Why Froch vs Calzaghe should have happened- a lesson for other boxers

In November 2006, Froch had just won by KO in the 3rd round to retain his british and commonwealth titles. At this stage of Froch's career, he was 20-0 and top 10 ranked SMW. After winning this fight, Froch called out Calzaghe.

Calzaghe refused to fight Froch, claiming that Froch was just trying to use Calzaghe's name to build his own profile. Calzaghe continued boxing until November 2008 and fought against big name opponents, also winning ring title at LHW.

Froch got his first world title shot in December 2008 against Jean Pascal and won his first world title immediately after Joe Calzaghe retired. This would have been the perfect time to make the Calzaghe vs Froch fight as Froch had then proved that he is a world level fighter. The fight would have sold out the millenium stadium and done massive PPV buys.

In the gap between November 2006 and Froch beating Pascal, the Froch vs Calzaghe fight could have happened. At the time, if Calzaghe won, it would have seemed like Calzaghe had beaten a B class fighter but after several years and seeing what Froch had achieved in boxing, beating Froch would have been one of the best wins on Calzaghe's resume.

Unfortunately, the fight never happened and us fans (especially british) missed out on a great fight. I think it could have gone either way, Calzaghe by decision or Froch by KO.

The lesson for today's elite boxers is to fight the up and coming stars and to get these young prospects names on their resumes.

Examples:
Wlad should fight Fury, Price, Wilder, Povetkin and Arreola because these guys are likely to pick up world titles in the future and have successful careers. In 10 years time, they will be seen as good names on Wlad's resume.

Mayweather should fight Bradley because he is likely to be one of the top or the top WW once Floyd retires. Kell Brook is another name Floyd should look to get on his resume as he is likely to win world title and probably unify some.

 

Yep! And Carl Froch should fight George Groves after Kessler.

 

Indeed, George Groves and James DeGale.

 

Lets remember that Calzaghe was looking to fight Kessler, who was considered the number one and an owner of the WBC & WBA titles.
Froch was British champ and a complete unknown.
Remember Froch didnt even win a world title until Calzaghe had moved up a division, had 2 fights in that new division and retired.
At the time Froch brought little to the table.

 

If Calzaghe had defeated Froch in 2006-2008, Carl may not have fought who he did when he did.

It is coming knowledge that an offer was made to Froch's team back in 2006/2007. They turned it down because Frank wanted options on Froch.

 

Calzaghe ducked Froch.

Hatton ducked Witter.

Khan will try duck Kell Brook.

Duck ducked the ducker.

 

They are both ranked in the IBF top 10.

 

They are likely opponents for Froch in the near future, probably after Kessler if not Ward or Bute.

 

while i agree calzaghe could use a few more decent names on his resume if he had beaten carl back then people would probably now just say "Calzaghe beat a very green version of froch ...prime froch wudda kicked his ass"

as alot of boxing fans do sadly.

 

Fighting Froch at that time would have been considered a poorer domestic opponent selection than the likes of Richie Woodhall and these are the type of opponents that all Calzaghe's critics harp on about when criticising him.

Credit to Froch though for going on and making the most of his limited talent, though if Calzaghe had Lacyied Froch back then, Froch may have never gone on to be the fighter he is today and Calzaghe would have had another bum on his resume.

 

The ideal time for the fight for all parties would have been after Froch beat Pascal. This was only 1 month after Calzaghe's last fight. In 2006/ 2007, Froch was british and commonwealth champion and even rated as top 10 SMW by ring magazine. He was definately not considered a bum.

 

Could Calzaghe still make 168 pounds in 2009? I don't think Froch would have gone up to 175

 

Most probably, he was at 168 in 06, 07 and 08. They could have fought then.

 

Once up at 175, I don't think Joe would have come back down to 168. I remember in the build up to Hopkins-Calzaghe, Steve Bunce talking about how drained Calzaghe looked at the Kessler weigh in, compared to how he looked healthier against Hopkins. I don't think Joe could fight again at 168 safely. Froch would have to come up to 175, and I don't think he would have

 

So a fighter who had repeatedly talked about his lack of motivation to keep fighting should have fought Froch as a 37 year old when he had just beaten Lacy-Kessler-Hopkins-Jones and made himself financially secure for life, making himself the man at both 168 and 175.

Should Calzaghe's motivation to postpone his retirement really have been tested because Carl Froch beat Jean Pascal who himself had beaten nobody at 168?

Should Calzaghe have postponed his retirement and boiled down from 2 fights at 175 to take on a man who was making more noise with his mouth than his gloves?