09.11.07 – By Matthew Hurley: Carl Froch, 22-0 with 18 KOs turned back the challenge of former World Boxing Council champion Robin Reid, 39-6-1 with 27 KOs to retain his British super middleweight title at the Ice Arena in Nottingham, England. Reid’s corner halted the bout due to a shoulder injury at the end of the fifth round.
Froch, who is currently rated number two by the WBC, has been calling out undisputed super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe for some time now. Although he did recently offer praise to the champion before and after Calzaghe’s title unifying victory over Mikkel Kessler. But after defeating Reid, he is again calling out the champion.
“There are other fights out there,” he said after the fight, “but Joe Calzaghe is the big one for me. If he doesn’t move up to the light heavyweight division I’ll be knocking on his door saying we should get it on, even if it’s in Wales.”
Froch will most probably have to entertain himself with some of the other contenders in the division because Calzaghe seems intent on moving up to light heavyweight. His ideal opponent is Bernard Hopkins and the fight will probably be made, but knowing Hopkins tough negotiating tactics, particularly when purse parity becomes involved, there is a very good chance the bout may never come off. Other fighters include Clinton Woods or Kelly Pavlik, should Pavlik defeat Jermain Taylor in their rematch. Calzaghe has not expressed much interest in fighting Carl Froch, particularly at super middleweight. To that Froch has said he will gladly fight the Welshman at 175 pounds.
“The Calzaghe fight is the one I want,” he insists. “I’ll be happy to step up to light heavyweight if that’s what it takes.”
Froch then waved off a potential match with Mikkel Kessler, who remains a serious threat to anyone in the division and will probably only get better in the wake of his competitive loss to Calzaghe. “I’m not that interested in fighting Kessler at the moment. Joe Calzaghe is the big one. That’s big bucks.”
Reid’s problems began early when he was knocked to the mat in the second round. However, referee Dave Parris ruled the fall a push. In the third round Reid was again caught in a corner and this time legitimately knocked down. He went down again in the fifth rising at the count of nine. His corner then stepped in during the interim period between rounds, waving the fight off due to injury.