Froch at 175 lbs.

Agree with most of what's said above, Froch's awesome chin and incredible fitness saw him through, he was a freak in those regards.

He was never a monstrous puncher nor particularly fast, move him up in weight and just putting his awesome chin against harder hitters, you're just stacking the cards against him. I don't think he does well at all.

 

I dont think Froch would do too well at LHW. I think he thought he would be small against them.
Lets not forget in Frochs fight before Ward he had a tough fight with faded, boiled down G Johnson.
I think Froch could get stopped in several of those fights

 

It was a good fight but it in my opinion then I felt SMW was not as tough a division as it used to be but just more advertised.
Johnson was never a top SMW and I think had lost more than won at the weight.
Ottke had outboxed Johnson when prime at SMW over a decade earlier and as a boiled down far older faded fighter was pushing Froch.
I felt at that time that Froch would have struggled if in the division a few years earlier

 

That is correct. He was never impressive at 168lbs. That was what made me think Froch would have struggled a few years previously.
Its one of the things I have written before but some fighters dont seem as good at certain weights even though there is only some pounds between them.
C Woods struggled with Baker and was beaten by Starie at SMW but did alot better at SMW.
J Taylor did well at MW, didnt do well at SMW, went back to MW and won a title.
Just examples and only my opinion

 

Surprised me too.. Johnson matured and aged well imo, and him giving Froch a good fight proved it. There was still life in the old dog.