.

"It was a complete success. The surgeon has told me that the new ligament will be stronger than ever before.

"The really big fights are round the corner for me now and I can go into them knowing that everything is 100%. My training won't be restricted from now on; it won't be in the back of my mind.

"I was annoyed at first when this injury reoccurred, but I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. There was a chance it could have gone in a world title fight instead.

"It could have gone against Calzaghe, but now I have had surgery there is no reason that should happen.

"I will start rehab work straight away and can start running on it again in July. My fitness will be phenomenal by the end of September. Hopefully by then the world title situation will be a bit clearer."

There is, however, a domestic matter that Froch would still be happy to clear up.

"By that time, Glen Catley and Robin Reid should have fought their final eliminator for my British Title," he added.

"The winner of that might make for a good final defence of my Lonsdale Belt.

"I see Reid was shouting off the other day, saying he wanted to be the first to demolish me.

"That's a bit rich given that he has been offered the chance to fight me several times. He went Missing In Action when he was offered the opportunity to challenge me earlier this year.

"I have always respected Reid; I always thought he had more class than to say one thing to the press and then not back it up behind the scenes.

"Maybe he's looking for a last payday and he knows I'm the biggest attraction out there. Either way, there is some unfinished business there now."

He'll murder Reid out of Spite ;D hahaha

I think if he fights Reid it will give us a good indication to how good Froch really is

Reid will get floored inside 3 rounds easily O0

Hopefully he comes back in full recovery and some good fights at 168 can resume....

Yeah i'm expecting him to have a world strap in the not too distant future :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Smashup

Reid will get floored inside 3 rounds easily O0

---

Floored or ko'd

Floored ;)
The ref will save him

Reid had never been down till Lacy and some of them knockdowns were dodgy from elbows and round back of head work i think this would be a good fight for both fighters either Froch proves he's the real deal or Reid bounces back and gets a title shot

i wouldnt be so quick to state that froch would floor or demolish reid. robin reid is a ver tough customer who had never been down since before lacy got to him. and even those knockdowns were questionable. i reckon froch beats him, but maybe by points or a late stoppage.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Smashup

He'll murder Reid out of Spite ;D hahaha

---

:coolclick: Smashes. Great read.

Yeah...I'll give you that...he will take Reid to the cleaners.

An on song Reid that has time to prepare, decent run up fights and desire to beat the opponent is a good fighter.

Hopefully he gets 2 more fights before Froch, including Cattley (if he beats him), maybe someone like Groenwald, to sharpen up some more.

By this time Froch will be coming back from injury and has only fought 5 rounds in over a year.

If this happens, Froch does not stop him inside 3 rounds ;D

When Froch is on top of his game he is outmanouvered and misses alot, has a very open defence, this has all been against fighters who had long since lost there desire or were smaller.

If Robin can show something in his fights before Froch then I wouldnt be surprised to see him win, he just needs some rounds, sharpness and a reason to train, which would be Frochs mouth ;D

if anybody serisoulsy thinks that Reid has a chance they are just joking themselves. Froch is in his prime for fighting and look at his last fighter, hadnt really been knocked out and look what CF did to him! a fighter like CF wouldnt give Reid a chance to get into a rhythm and it would be over in the first few rounds, hes too strong and more lethal than lacy IMO. Reid is old and way past his best, its just suicide for him! i can only see Froch being the winner.

Now i know Reid is'nt what he was but lets not forget this is the guy who gave Calzaghe his toughest fight to date

Anybody has a chance to floor Froch, he keeps his hands at his waste for God's sake. Literally at his waist, like sometimes you say that about a boxer who has his elbows up above the waist and his hands at his midsection but Froch's hands are literally at his waste. He is fun to watch but he won't cut at the top imo.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tam Seddon

if anybody serisoulsy thinks that Reid has a chance they are just joking themselves. Froch is in his prime

---

OK, any fighter has a chance, as long as punches are being thown, Reid has a good right hand and Froch holds his left low.

