Everyone should also be aware that Nievas was stopped twice in 2008; once by the great Dimitri Sartison (24-1, 15KO) of Mikkel Kessler fame, and once by the famous Brazilian Isaac Rodrigues (13-0, 11KO).
froch has won a paper belt against pascal and has done nothing to gain momentum or be marketable overseas. taylor got his title shot against hopkins by beating miranda, then beat hopkins twice on the world stage, lost against pavlik twice - and you still think that this fight isn't fortuitous for froch simply because taylor needs to rebuild? this is a gift for froch and an opportunity a euro fighter who hasn't made his name internationally rarely gets. just ask felix sturm.
Froch looks slow to me. I dont see how he brings more to the table then a Jeff Lacy. Taylor by atleast 8 rounds.
Seriously. Saw his fight with some pole and he looked slow, and not all that powerful. If Taylor comes into the fight 100% focused and on top of his game I dont see much Froch could do besides land a lucky knockout punch.
I've been making the Jeff Lacy analogy for a while now. The only thing Froch brings over Lacy is a more awkward style IMO. Carl's angles and shot selection is arguably better but I don't think his hands are as quick and he is definitely more open.