Carl Froch represents everything that fans typically admire in a boxer. He can fight, he can punch, he can take a hell of shot, he can brawl, he is not afraid to let his hands go, and his fights are usually of a very entertaining variety. Additionally, he is a proven warrior who consistently challenges himself against the very best in the world. He is, quite literally, ready to fight anyone anywhere. The Cobra is also an extremely dedicated and incredibly well conditioned athlete. Most importantly perhaps, however, he always gives it absolutely everything he has. All of this was on full display when Froch defeated Mikkel Kessler by unanimous decision, reversing the outcome from their first bout three years ago when Kessler beat Froch in Group Stage 2 of the Super Six Boxing Classic. Just like last time, Kessler and Froch once again both put on an amazing show, with each combatant exhibiting good punching power, a solid chin, and tremendous courage amid heated back and forth action. Froch steadily outworked Kessler over the long haul and was able to control a lot of the activity with his effective rangy jab. Carl and Mikkel have now won one apiece, each man holding a victory on his home turf, and each man having once traveled to the other’s backyard.
Month: May 2013
Ward open to fighting Froch in the UK
WBA super middleweight champion super middleweight champion Andre Ward says he’s open to a rematch with IBF super middleweight champion Carl Froch this year, whether in the UK or the United States, as long as Froch’s promoter Eddie Hearn shows him how badly he wants to make that fight happen.
Ward said to HBO: “At this point in my career I’m open to any fight that makes sense. A rematch makes sense. I don’t know if it’s going to be in the UK or the United States, but Froch’s promoter needs to show how bad he wants it. He [Froch] has a big fan base here, but he has to understand that I don’t have to come here. If I come here it’s because I want to reward the UK fans. He’s come off two big wins over Lucian Bute and Mikkel Kessler.
Analysing the career of Chris Eubank
By Matthew Mellan: Chris Eubank Sr, from the fighting Eubank family – that includes elder twin brothers Peter and Simon, cousins Bobbie Joe Edwards and Frank, and sons Chris Jr and Sebastian – was one of the most successful non-U.S. fighters in the history of the sport of boxing.
The first time I remember watching Eubank fight was as a teenaged, Bronx-based Englishman taking on teak-tough Eric Holland on SportsChannel America in what was the pro debut for ‘The Rock’ Holland and also the first and last time he would ever go down – in the gym, amateurs or 59 pro outings; Eubank knocked him down in the 4th round of a four-round boxing masterclass in which he jabbed his opponents face off (not literally), moved nicely and flurried nicely.
Froch wants third fight with Kessler next, a tie-breaker
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
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
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.
Groves wants Froch-Kessler winner
Undefeated George Groves staked his claim to the winner of tonight’s fight between Carl Froch and Mikkel Kessler by destroying #11 WBC super middleweight contender Noe Gonzalez by an impressive 5th round TKO. Groves landed a booming right hand to knock Gonzalez out.
Atlas picks Froch to beat Kessler
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.
Froch maybe favourite but Kessler has a bigger point to prove
Conventional boxing wisdom seems to dictate that Carl Froch will tonight avenge his 2010 defeat to Mikkel Kessler in their much-anticipated rematch in London.
Froch, who still disputes his loss on Danish soil, insists if their first bout had been on home territory, he too may have been seen to have eked out a narrow victory akin to Kessler’s in Copenhagen. I respectfully disagree.
What is undeniable however is that the first clash between Froch and Kessler was a certifiable classic, boasting one of the most fervid and frantic 12th rounds in recent boxing memory. While there are those who evidently doubt Kessler’s ability to win a second bout, there are few who doubt the rematch will pick up right from where the first fight left off, in impassioned fashion.
Mikkel Kessler vs. Carl Froch II: Expect a great fight!
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.