'I'd smash Inkin to bits with one leg and thrash Reid and Catley' - Froch

Good Cobra interview www.britishboxing.net

Carl ‘The Cobra' Froch, 21(17)-0-0, has been known to British boxing fans for some time, and has made his presence felt on a world level by rising through the rankings to European mandatory contender, WBC No. 1, WBO No. 4 and IBF No. 4 (1 and 2 not rated). In March he really announced his arrival on the world scene demolishing fellow contender teak-tough Sergey Tatevosyan 26(14)-8-0.

Froch was widely tipped to outpoint Tatevosyan over twelve rounds as Howard Eastman (42(35)-4-0) and top ranked contender Lucian Bute (19(16)-0-0) had done before. Instead ‘The Cobra' gave him a taste of power like Tatevosyan had never felt. Despite having never previously been stopped, the Russian proved easy work for Froch.

Recently there has been talk of a bout with WBO king Joe Calzaghe (43(32)-0-0). However, as is more often the case than not these days, that fight fell through.

I caught up with Carl to see how's he's been getting on, and what turn his career will take next.

LC : Let's start with your last fight Carl, a stunning second round knockout victory, you must have been delighted with that performance.

CF : In terms of names on records, and meaningful fights that was a very meaningful fight and a fight that people were taking great note of because of the calibre of the opposition.

He's been in with some good contenders over the last few years, Howard Eastman, and Lucian Bute. He's also beaten the former European champion [David Gogiya 17(4)-1-0] so his record speaks for itself, and for me to go in there and annihilate him in two rounds, I can take a lot of confidence in that and I can take a lot of positives from that.

LC: You've always been a big puncher, but the last few fights you seem to have been more destructive than ever. Have you been concentrating on power in training?

CF : I've always been very strong and I don't think you can work on power if I'm honest. You can't say ‘Right, I'm going to turn myself into a puncher'. But what I am doing now is sitting down on my punches, I'm relaxing a lot more, I'm not looking for the big shots. If I'm watching the opponent and thinking ‘I'm gonna chin him, I'm gonna hit him hard' Then you throw shots, you're out of range, someone will come in and catch you. It's boxing, it's an art. You've got to be relaxed and confident, and know your own style and your range. I'm learning all the time and I'll be learning until I retire.

I think I am coming into my own now. My reach is there, my techniques bang on because I'm settling down now. I'm hitting people with these big, devastating shots and I'm so relaxed I feel like I'm hitting the pads. I think my last few fights have shown that. I broke my hand in round two of Brian Magee [Froch went on to win KO 11], I mean that fight would have gone four or five rounds at the most. When I bust my hand, I had to take the foot off the gas because I was in agony.

LC : You have just had an operation on your knee haven't you Carl, a ligament problem I believe?

CF : The operation went really well, I've had one of the countries best surgeons to do it. I'm very friendly with Nottingham Forest F.C. and I know people who have had the same surgery done.

I actually damaged it in sparring four years ago, I was told then I'd got some damage to the ligaments, but that it may heal naturally so I just took a break. But it never fully went away and it's always been there hindering, tweaking and giving me little bits of pain. Confidence wise it's hard, when you're sprinting and running and sometimes there may be a tweak there.

This particular time I was doing the bleep test, and there's a lot of stopping and turning and my leg went like it did four years ago. But these things happen for a reason, and maybe it's a blessing in disguise. I decided to get it sorted out once and for all.

Obviously with the nature of the surgery it's quite a time consuming one because the tendon has to take to the bone. When I come back I'll be stronger and fitter than ever, because I won't have that in the back of my mind.

LC : Let's talk about Joe Calzaghe because I have read in certain places that Joe Calzaghe doesn't want to fight Denis Inkin (30(23)-0-0) and may vacate his IBF belt. That could mean you and he are mandated to fight for it. Do you fancy that one?

CF : Oh yeah definitely, too right. I owe him one anyway because he beat me as an amateur. Only just though, and I had him down in the last round. He's not a bad fighter, a bit ordinary and a bit basic. He plods a little bit. Yeah I'd go in there and smash him to bits with one leg to be honest. If Mick Hennessy can sort that out then I'll be in there and I'll have Calzaghe's belt, that he gave up rather than fight me.

