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CARL FROCH TARGETING KESSLER
FROCH HAS KESSLER TARGET
British and Commonwealth super-middleweight champion Carl Froch has set his sights on Mikkel Kessler's WBC title providing he disposes of domestic challenger Tony Dodson tonight.
The 29-year-old Nottingham fighter finally gets it on with Dodson after the Liverpudlian former champion pulled out of scheduled contests between the pair three times due to injury.
At the time Froch labelled Dodson a "bottle job" but has accepted the grudge match at the Nottingham Arena as he looks to win the Lonsdale belt for keeps with a third defence, before relinquishing both that title and his Commonwealth crown to move up to European and world level.
Froch told PA Sport: "Dodson is going to try to burst the Froch bubble but I'm not going to let that happen.
"I'm going to move on to European and world level. That's what I'm looking at doing. I'm going to sit down with (promoter) Mick Hennessy and see what next fight is the right fight for me to move on towards the WBC world title.
"I'm currently ranked number three in the world with the WBC so whichever fight is going to bring me closer to becoming the mandatory challenger, that's the one we're going to take - whether that be a 10-round international contest or a European title fight."
Froch repeatedly called out Welshman Joe Calzaghe in the past but now accepts Danish champion Kessler is a more likely opponent.
"Kessler is 27 and Calzaghe's 34. If Calzaghe was ever going to fight me it would have been a year ago when he was making voluntary defences of his WBO title and could have boxed me," said Froch.
"But now I get the impression he's looking at earning some decent money in one or two more fights then he's going to retire.
"He's 34, he struggles at super-middleweight and I think he's looking at stepping up a weight to light-heavyweight so that fight probably won't happen.
"It won't be long until I get my mandatory shot at Kessler. If Calzaghe moves up he'll vacate two belts, the IBF and WBO, so you never know what's around the corner.
"There are a couple of quality fighters coming through. There are loads of doors I could go through to get me in contention for the world title. I'm happy to take whichever route is going to be better for me."
Froch added: "The only reason I'm fighting Dodson is to win the Lonsdale belt outright. You defend it three times and you keep the belt, and that's the reason.
"Other than that it's pointless fighting Dodson because it's a step backwards. But obviously when you win the Lonsdale belt outright it's not a step backwards because it's something to show your grandkids and it's prestigious to own a Lonsdale. Then I'll move up to European and world level.
"He's going to try to take the British title belt off me. It's my job to stop him and I will be doing that.
"I'll be stopping him in about round six or seven. I'll be knocking him spark out. He reckons I don't knock anybody out so I've got a point to prove now."
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Originally Posted by Smashup
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