Carl Froch...another fist pummpingly awsome interview

OKay, nothing new here Carl Froch is a complete Badass, full stop! Everytime he opens his mouth I'm left pumping my fist in the air. So take a break from steriods and chickens, and let Carl Froch refresh you with another great interview:

From where Boxing is on the Scene:


By Terence Dooley


During 2008 and 2009 Carl ‘The Cobra’ Froch went from cult hero to fans favourite by taking on, and defeating, Jean Pascal, who is the current WBC light-heavyweight title holder, Jermain Taylor, the betting favourite going into their contest, and Andre Dirrell, who was undefeated going into the Froch fight. Carl still has Mikkel Kessler, Arthur Abraham and Andre Ward to come during the course of the Super Six tournament.
Froch, 32, did things the traditional way during his rise to the top, annexing British and Commonwealth belts before waiting patiently for his shot at the WBC title, which is still regard as the most legitimate of the alphabet straps. Carl had already won the respect of his peers, the fans are now fully onboard, and Froch believes he can go from strength-to-strength during 2010. ‘The Cobra’ caught up with us to discuss his current standing in the sport, his recent fights, and why he is viewed as an ‘oddity’ by some within the game.


Carl, you won the title by defeating the unbeaten Jean Pascal and have defended successfully against Jermain Taylor and the undefeated Andre Dirrell, with Kessler, Abraham and Ward waiting in the wings - is this the one of the toughest ever starts to a title reign?


Perhaps it is, but don't feel sorry for me! I've always wanted to take on and beat all these guys out there that claim they are this and that - the tougher the better as far as I’m concerned. I turned pro late and as a result of that the fears you have as a youngster were completely faded. Nothing remotely worries me, whether that's fighting abroad against a poster boy or taking on the next big prospect.


My view is that if you want to call yourself the champion, the numero uno in your weight class, then you have to take on all comers to that title. You have to go out there to win, and win by stoppage if possible. Every time I fight, I go out there and try to win from the first to the last bell - not knock up a points lead and then coast the remaining rounds. I'm a pure fighter. Forget ‘sport’ and different ways of getting the win - when that bell goes I’m like a dog with a rabbit.


Sometimes you collide with someone with a similar mindset like Jean Pascal and Jermain Taylor and it makes for an exciting spectacle. Then sometimes they come and they are not of that mindset, they choose to fold early once they have copped a few full-blooded shots - or they try to run and steal a win like Andre Dirrell.

Has Andre Ward’s win over Mikkel Kessler taken a bit of shine off your upcoming fight against the Dane?

There is a lot of mixed emotion over the Ward win over Kessler, with quite a few people saying that Ward was getting the better of Mikkel without the head butts. But a bare skull cracking into your eye socket and tearing the flesh open above both eyes is not something you can ignore. I don't think it's the ‘Ward coming out party’ fight by any stretch, it was tedious and struggled to flow, and the butting of the head left me cold.


That aside, Mikkel did seem off that night, like he took the task in hand lightly for some reason, or maybe I’m not giving Andre enough credit for making it look like that? Kessler's also got himself a new trainer since so that also sends signals that something wasn't right going into that fight.
Whatever issues there was in camp, with a new set up he should now be at ease. He is also putting on a show for his home fans and is looking to bounce back big-style following his loss. I've often been told to ‘fight Kessler’ before mentioning [Joe] Calzaghe and was hoping to have gone to his backyard and make a massive statement by stopping him.


The fight with Ward was messy and inconclusive. Ward never punished Kessler - he never schooled him and knocked him out in style, it was a botched night of boxing in my honest opinion. Ward got the win but not really much glory with it, and Kessler got a loss on his record and his eyes bust.


But I won't be taking Kessler lightly as a result - it's still a big task. The fight fans know it will be a dust up and on the night, myself in one corner and Kessler in the other will send goose bumps down the knowledgeable boxing fan’s backs. There is a strange blend of factors now going into this fight - but it will still be a tear up regardless.


You’ve set a high bar thus far in your reign - say you win the Super Six, where could you go from there?

Well I’d probably fight Pacquiao who would be at light heavyweight by then! Joking aside, the one man who is missing from the Super Six is Lucian Bute, so if he's available and unbeaten then he'd be a welcome visitor to the UK or I’d go over to Canada and fight him. He is a good operator, fast hands and tidy skills. I do think he should have pressed on with meaningful fights by now and it goes without saying he was blessed in his first fight with Andrade. I admired Andrade and believe he should have got the win that night and I think Bute would confess that privately too. But fair play to him, he demolished Andrade in the rematch.