LC : Now let's move on to Glenn Catley (29(21)-7-0) and Robin Reid (39(27)-5-1). Two former world champions - do you see either of them providing you with a test?

CF : Well, Reid's past his best, and I've not seen much of Catley. He was a WBC champion, but you know he is what he is, and I wouldn't lose sleep over either of them. Catley's made a comeback, but he's obviously a shadow of his former self, making a comeback this late in his career. But they obviously want a bite of the cherry, they want to try and do something within the sport and make a bit of money, and if that means challenging me for my British title and that's what satisfies them then I'm happy to oblige by jumping in there and giving them a thrashing to be honest.

Unfortuantely at the moment politics has made it impossible for me to fight Joe Calzaghe. Frank Warren was offering what I see as silly deals and it was clear to me that they didn't want the fight. Mick Hennessy made a very generous offer to them and it was turned down flat.

LC : There's talk about Jermain Taylor starting to struggle with middleweight and being prepared to move up to super-middleweight. If you keep winning you may be destined for a showdown with him in the future, maybe in America, would that excite you?

CF : I relish the opportunity to fight any big name because obviously the name is what defines fighters. I don't want to spend my career like I think Calzaghe has done; not fighting the best and not being involved in the big fights with big names. You'll just stagnate, and be still relatively unknown and he's been around years. For me to fight Calzaghe, it's a big name, it's a domestic tear up. It's a fight that's going to put my name on the map, on the tips of tongues in Britain and overseas.

It would be brilliant if Jermain Taylor would step up to super-middleweight, and he's a good fighter, he's a big name and he's a dangerous fighter, and he'll probably be even more dangerous at super-middle if he's struggling to do middleweight then that's half his fire gone out of him. He might be a phenomenal super middle. That would be excellent if I can get off in year or so.

LC : I think that would make a good fight, I'd like to see that.

CF : Yeah, that would be a great fight. I'd like to sit and watch that to be honest, because he's a good fighter and he fires, he let's his shots go. He means business and he's in there to win. They're the fights the British public want, and they're the fights that are good for boxing. I'll get the world title then we'll see what happens, we'll see some proper fights.

LC : What are your long term goals in the sport, Carl? Would you be happy to defend one title like Calzaghe? Are you looking at unification or maybe being a two weight world champ?

CF : I want to achieve as much as possible to be honest. The more I can achieve in boxing the more satisfied I'll be. I realise I'm involved in a short term career, and the more I can get out of it the better, and I'm not talking financial gain, that'll come anyway with the titles, big titles the WBA, the WBC and the likes of Mikkel Kessler. If I can't do super-middleweight as comfortably as I can now then I could easily step up to light-heavyweight. I'm six feet tall, I've got long arms and the right frame.

LC : When can we expect to see you in the ring again Carl?

CF: Well, I'll be boxing a minimum of once before Christmas. I won't need too long to get my fitness back, I'm always in shape, just because I've done my leg doesn't mean I can't punch a bag, it doesn't mean I can't do my press ups, and my pull ups and my sit ups.

As soon as I can get my fitness back I'm back in the ring, straight into a meaningful fight, I'd be happy to face Reid or European champion Christian Sanavia. I am his mandatory now.

I like the excitement Froch brings to the division and the sport I have seen maybe 3 fights of his and like his toughness and power, but I fear he is kind of like Vic Darchinyan, a tough but limited boxer with helacious power who keeps his hands down to far and relies on the homerun too much and the 1st real worldclass boxer that he fights will give him a lesson.... He definetly needs to tighten up his defense a ton....

He won't ever change i don't think but his power is a massive equalizer,his hands are like that of a primates sometimes but his chin is granite imo.
Can't wait to see him in action again. 8)

Can't wait until Kessler or Calzaghe kill Froch.

