What’s next for Carl Froch: Rubber match, Resume, Rematches or Revenge?

06/02/201305/31/2013 Chris Carlson

froch92 Carl “The Cobra” Froch has been sounding a lot like Floyd ”Money” Mayweather in the days following his huge payback win over Mikkel Kessler, which was broadcast by HBO in the United States, and Sky Sports PPV live from the O2 Arena in London, England. In so many words, Carl Froch and his promoter Eddie Hearn are saying, “all roads lead to Carl Froch”. Like Floyd as well, he says he has 3 or 4 major fights before he calls it a day.

All jokes aside he does have plenty of option on the table. One is the rubber match with Mikkel Kessler. Another is a resume booster with a Bernard Hopkins fights. A Rematch with the winner of Jean Pascal vs. Lucian Bute Fight would be a good business move. And last but not least a revenge opportunity with Andre Ward.

Froch Wins and Will Again, but Not Against Ward

05/26/201305/26/2013 Paul Strauss

Froch dominated Kessler, and will again if they have a third fight. Kessler’s style is too predictable and not busy enough. He lost because he failed to manage distance very well. He failed to take advantage of his hand speed and straighter punches. Ward did not and will not make those mistakes.

Froch got away with his unorthodoxy, because (to use a baseball phrase), Kessler failed to keep his eye on the ball. Froch hardly ever makes that mistake, and Ward never does. He is always focused, and ready to take advantage of miistakes at an instant. Froch gets away with throwing looping shots, because someone like Kessler’s defense is too simple. He either tries to block the punch, and many times unsuccessfully, or duck under it.

What Next For Carl Froch?

05/26/2013 James Slater

Fans are still buzzing over last night’s terrific, all-action rematch battle between Carl Froch and Mikkel Kessler. The two intense yet (usually) respectful warriors met again three years on from their first classic, and the revenge win “The Cobra” scored over “The Viking Warrior” has left U.K fans feeling A: very proud B: very lucky to have such a great, fight-anyone-at anytime throwback of a fighter and C: very excited about who their very own modern day Rocky Marciano may face in the roped battlefield next.

Already, there is talk of a third, sure to thrill encounter between Froch and Kessler, as well as talk of a rematch between Froch and the man who was too tricky for him a couple of years or so again, Andre Ward. Either fight would be absolutely massive on either side of the Atlantic (or anywhere in Europe in the case of the rubber-match) and it’s probably fair enough for Froch, for far too long underappreciated, to take his pick.

In terms of sheer action, a third rumble between Froch and Kessler would be the best fight, but in terms of legacy and his placing in the history books, Froch needs to beat the sublime Ward.

Froch: Ward is ready to be beaten; let him come to the UK to fight me

05/25/201305/25/2013 Michael Collins

It looks like if WBA super middleweight champion Andre Ward (26-0, 14 KO’s) wants a rematch with IBF/WBA super middleweight champion Carl Froch (31-2, 22 KO’s), then it’s going to have to be in the UK because Froch is making a big production about wanting the fight to take place there because Froch fought Ward in the United States two years ago in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Froch feels that this was a home fight for Ward, even though he comes from Oakland, California, which is 3000 miles away.

After tonight’s 12 round unanimous decision victory for Froch over WBA super middleweight champion Mikkel Kessler in London, UK, Froch said to Sky Sports “He [Ward] is there to be beaten, but not over in America. Let’s get him over here. I went over to America and now let’s get him over to England.”

Froch wants third fight with Kessler next, a tie-breaker

05/25/201305/25/2013 Rob Smith

Having beaten WBA super middleweight champion Mikkel Kessler (46-3, 35 KO’s) by a 12 round unanimous decision tonight to take his WBA 168 lb., the victorious IBF super middleweight champion Carl Froch (31-2, 22 KO’s) is kicking around the idea of fighting Kessler again in what would be a tie breaker.

Both fighters have one victory a piece in their two fights together, and a third bout between them would be one that would prove without a doubt who the better fighter is.

Froch said after the fight: “It’s one [victory] a piece. Who knows? You [Kessler] fancy a third one?”