Why do we get upsets ? Boxing is the only sport where the object is to punch someone unconcious, Reid is known to have a good chin and a good right hand, Froch is not yet proven in the chin or heart department, Reid was unlucky not to get a decision against Calzaghe, a fresh Calzaghe, Froch is still dreaming of trying his luck against Joe. Froch has already been decked by Charles Adamu ::**

Oh yeah and if Froch is in his prime and is so great


Why does he not yet hold a world title,

Joe and Robin both did, Robin also wan an olympic medal

Robin was a pro for only 3 years when he wan the WBC, Carl has been a pro for 5 years now and is still nowhere near a world title shot ;D

Froch just doesnt have their class and has left it late ::**

Lets see if hes still fighting world class opponents at their age ;D

Froch has only proved himself near the top right now! If a shot against a title holder was offerred im sure he would take it. He needs it and he is one of the men to beat at 168

Exactly !!

Him and his team have not yet had the balls to push for a shot, they arent that sure of themselves

what about this whole thing with JC? are you saying he wouldnt take the fight ? he is more than willing of course! you will see, you will see.

He may well take the fight but at 30 hes hardly a spring chicken himself

If his team and himself thought he was good enough they would have pushed for a title chance 2 years ago when he would have been at the same stage of career as Robin was.

Lets face it Carl Froch is not yet the finished artical and at 30 I cant see him getting any better.

the mistakes he makes now are the ones that will be exploited by worldly expierienced fighters like Joe and Robin, Carl hasnt faced anyone of that calibre as yet to know himself

you will see CF in a different light soon enough. hes surely improving and started his pro carrer a lot later than others. hes pushing for a title now cos hes ready for it! he wouldnt be ready 2 years ago and it would have been an unnseccsary defeat! i really think mccracken is teaching him a lot and even if he is 30, it dont mean hes going down hill does it ?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by tysonbruno

I think if he fights Reid it will give us a good indication to how good Froch really is

---

so Reid is now a benchmark.....have we regulated him to journeyman "benchmark" status....

No, not downhill but the old saying "you cant teach an old dog new tricks" is true here, he hasnt proved he is world class as yet because he hasnt fought for a world title yet, I dont even think hes fought a former world title holder in his 5 years as a pro.

Robin has fought 6, 4 of whom were reigning champs when Reid fought them

This fight could go either way if it ever happens Reid former WBC champ as fought better fighters he should have won WBA and IBF off Ottke he was robbed Froch is a good fighter but not a great fighter he has chinks in his armer but he has good power i would say this is a 60/40 fight to Froch based on the fact of late he's been the busier fighter we don't know what Reid has left if he does a good job on Cately it could be a 55/45 fight but Froch would be the favourite no matter what but Reid definately has the tools and experiance to pull off the win against Froch

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ross

No, not downhill but the old saying "you cant teach an old dog new tricks" is true here, he hasnt proved he is world class as yet because he hasnt fought for a world title yet, I dont even think hes fought a former world title holder in his 5 years as a pro.

Robin has fought 6, 4 of whom were reigning champs when Reid fought them

---

but why do you think 30 is old all of a sudden? b hop is 41 right? and he is the number 1 at lightheavy weight. Reid got slaughtered by lacy, and to be honest froch is fighting better than the lacy at the stage of his carrer and he will ktfo lacy and reid i know that for sure. Just you wait and see as soon as he gets an oppotunity he will fight a bigger name and beat them. Because of the JC fighting falling through i personally think he should go back to his original plan and face Inkin! he will knock inkin out.

I think he should fight Inkin and all this b*llocks about R Reid ??? He'd get sparked no question.What Kessler and Calzaghe do (who they fight next) will directly effect what Froch does and the path he goes down.
I'd like to see him give Inkin a good kickin then move on for the big boys 8)
no doubt in my mind he can pull it off.

CC smash totally agree with what is said there.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Smashup

I think he should fight Inkin and all this b*llocks about R Reid ??? He'd get sparked no question.What Kessler and Calzaghe do (who they fight next) will directly effect what Froch does and the path he goes down.
I'd like to see him give Inkin a good kickin then move on for the big boys 8)
no doubt in my mind he can pull it off.

