25.11.06 – By James Slater: Carl “The Cobra” Froch, the unbeaten super middleweight sensation, dramatically finished off bitter rival Tony Dodson last night. Prompting the challenger of his British 168 pound championship to raise his arms to protect his chin with a cracking right uppercut, Froch finished the job in style with a wicked left to the body. Dodson hit the canvas in great pain and had absolutely no chance at beating the count. Now the holder of a Lonsdale belt for the rest of his life, Carl is anxious to move further up in class. Indeed, during the post-fight interview conducted by Sky Sports television, Froch mentioned both Mikkel Kessler and Joe Calzaghe as prospective future opponents.
Carl’s promoter, Mick Hennessey, went further when discussing Calzaghe, however. Stating boldly that his man is the number one super middleweight in the world, Hennessey claimed Froch is clearly the man Joe should be fighting.
No doubt many fans would agree with him. For sure, a Calzaghe – Froch fight would be a better match-up than what we are getting next March – when Joe defends against Contender star Peter Manfredo. The question is, is Froch capable of doing what he himself has claimed he is on many occasions; beating the long reigning champ from Wales?
The fight would be a huge attraction in Britain, with a sell-out crowd pretty much guaranteed. Many would most possibly be present to see the vocal and full of himself Froch get knocked down to size. While the large number of fans “The Cobra” has would be full of confidence that their fighter would become the very first to defeat Joe. Both men have proven chins, genuine punching power and fast hands. However, both boxers have also been guilty of dropping their hands in recent fights. In fact, Carl seems to have a strange disdain for the basic rudiments of defence, at least in the manner of a high and tight guard.
For yet another bout, Froch’s hands were held extremely low last night. Yet once more he wasn’t made to pay for adopting such tactics, as he easily took everything Dodson threw at him before ending the short fight in style. Will his lack of an adequate defence one day catch up with “The Cobra?” He certainly seems hell-bent on tempting fate nearly every time out. If he does the same thing when he’s in there with Calzaghe he may live to regret it. Then again, Joe was guilty of the same dangerous habit in his last fight, against the tough Sakio Bika. Surely, if both men offer one another such inviting openings if and when they do actually meet, someone’s going to get knocked out.
Although Joe has his southpaw stance as a possible advantage, Carl has a more than unorthodox technique of his own with which to combat boxing’s most loathed fighting style. Also much the younger man at twenty-nine, Carl may be the guy to take over from the long reigning thirty-four year old. All great things must come to an end eventually and it just might be that Carl
“The Cobra” Froch catches up with “The Pride Of Wales” at exactly the right time to finish his career. Judging by his impressive display last night, Froch is ready for Calzaghe right now!