;D
I think he'd spark Kessler all day long but would find Calzaghe a tougher opponent.
Interestingly though,while watching Bika v Bute the commentator spoke with Bika a few days before and he'd been sparring with Kessler,Bika claims that Kessler is a monster compared with Joe.
Sour grapes..? maybe...maybe not.

This interview is old hat

Christ ! Froch wont be doing anything for at least another 4 months, hes not relavent in the boxing world right now, everyone is passing him by while he makes excuses about his knee

Yeah his knee has kept him from challenging for a world title before he was in his 30's

His team were worried he wasnt ready to challenge before, now they will worry hes too old. Its a bit late to try and test yourself now, if Carl thought he had anything then he would have challenged by now, the big gob hides his insecurities, he was offered a Calzaghe fight for very good money, he turned it down and why ? because if he wan, Warren would have had options but in the Adamu purse bids frank proved he can pay at least double what Hennesey can

Carl aint going anywhere

:) Good read ;) Carl is underated by the likes of Calzaghi and Kessler, Cos he is a fringe fighter knocking on the door without a key, the big fights, are difficult for team Froch to make, cos his name is not well known, and at this stage in Carls career, the big names will not risk being beat, for less money,when they can get richer rewards fighting higher profile names with less risk, ;)

I like Carl he can fight, But one dimensional counter puncher. A step up should tell a lot.

Carl hasnt fought anyone that is dagerous as yet, and from what ive seen of his pro fights (all of them), he is easily outmanouvered, he is often left looking at thin air while he poses too much, his opponents has usualy span out of the way. Dodson was doing well until he fell apart, he was out jabbing Froch easy.

Froch is easy to out jab, land clean punches on and is slow on his feet, I dont think he will beat the cream ie Calzaghe and Kessler, he has a chance with the others but anyone with ambition will trouble him, all his opponents so far have had it beaten out of them numerous times previous, they do well with Carl till they feel the power, class and ambition wont fall apart against him

HJe aint getting anyquicker at his age now either, especialy with the knee operation and lengthy absence.

His next fight he will be at his most beatable, he will be rusty, his last 2 fights didnt go 5 rounds combined, and now hes gonna have been out 8 months since his last fight and coming back from surgery, I just hope its Robin Reid, I like Reid and would laugh like f*ck when Reid is announced as the winner

Smash Up you hype Froch up too much he has beaten domestic level or average opponents any decent fighter can do that especially at weak division like Supermiddleweight im not saying he isn't elite but just wait until he fights top fighter because your hyping him too much saying he would give Calzaghe hard fight and beat Kessler.

How can anyone possibly 'Overhype' Froch?
He does a brilliant job of that himself ;D

I don't like Froch at all and I hope he gets knocked-out. At 29 he should be getting a move on and not fighting old domestic opposition like Reid and Catley. If Froch truly believes in his ability then he would have got somewhere by now instead of picking off unknown easy targets.

Well he's just retired Tatevosyan who he floored in 2 rounds (something Bute and Eastman couldn't do-f8ck me, he took them Both the full 12) so he must have something about him. ;)
Do agree he needs to get his skates on

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Smashup

Well he's just retired Tatevosyan who he floored in 2 rounds (something Bute and Eastman couldn't do-f8ck me, he took them Both the full 12) so he must have something about him. ;)
Do agree he needs to get his skates on

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And what does that prove ?? Tex Cobb went 15 rounds with Holmes and took a beating and Cobb was not a good boxer at all just tough and thats all Tatevosyan was tough and just because he went 12 rounds with Bute and Eastman doesn't make him good just tough thats it.

Why hanst Froch fought for a world title yet ?