---

Froch is completely unproven at the top level. Reid is rusty but I wouldnt rule him out in a bout with Froch. As for Kessler and Calzaghe....Froch should stay where he is. He isnt at that level.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tam Seddon

but why do you think 30 is old all of a sudden?

---

because at 30, if he were going to be at world champ hed be there now, hes been a pro for 5 years now and he hasnt had a shot yet ???

The general concesus before the Magee V Reid fight was that Robin was past it, fighting a young, touted, tall, unbeaten southpaw in his own back yard but Reid went there and had him up and down like a yo yo.

If Reid wants it he deffinitly has a chance, Froch does nothing great, he hasnt fought any live opponents yet, the best weve been able to say about him is that fighters with a more than a few losses have lost to him ::**

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by miles

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Smashup

I think he should fight Inkin and all this b*llocks about R Reid ??? He'd get sparked no question.What Kessler and Calzaghe do (who they fight next) will directly effect what Froch does and the path he goes down.
I'd like to see him give Inkin a good kickin then move on for the big boys 8)
no doubt in my mind he can pull it off.

---

Froch is completely unproven at the top level. Reid is rusty but I wouldnt rule him out in a bout with Froch. As for Kessler and Calzaghe....Froch should stay where he is. He isnt at that level.

---

He can't go backwards so fighting one of those two is inevitable,Tatevosvan was a good step up and he gave Eastman hell when they met and has never been close to the canvas and the Cobra battered him.
He'll never change his style either and has the best power in the division.
He Entertains in every fight too!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ross

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tam Seddon

but why do you think 30 is old all of a sudden?

---

because at 30, if he were going to be at world champ hed be there now, hes been a pro for 5 years now and he hasnt had a shot yet ???

The general concesus before the Magee V Reid fight was that Robin was past it, fighting a young, touted, tall, unbeaten southpaw in his own back yard but Reid went there and had him up and down like a yo yo.

If Reid wants it he deffinitly has a chance, Froch does nothing great, he hasnt fought any live opponents yet, the best weve been able to say about him is that fighters with a more than a few losses have lost to him ::**

---

You cant just get a title show like that... its not as simple as that. He is improving every fight and trust me he is, ive watched them. He is building his way to the top and IMO he deserves to be were he is ranked now ( number 3 IMO ) but he needs a fight with Inkin to assurt this and i do believe it should be made soon. You will see how much CF has come on in his next fight. You can talk about Reid doing all of that but IMO froch was in control of that Magee fight and the knockout was going to come. Reid wouldnt be able to handle his power and if he got caught by one of those right uppercuts he will slow down and i believe because Froch has done so much work he will surely finish the older man off and in style. He is an awesome top level fighter and you will see that for sure. You can talk about his guard being low etc but when you have so much pressure and authority over your oppanent ( i.e his last fight ) the fighter is going to fall !

Yeah he beat his opponent well last time but the best we could say about him was that he went the distance in his last fight, whoopee

He may well have given eastman a fight but that was 3 years ago when he only hd 3 losses ;D when Carl fought him he had 7 ;D and now has 8 ;D

Thing is Reid has proved he can do it at the highest level, Carl hasnt

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ross

Yeah he beat his opponent well last time but the best we could say about him was that he went the distance in his last fight, whoopee

He may well have given eastman a fight but that was 3 years ago when he only hd 3 losses ;D when Carl fought him he had 7 ;D and now has 8 ;D

Thing is Reid has proved he can do it at the highest level, Carl hasnt

---

did you see how dominant he was in that fight though ? he looked that night like he would have been anybody at 168. true power combined with will power that fight was, he will surely work on improving and to be honest if Inkin was in the ring with froch that night he would have got KTFO! you can bad mouth froch and give all the stats and shit you want but the guy was put in front of him and he fights world class fighters and carl OWNED him. just you wait for CF's next fight and hopefully that will assurt him for getting a world title fight.

Ok, hopefully Froch gets his world title chance when hes in his thirties after 6 years of being a pro but really, even if he does win, how longs he gonna be around, fighters slow down in their thirties and Froch is already quite static