The Cobra Poised to Strike: RSR Talks to Carl “The Cobra” Froch

Interview by Mike “Rubber Warrior” Plunkett

“I’m looking for the best challenges at super middleweight and that is why Jermain Taylor is my first defense, and why I am very open to meeting either Lucian Bute or Mikkel Kessler in the very near future.”–Carl Froch

In recent years the United Kingdom has experienced a noted resurgence of talent in the sport of boxing. It all seemed to start slowly with Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank winning the WBC and WBO Super Middleweight Titles back in the 90’s. Not long after, Lennox Lewis forever changed the image of heavyweight boxing as it pertained to England, over time becoming a three-time heavyweight champion. Starting around the latter part of that same period, Joe Calzaghe of Wales won the WBO Super Middleweight title, ultimately defending it a record twenty-one times before moving up in weight to win the light heavyweight title. Cruiserweight David Haye went on to win the WBA/WBC/WBO titles and the much celebrated Ricky Hatton book-ended the IBF/IBO Light Welterweight titles around the WBA Welterweight strap, ultimately earning himself a mega-match against the consensus pound for pound king of the sport today. Last December, an undefeated fighter out of Nottingham, England won the WBC Super Middleweight Title in a bout that many ranked as 2008’s Fight of the Year, in the process, serving due notice to the boxing world that the well of British talent indeed runs very deep and that the best may be yet to come.

Carl Froch was born on July 2nd, 1977. He began boxing at age 9. As an amateur he won two ABA middleweight titles in 1999 and 2001 and a bronze medal at the 2001 World Amateur Boxing Championships before turning professional in March 2002. “The Cobra” cut a quick and noticeable swath through super middleweight division, winning the Commonwealth (British Empire) and BBBofC Super Middleweight Titles before working his way into position as the mandatory for then WBO Super Middleweight Champion Joe Calzaghe. Although he was denied his opportunity by Calzaghe, he stayed the course, forged ahead and as previously mentioned, secured the WBC Super Middleweight Title against Canada’s talented and undefeated Jean Pascal in a terrific battle that showcased his fine counter-punching skills punctuated with spirited exchanges. More amazingly, he managed all of this with a perforated eardrum and a cracked rib.

Just over a week away from his upcoming April 25th title defense against former Undisputed Middleweight Champion Jermain Taylor, “The Cobra” was kind enough to share his thoughts on unification against his championship contemporaries, Joe Calzaghe, and who he feels will win the upcoming mega-fight between fellow countryman Ricky Hatton and four-division champion Manny Pacquiao.

MP: You won the WBC Super Middleweight Title just over four months ago against the then undefeated Jean Pascal in a bout many believed was a candidate for Fight of the Year. Did you learn anything about yourself in that bout and does it rank as among the most difficult of your career thus far?

It was a very tough fight and Pascal showed himself to be a world-class fighter. I learned that I could go twelve rounds at a very tough and competitive pace and come out on top. Something I had worked towards and trained for my whole career. I had gone twelve rounds before but not at that level with a determined opponent of that caliber.

MP: You’ve stated that you want nothing but the very best fighters and “superstars in their prime” as opposed to making money against easy opposition. So much so, you are making your first defense against the former undisputed middleweight champion in the United States. What are your professional ambitions beyond Jermain Taylor and do they include unification at 168 or even a possible move-up to the light heavyweight division?

I’ll fight any of them. I have no problem getting into the ring with Lucian Bute the IBF Champ or Mikkel Kessler the WBA Champ. I’m not really interested in that other title, the WBO, and I’m not really sure who has it. Those are the big fights for me in my weight class but I have no interest at moving up to light heavy. I have the exact frame and size for super middleweight and that’s where I plan to continue campaigning. Jermain Taylor is just the beginning.

MP: Getting back to the task at hand, what kind of approach do you expect of Jermain Taylor on April 25th and what can your fans expect to see from “The Cobra”?

To be honest I think he’ll do what he always does and look to box. I’m sure that after three or four rounds he’ll try to pull back when I start to really come on as he hasn’t proven to be really effective when he is backed-up. Quite probably he is going to try and win seven of the twelve rounds and look to steal the fight.

MP: He looked both formidable and fragile at different points in his most recent bout, a unanimous decision win over former IBF Super Middleweight Champ Jeff Lacy. Did you see anything in his style that you would like to exploit?

He likes to be in control but when you take some of that away from him he doesn’t perform so well. He’s a talented boxer and the former undisputed middleweight champ. To me it’s all about style. You know the old saying, styles make fights, and I feel that I have the style, talent and determination to send him back.

MP: Speaking of Kessler, he was routed by Joe Calzaghe a couple of years ago. Calzaghe is somebody you have been openly critical of over the past year. Why the animosity towards him?

Yes, I have been extremely critical of Joe Calzaghe over the past little while because I had worked very hard to become his mandatory contender but he failed to make good on his obligation to defend against me. Joe is a talented and great fighter, I won’t deny any of that, but he didn’t travel over to the United States until the tail end of his career and then only to face two old men. He didn’t look for the best challenges within his own division for years. Like I said earlier, I’m looking for the best challenges at super middleweight and that is why Jermain Taylor is my first defense, and why I am very open to meeting either Lucian Bute or Mikkel Kessler in the very near future.

MP: Who do you see prevailing between fellow countryman Ricky Hatton and Manny Pacquiao next month?

I honestly think Ricky will win the fight. He’s a pound for pound fighter and talent. He’s naturally bigger and stronger and I feel that in the fight Manny Pacquiao is going to feel the difference with Ricky as his opponent. I won’t be an easy fight because Pacquiao himself is a pound for pound talent and has a lot of experience. Ricky is a friend of mine as we get on very well. I’m pulling for him to win on May 2nd.

MP: Is there anything you’d like to say to your fans around the world in closing?

I’d just like to say that the BBC, Setanta Sports and Sky Television – they aren’t carrying my fight with Jermain Taylor and I think it is disgraceful. They are an utter disgrace! You’ll have to come to Connecticut if you want to see the fight. For those out there who are pulling for me, thank you, I really appreciate it.

Carl Froch

Nickname: “The Cobra”

Division: Super Middleweight

Professional Record: 24-0, 19 KO’s

Date Opponent W-L-D Location Result

2002-03-16 Michael Pinnock 4-52-8 Bethnal Green, United Kin W TKO 4

2002-05-10 Ojay Abrahams 19-36-4 Bethnal Green, United Kin W KO 1

2002-08-23 Darren Covill 8-28-1 Bethnal Green, United Kin W TKO 1

2002-10-25 Paul Bonson 16-55-6 Bethnal Green, United Kin W PTS 6

2002-12-21 Mike Duffield 9-15-1 Dagenham, United Kingdom W TKO 1

2003-01-28 Valery Odin 6-5-0 Nottingham, United Kingdo W TKO 6

2003-03-05 Varuzhan Davtyan 3-5-0 Bethnal Green, United Kin W TKO 5

2003-04-16 Michael Monaghan 12-7-0 Nottingham, United Kingdo W TKO 3

2003-10-04 Vage Kocharyan 10-7-1 Wood Green, United Kingdo W PTS 8

2003-11-28 Alan Page 8-0-0 Derby, United Kingdom W TKO 7

vacant BBBofC English Super Middleweight Title

2004-01-30 Dmitry Adamovich 9-7-0 Dagenham, United Kingdom W TKO 2

2004-03-12 Charles Adamu 11-1-0 Nottingham, United Kingdo W PTS 12