I also think a fight between Pascal and Bute would be interesting and would settle the debate as to who is the best fighter in Canada. Personally, I think it is Pascal as he has shown courage in battle, has a good punch, a decent beard and is prepared to travel to win. Bute has been shaken badly and has not ventured too far from his comfort zone. When you fight a pedigree operator on their own soil it's a different kettle of fish.

Is a rematch, and the chance of a title at a second weight, against Pascal a possibility should Jean still be in possession of his belt once you’ve finished this tournament?

Definitely. Pascal has a big fight ahead with Chad Dawson. I think Dawson is a great fighter, very decent all round - he nearly got steam rolled by Johnson the first time round but now seems to be fulfilling his potential again. If Pascal beats Dawson then Froch vs. Pascal II at light heavy is a reality. And I'd love to fight him in Canada as they have great boxing fans out there.

 

Your last two fights have not been televised live on any of the big TV channels - is this a frustrating situation for you?

It's very, very frustrating. But the faithful know that they can tune in and watch it. Everyone in boxing is annoyed with the lack of coverage boxing gets, full stop. Especially when we’re forced to pay for a TV license and all they show is horse riding and some other toffee nosed crud.

It would seem that the upper classes running the beeb are catering for their own kind with sports like equestrian and ski events. I'm an animal lover - but I couldn't afford to buy and feed a horse when I was doing the 9-5, nor did I go on skiing holidays in the Alps. Ninety percent of people in this country like sports they can participate in themselves, either in a team or on an individual basis.

Football, rugby, cricket and that sort of team sport is popular on TV. Then you have the individual sports with boxing, darts, snooker, motor racing and Wimbledon, when it's on for the fortnight, are all great. Every lad I knew growing up had football boots, a snooker cue, a pair of gloves or a tennis racket. They certainly didn't have a pair of skis or a stable full of horses to ride up to the chip shop! It's crazy but all of the regular British stuff gets aired except the boxing - which is the most exciting sport out there.

You cut it fine in the Taylor fight, were there any demons or doubts in your mind going into that final round?

The fight was on then it was off. Taylor didn't want it and eventually we accepted DiBella's offer simply so I could get Jermain in the ring to fight. It all started feeling a bit ‘Denis Inkin’ again. At first it was going to be at Madison [Square Garden] and then it turned out to be Foxwoods. I set off to spar in Canada to get into the time zone and prepare properly. Then I suffered with an ulcerated cornea and the fight was almost off, then I declared I would continue.

In the ring itself, Taylor was boxing very well. We knew he was faster and would be looking to decapitate me in the first few rounds so we planned on hitting him everywhere, the arms, chest - anything to take him out his rhythm, as he is a fast starter.

The closest thing he'd fought to me was Pavlik, who had a big punch and was a gritty fighter. When Taylor got stopped he'd already dropped Pavlik hard in the second round of their fight and was lucky the ref didn't step in. He was well ahead on the cards when Pavlik caught him.
I wasn't dropped heavy by Taylor, more of a balls up on my part. And the rounds were pretty even, with Taylor shading a good few with his big finishes and me earning my share too. The plan was never to outbox him but to knock him out late.

Lots of Taylor's fans were saying afterwards that it was the most offensive minded performance they'd seen him put on. I give Taylor respect for a great fight that night. It was very entertaining and what boxing should be all about.

People have criticised your defence in recent fights yet you are 26-0 (20) - do you think that people should also recognise that you are one of the most tenacious fighters in the world?

It’s easy to look perfect fighting hand picked bums but when you’re fighting at the top level, at world class against younger guys in their primes, opponents with pedigree who had recently achieved great things or will go on to achieve great things, then it makes for a much closer contest.

I had the chance to square up with a few domestic and European people in Nottingham - guys I would have looked a million dollars against and who I would have blown away, but I'm not bothered in the slightest with some fabricated, padded opponent coming in to make me look good.

When I get in bed at night, I know I’m right up there mixing it and winning with the very best of my era. My last three opponents have all had fast hands, good power and have won, or could win, world titles in their own rights. There are other champions out there who could fight these guys and lose - I didn't.

Mick has steered you to the top but his inability to get your fights onto prime time (no pun intended) TV has left many people frustrated, are you one of them?

It's frustrating times full stop. It goes without saying that a lot of people are missing some great action because the terrestrial networks are backing darts and not the likes of me and Haye. It’s a hot topic in boxing, period.

Would you ever consider leaving Mick to join up with a promoter who has a stable TV deal in place?

It’s a good question but the reality is there is no such thing as a stable TV deal. Other promoters have switched between Setanta, ITV and Sky in the last 2 years. I’ve boxed on BBC, Sky, ITV, on a web stream and now on a totally new TV station in my career. So has Haye and so has Hatton. It's short sighted to switch promoters on a year-by-year basis.

