Froch on beef with Khan

from **************

OK, so - What’s all this business with Amir Khan?


Do you mean King Khan ? (laughs)

To be honest, I've steered away from getting involved. It's looked like he gotten all upset so I wanted to leave him alone as the written word can be quite powerful.

LF: So what started this off Carl ?

He's gotten upset because I gave a little feedback on his Prescott defeat and reported that I'd heard that the Kotelinik win was a little dull from reports off my friends who'd paid for the show and were disappointed.

He's just a bit young and fragile and probably just needs a hug from the rest of Team Khan or his personal chauffeur or whatever.

I’ve met Amir a couple of times and he is a nice enough kid to chat briefly to and so was his father.

But the bottom line is I have always told it how it is and to sugar coat things is just taking the mickey out of the boxing fans who read the internet or watch the fights on TV or whatever.

There's no malice intended in my feedback. I deal with cold truth. In boxing we all get a pat on the back and we all get criticised. I cop a lot of criticism off Mcquighan, Jim Watt and so on but it doesn't mean I start crying into my pillow about it.

We were all asked on ITV what we thought of the Precott defeat and a few of my peers said what Amir wanted to hear with a cherry on top – then I told it how it was as per usual. That it was a bad defeat and it would be a long road back for Khan and that there was some serious questions now about his chin. I think the other commentator's spared Amir's feelings, but I think it should be told how it is.

If Khan got up of the floor and put in a barnstorming comeback and knocked Prescott out in style, then that's what I would have raved about on ITV at the time - but he didn't. He was gone in 60 seconds from a jab and then a couple of heavy hooks. It was one of the worse defeats i have ever seen in boxing. Period.

I remember Khan's close friends and family at ringside looked like they were having a heart attack, watching the lad getting hammered like that. It was a very bad defeat indeed and you can tip toe around the event as much as you want but it is what it is. They will read this and they will nod and reflect back to that moment. He was totally gone and I was worried he would be OK.

And those questions over his chin have not gone away and before every fight people wonder when he finally does step up in class, will this flaw get exposed again?

Maybe the truth I spoke has dented King Khan's fragile ego and now i'm the focus of his mind - But I've got no beef with the guy.

Thinking as to why that is (having a go at me).... he can't blame himself for the loss and he can't blame Oliver Harrison or the Cuban either because they have both been sacked.

I know if I took a bad defeat, I would walk through fire to get back at the guy. I wouldn't let it go like that, no way. But that's me.

What did you think of Khan's fight with Salita at the weekend?

Khan took him out with some fast, clean shots. But without wanting to upset King Khan again - who is this Salita fella? I'm not being derogatory but honestly, I've never heard of the bloke.

I'd want to see an opponent at least take a shot and throw some back. I suppose it's down to the mandatory situation that he fought Amir.

Maybe I don't follow enough boxing, but correct me if wrong, Salita was never regarded as a hot prospect. If he was any good we'd have all heard about him before he'd got to the no1 spot wouldn't we?

My first defence was Jermain Taylor in America which kinds of gives you an idea of a what a genuine contender should be- and whom can declare themselves 'world class' and therefore be qualified to get a shot at the world champion.

That guy Salita had no business in there and i'd bet my house on him never getting another shot again at any belt.

But with regards Khan, yes he looked decent and completely in control.


LF: Sorry to keep asking these questions but whilst I've got you- does the fame & lifestyle that Amir seems to enjoy, bother you at all?

(laughs) it's Ok.

Listen... Not at all, i’m not the jealous type and am happy with my lot. I've never aspired to owning a private jet and am happy with my jacuzzi !

But I guess it does bug a few other fighters out there who are taking harder fights and bigger risks, yet still doing the 9-5. But that’s not Amir’s fault. If TV want to pay him large sums for easy fights then fair play to him.

I never got into boxing for the fame and lifestyle. I couldn’t care less if I never live next door to Vanilla Ice in LA or own a diamond studded grandfather clock on my wrist. I come from a family of grafters and I unwind by getting my hands dirty, working on my house and my properties - I’m a working class guy and am happy relaxing with my friends and my girlfriend Rachael, not falling out of China Whites with my man bag.

I chuckled when I had a limo pick me up for the fight with Dirrell - usually I drive to the arena myself, put some petrol in and just ease myself down there. But they needed to get a camera crew plus Andy Kerr to interview me on the way.