Froch beats Kessler, avenges his previous loss

05/25/201305/25/2013 Rob Smith

IBF super middleweight champion Carl Froch (31-2, 22 KO’s) avenged his earlier defeat to WBA super middleweight champion Mikkel Kessler (46-3, 35 KO’s) by beating him by a 12 round unanimous decision tonight in front of a packed O2 Arena in London, England. Both fighters ended getting hurt with big shots before the fight was done, but in the end Froch did enough to win a 12 round unanimous decision.

After the fight Froch said “He was there to hurt me on a couple of occasions he did hurt me, but I hit him with the bigger shots and I was close to the knockout in the end. I’m really, really happy. I just kept at range with the jab all night long.”

Froch decisions Kessler

05/25/201305/25/2013 Michael Collins

IBF super middleweight champion Carl Froch (31-2, 22 KO’s) labored to a 12 round unanimous decision on Saturday night over WBA super middleweight champion Mikkel Kessler (46-3, 35 KO’s) at the O2 Arena in London, UK. The judges scored the fight 118-110, 116-112 and 115-113. The last score was the more accurate score compared to the other two.

Froch barely beat Kessler. Had Kessler won the 12th round, I would have scored it a draw. It was pretty sad scoring of the fight. Neither looked good. You can’t say Froch looked good because he spent the entire night missing punches and throwing a limp jab that would have been easily countered by a good fighter like Andre Ward.

Atlas picks Froch to beat Kessler

05/25/2013 Michael Collins

ESPN analyst Teddy Atlas is picking IBF super middleweight champion Carl Froch (30-2, 22 KO’s) to defeat WBA super middleweight champion Mikkel Kessler (46-2, 35 KO’s) in their fight tonight at the O2 Arena in London, UK.

Atlas’ reasons for going with Froch echo a lot of the same reasons others are picking Froch. He feels that Froch has improved considerably in the three years since he last fought Kessler in 2010, and sees him as a more confident fighter at this stage in his career despite being a year older than Kessler.

Mikkel Kessler vs. Carl Froch II: Expect a great fight!

05/24/2013 James Stillerman

The long awaited rematch between Mikkel “The Viking Warrior” Kessler (46-2, 35KOs) and Carl “The Cobra” Froch (30-2, 22KOs) will take place this Saturday, May 25th at the O2 Arena (Millennium Dome) in Greenwich, London, United Kingdom. The bout will be televised on HBO at 6:00p.m. ET and Kessler’s World Boxing Association World Title and Froch’s International Boxing Federation World Title will be on the line.

The last time these two men meet in the ring was in Herning, Demark, on April 24, 2010, as Kessler earned a hard fought 12 round unanimous decision during the Super Six Showtime Boxing Tournament by three scorecards of 117-111, 115-113 and 116-112. This was a great, competitive, back and forth bout in which both fighters had their moments. Kessler slightly outland and outpunch Froch, however, the fight was a bit closer than the scorecards indicated.

Froch vs. Kessler 2: Legacy and a date with the Legend of Longevity are on the line

05/24/201305/24/2013 Chris Carlson

Although few fighters if any can match the quality of opponent that Carl Froch has faced since his introduction to the big time in his 2008 fight with Jean Pascal, make no mistake about it, his legacy is on the line. Not only legacy but a fight with the legend of longevity Bernard Hopkins, is waiting in the wings in what would be a hall of fame sealer for Carl “The Cobra” Froch. There is only one problem. The Viking Warrior is standing in his way and Mikkel Kessler has plenty of skill along with grit to make his “Warrior Call” be heard to the roof tops of the O2 Arena in London. Another week, another 50-50 fight and win-win for boxing fans across the world.

According to the some betting lines Carl Froch ranges from an almost 2-1 favorite, all the way up to an astronomical 4-1 or 5-1 on a betting website in the U.K. Carl Froch has been the more active fighter since their fight in 2010, as well as facing the better opposition. Meanwhile, Mikkel Kessler was forced to take two separate breaks, one over a year and one almost a year, to heal his eye injuries that nearly forced him to retire from the sport. What if anything is different besides location from the first fight and will this fight play out in similar fashion?