22.04.05 – Nottingham’s British and Commonwealth super middleweight champion Carl Froch made a sensational US debut on Thursday night in the headline event of a live HBO Latino broadcast by stopping the highly respected Costa Rican Henry Porras in eight rounds at the Avalon venue in Hollywood.
Many had predicted a tough nights work for ‘The Cobra’. Porras is a top line operator, as his WBC #11 rating underlines, with a track record of holding his own against the world’s best including Danilo Haussler, Mikkel Kessler and most recently Otis Grant.
Froch, in just his 15th fight, outperformed them all to complete his progression from hottest prospect in world boxing to hottest property..
Despite starting this ten rounder cautiously after seven months out of the ring, finding his range with a stinging jab, the 27-year-old almost brought matters to a conclusion at the end of the very first round with a big right hand.
The bell, however, saved his Costa Rican opponent who returned to his corner on shaky legs. Porras used all of his Championship experience to recover in time for the second, but from then on it was only going to be a matter of time.
Froch oozed class as he landed repeatedly with heavy shots from both hands. His stride was checked when he damaged his right hand in the fourth, but only temporarily.
Even though he couldn’t put everything into his punches from his right hand he still continued to dominate, to the extent where he prompted the referee to intervene in the seventh. In the end it was left up to Porras’ corner to rescue their man with the towel coming in midway through the eighth.
“I said I was going to make America sit up and take notice and I have done just that,” Froch said afterwards.
“I would have stopped him earlier had my hand not gone and if the referee had intervened at the right time, but I am still delighted with my performance.
“I started a bit cagily having been out since September, but as soon as I found my range we both knew it was all over.”
Froch’s promoter Mick Hennessy was understandably delighted.
He said: “I am very proud of Carl, as I’m sure all the British fans who were here tonight are. It was great to see the Union Jack out in force.
“Alongside Junior Witter, Carl is flying the flag for British boxing on the American stage.
“The American’s who have seen him already love him, including the large number of Latino fans that were shouting his name tonight.
“Given the layoff and hand problem, that was Carl at 70%. Anybody who gets in with him when he is 100% is in a lot of trouble.
“He has done a better job on Porras tonight than anyone, including Kessler, who in my opinion was fortunate to earn a ninth round stoppage.
“And when was the last time Joe Calzaghe did anything like this?
“Any talk he had of Carl not being good enough to fight him is well and truly over now.
“This victory puts Carl up there with the world’s best, as the WBC should reflect in their next rankings.”
Hennessy added: “This scintillating performance makes a mockery of the BBC’s decision to pull out of boxing.
“We have a potential superstar on our hands here.
“As an amateur the BBC showed Carl winning two ABA titles and becoming the first ever English fighter to win a medal at the world senior Championships.
“They then followed his professional career from day one, featuring all fourteen of his previous fights.
“To stop now, just as Carl – who has never let anyone down – arrives on the genuine world scene is beyond belief.
“Particularly as their initial intention was to show fighters they had monitored from an embryonic stage treading the traditional title path, progressing from amateur to professional champion.”