 

By this point a fighter at your level has usually fired a trainer, or three, and brought in a US-based coach, have you ever considered a switch in training regime?

Most definitely - I think I’m long overdue an over hyped trainer to come in and hold my pads for me! High profile trainers are not magicians - they don't bring magical powers in their kit bag. Being serious though, I think there is a lot of bollocks about ‘buying in’ some high profile trainer. Sure they are they're on merit, well at least some of them are, but me and Rob McCracken are a tight unit. He is a great trainer and that's the reason he has been brought in to bring on the Olympic team.

You’ve taken part in some immense contests over the past few years, is it frustrating to see other British fighters who, say, have not fought consistently at that level receive more column inches than you?

I'd say that all coverage for boxing is good, regardless who is getting the exposure. At the end of the day I'm in boxing to fight and to prove I’m the best at my weight in the world. I never laced up to get famous. I don’t have some unquenchable desire to be known to everyone wherever I go, in fact it [fame] sounds a bit tedious.

When it comes to fame outside of my chosen field, I’m happy being the Michael Owen rather than the David Beckham. Every boxing fan in the UK knows very well who I am. So do the fans of Quebec, Arkansas and Flint Michigan, they all know who I am - and soon Denmark will know me.
I'm completely satisfied to be a bit of a celeb’ in Nottingham - and to boxing fans outside of my town around the world. Global fame is not something that has ever been on my radar! I'd certainly not declare that I want to be known by every single person in the UK and America.

Taylor floored you and Dirrell seemed to give you pause for thought a few times, is that famous granite chin getting chipped away by some of the big shots you’ve taken in recent fights?

They say a good chin is one that does not get hit but at world class you will get hit hard and often so it helps to be made of tough stock. My dad was a popular doorman in Nottingham in the 1980's who once got hit over the head with an axe. I'm sure a padded glove don't hurt that much in comparison!

Boxers tell me that they love your no-nonsense approach and that you must be a real heartbreaker to fight – do you feel proud when your peers recognise the qualities you bring to a fight?

Being honest? - Satisfaction more than feeling ‘proud’. I'll tell you what’s heart breaking, that I’m viewed as an oddity in boxing - like it's some huge miracle that there is someone out there wanting the big challengers, the fights that others have ducked and swerved. I should be norm, not the one on the pedestal really, but yes, it's satisfying to know that.

A series of wins in the Super Six will leave you with a brilliant CV, do you think you’ll be left within touching distance of the division’s ‘all-time best’ title?

The division has never been as full of talent as it is now since the division's creation. We've got big names coming up and decorated Olympians alongside the champions and established operators. I'd say it's more packed than any other weight class right now.

If I can blaze through the Taylors, Pascals, Dirrells, Kesslers, Abrahams etc then I'd fail to see how anyone can declare that I haven't got the best record. You'll get the knockers who will say, ‘Ah, but this guy would have beaten him’, and you always will. But at the end of the day that's simply hypothetical - it’s the names beaten and not the unblemished record that counts.

To have great names in their prime and an unblemished record would be something else, but when you constantly fight the best you have to be prepared for decisions not always going your way. All the greats I admire have losses - it's all about learning from them should they occur. Fear of losing should never get in the way of a great match-up.

Finally, do you think you are a throwback to the days when champions were willing to take on all-comers and do you think boxing needs more guys like you in order to thrive during these tough times?

The sport will go to it's grave unless the boxing public does not get to see the fights that it craves. Too many fights have gone to the wayside because someone gets cold feet, at first they declare they demolish this guy or that guy and as soon the contender gets within striking distance they run off and make other fights or vacate the title and say, ‘This guy or that guy don't deserve to fight me’, which is a disgrace. Grow a pair and take the fight, prove you’re the better man and give the fans what they want, rather than what your handlers or business manager wants! It is only boxing!

Thanks for your time. We hope you have a long and successful boot smoking career – even though you did break my heart by knocking out Taylor!

You’re welcome and don't worry about Taylor - he may still surprise a few people.

 

Yeah I figured Roach would want that. He's been saying for a while now he doesn't want Amir to Face Midana. But it could also be a tactic to light a fire under Khan's ass, as Khan is the type of guy that would just use that type of **** to fuel him.

I hope they never fight. It would look like the Pacquiao fight all over again.

 

I know. It is such a gift to boxing to have a guy like this right now in the division where he is now. I mean if you look in his own division there are about 8 amazingly talented elite level fighters for him to fight that are in the prime of their careers. And then if you add in the top level fighters in the divisions above and below him you start to get a matchmacker's dream. He's got a very long road ahead of him in the super six but if he can keep on rolling legend status awaits.