Arthur Abraham vs. Carl Froch

Ive said from the beginning Froch is begging to be sparked against Abraham.

Somewhere in the mid-rounds, a sloppy offensive manouver from Frochy will lead him onto something big. He's got a bloody good chin, but he's going down.

 

This fight is hard to pick because, against Kessler, it was largely that Carl got out-worked. Something he's not in danger with against Arthur, of course.

Froch has looked wobbly since he faced Pascal. He's a hard ******* and his ring IQ is under-rated (he out-thought Dirrell, even though I had him losing - there was a reason Andre was on the run), his jab is a good weapon when he uses it and, while not destructive, he's a solid hitter. Plus he keeps coming, even when he's hurt - probably because he can't fight on the backfoot. But I can't shirk the feeling that he's been getting hurt more because he's wearing down a little and he just doesn't defend himself properly.

I love watching Abraham - he's so explosive and he's normally excellent at working out how to disarm his opponents. That said, his laziness is becoming more of an issue as he gets older. His stamina's a question mark and I'm not sure how sturdy he is at 168. The Dirrell KD notwithstanding, we've not seen him even dented since facing Miranda - but he's not faced a true 12st fighter with decent power. He, like Froch, is seriously tough - plus his punching technique's better and his combination punching is miles ahead. I also don't think he dislike the body shots, he just complains to maybe get a cheeky point off his opponent.

So, a prediction right now...

Difficult, but I think Froch takes the early rounds while Arthur does nothing, then he opens up and Abraham lands something vicious that puts Froch down ala the Taylor fight. Unlike Taylor though, Abraham won't miss his opportunity and he'll beat Carl up for three or four rounds solid - maybe forcing a stoppage. If Carl survives, I think it'll be a close points win for Arthur when Froch picks up the pace in the last two.

He'll complain bitterly about the judges and if he'd only been in Nottingham. Arthur merely shrugs.

 

Dirrell said Arthur was the hardest puncher he'd ever faced, is he the hardest puncher that Carl has faced?:think probably yes and Arthur's defence is better than Carl's.

Carl needs to get the cobra working and rack up some points early on.

 

dftaylor, another top-notch post. Where the **** did you come from?

 

Hmmm... been here a while, just changed a little. Plus I've been less inclined to have an argument and more focused on boxing itself.

I couldn't care less about the politics of it, just about the fights that are happening.

 

I've got a nagging feeling Carl will be a bit worn by his first loss - he said he didn't feel great during the fight, was tired. Not a good sign.

And AA will be fresh as a daisy having learned a harsh lesson after his appallingly slow starts finally cost him a defeat.


Carl has the tools for this job though, the long jab, the timed uppercut through the high guard in the mid rounds when Arthur starts coming forward more.

He just has to avoid getting freaked out by Abraham's tortoise style early on, and burning up energy prodding away at his arms.

 

I've been saying for years now that I think Froch is all wrong for Abraham, and I stand by it. Both guys start a bit slow, but Abraham starts slower enough that I think Froch will be able to put rounds in the bank early. Unlike Taylor, whose straight punches got blocked by Abraham, Froch often throws looping punches, and I think they have just enough hook on them to get around Abraham's guard. I can see Froch winning the first five rounds, and I think Froch is just tough enough in terms of style and workrate that he could win 2 or 3 of the last 7 rounds.

On top of that, Froch has a good beard. I know Abraham has one punch concussive power, but he's generally taken a long time to knock guys out. It took 12 rounds for him to get to Ayala, Taylor and Gevor. He couldn't knock out LaJuan Simon, and Simon took four rounds from him. Froch is a lot bigger, stronger and more active than Simon. I just don't see Abraham being able to pull out the late miracle against someone with a chin like Froch's.

Froch close decision.

 

Froch's defence is underrated; at times, he was slipping Kessler's best like he was Sweetpea.

Abraham is no Dirrell and he's slower than Kessler.

Froch on points, for me.

 

Good OP, slip.

My heart says Froch, my head says 50/50.

I'm going to go, Froch on pts and hoping that he doesn't get knocked out later on. I think Froch possibly has the range and tools to deal with, get around, AA's turtle like guard and rack up pts.

I just had a flash of a crazy image of Abraham ending the fight pretty early though :scaredas: and shocking everyone into huge disappointment, I don't think that logic directs this though, maybe it's just that strong tipple I'm sipping on right now.

 

I think Froch may stop him.

A large part of my reasoning for this is Frochy's mentality. I think his training camp will be more focussed than ever before and I think he will come out with a major point to prove.

I have always felt that Frochy is the perfect antidote to Arthur Abraham. He loops his punches and can crunch to the body, and just when Abraham gets ready to come out of his shell, he'll eat an uppercut up the centre!

I think the biggest factor in this fight will be Carls fitness. I felt he lost the Kessler fight rather than Kessler winning it. I felt like Carl was in 4th gear the whole way through the fight when we all know he normally kicks into another gear down the stretch. I just never really happened which I think was down to his preparation. He won't make the same mistake twice and he will put pressure on Arthur for ten whole rounds. When Abraham looks to take those breaks on the ropes, Carl will punnish him to the body like no other fighter has. I think you will see Arthur come out of his shell a lot more reguley as he won't like the shots he's taken. I think this will lead to him being tired doen the stretch and I think Carl will stop him, maybe even with a body shot.

The jab will be key for Carl in the second half of the fight and he needs to remember to use it. I don't think Abraham will put Carl down late, I think his best chance is early in the fight as we all know how nervous the cobra gets. I don't think Arthur has the power at super middle that everybody seems to think. He landed some clean shots on Dirrell throughout the fight and it didn't help him too much. Carl most certainly has a better beard than Dirrell so I think he should be fine. I think Flash knockdown at best if it does happen.

I'm not confident enough of Carl stopping him to put money on it, but my money will definately be on the win (assuming I have any)!

This should be an amazing fight and I can't wait. I just hope it lives up to expectations.

Come on the Cobra!!!

 

I don't think i've ever been more 50-50 on a fight in my life, at this point i just can't pick a winner. I do think Abraham's kinda been stripped of the whole fear-factor after the Dirrell fight, the aura of invincibility and the monster just isn't quite the same now. I'm not convinced yet of either man's power against the elite at 168, i can't see this not being fight of the year. **** me i'm rambling, i havne't got a ****ing clue how this is going to pan out.

I'll get back to you in October

 

love it:good

 

Froch can definitly win this if he boxes the right fight, take the early rounds against a slow starting Abraham without taking too much out of himself. Keep a tight defence later on as Abraham will come back late on but I reckon Carl can weather the late storm to hold out for a decision.

I have not seen enough of Abrahams power a SMW to believe he can stop Froch, the cobra is one tough ******* and it will take something special to stop him. Abrahams defence is fairly soild making him very difficult to KO so I see this going the distance.

Froch vs Dirrell final.