I hope some one shuts Froch up soon. WHEN HE MAKES THE STEP UP WE WILL SEE HOW GOOD HE REALLY IS.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Smashup

Well he's just retired Tatevosyan who he floored in 2 rounds (something Bute and Eastman couldn't do-f8ck me, he took them Both the full 12) so he must have something about him. ;)
Do agree he needs to get his skates on

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A very good win against Tatevosyan and I certainly believe Froch has talent and ability, he also has respectable power.
He has high World rankings though that may say more about the genuine depth in the division rather than him earning the high positions.
I'm not a fan of the fighter but I'd still like to see him tested its almost like hes waiting for Calzaghe to get old.
He could be the real deal but hes gonna have to bite the bullet and prove it.
The last brash, loud mouth Brit that tried fell flat on his face and my gut instinct is that the same will happen to Froch and there will be plenty cheering if it does happen. :)

I take it you mean Hamed, I was not a fan of his but even I have to admit that Naseem was miles ahead in terms of fighting champs and quality names

Froch is yet to face a former champ let alone current champ ::**

I remeber Mathew Barney looking good against froch ;D

Just watched Calzaghe v Reid for the first time, for some reason when it actually happened, i couldnt get near a tv with sky, I did listen on the radio though.

Reid was out for 14 months after losing to Malinga, it showed in the first few rounds but slowly he got in to it, in the 5th he hurts Calzaghe and Joe starts backing off, after that robin blocked a good 80% of Joes shots and ive never seen anyone land as many clean right hands on Joe as Robin did, one nice shot span Joes head around but it landed on his cheek, if it had been his chin, ive no doubt Joe would have tasted the canvas.

Froch has alot to live up to, this fight deserved a rematch and if Reid would have got a staright rematch he probably would have won, the career inactivity bvefore hand ruined his early rounds, he could have been sharp from the first bell

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ross

Just watched Calzaghe v Reid for the first time, for some reason when it actually happened, i couldnt get near a tv with sky, I did listen on the radio though.

Reid was out for 14 months after losing to Malinga, it showed in the first few rounds but slowly he got in to it, in the 5th he hurts Calzaghe and Joe starts backing off, after that robin blocked a good 80% of Joes shots and ive never seen anyone land as many clean right hands on Joe as Robin did, one nice shot span Joes head around but it landed on his cheek, if it had been his chin, ive no doubt Joe would have tasted the canvas.

Froch has alot to live up to, this fight deserved a rematch and if Reid would have got a staright rematch he probably would have won, the career inactivity bvefore hand ruined his early rounds, he could have been sharp from the first bell

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Calzaghe broke his hand early in Reid fight i think Calzaghe would of took Reid by ud in rematch by about 4 rounds maybe 3.

He said nothing about a hurt hand imediatly afterwards, he did say he hurt his elbow in his last fight

Reid would give him trouble whenever they fought, just his style

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ross

He said nothing about a hurt hand imediatly afterwards, he did say he hurt his elbow in his last fight

Reid would give him trouble whenever they fought, just his style

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There were things wrong with Calzaghe in the fight injurys ect but Reid still done well i scored the fight a draw but i think in rematch Calzaghe would of beat Reid easier by about 3 rounds.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Smashup

;D
I think he'd spark Kessler all day long but would find Calzaghe a tougher opponent.
Interestingly though,while watching Bika v Bute the commentator spoke with Bika a few days before and he'd been sparring with Kessler,Bika claims that Kessler is a monster compared with Joe.
Sour grapes..? maybe...maybe not.

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I think it is because Bika is being paid on a regualr basis by the Kessler camp, i wouldnt look to much into it, the gfeneral feeling is Calzaghe is the favourite. 8/13 most Bookies have Joe if the fight happens.

Any news on Robins or Carls training ?

Havent heard much in the media about this fight which is odd as both like to talk ;D

Froch says Reid is way past his best which he is by a long way so why is he fighting him? Reid is isnt even ranked in the top ten he should be fighting better fighters than Reid at this time in his career!

Froch has slipped outta the top ten Best British Boxers because of his failure to move on to bigger fights.

Froch has done nothing with his career and looks to do nothing either, he has run his moth for to long and at almost 30 has fought no one anyone will remeber or care about in a few years time. Reid is shot and has been for along time, Forch i believe is a shit out and is fighting nobodys untill the big ones at SMw leave and he can rule it without trouble.

Kessler, Lacy, Calzaghe all beat froch with ease.

Froch IS in his 30's ;D

It's becoming more common to see fighters succesful in their 30's n 40's