By James Slater: There is a chance the number could increase to three this coming Saturday night when Junior Witter takes on the unbeaten Devon Alexander for the WBC light-welterweight title, but at the moment Great Britain has just two reigning world champions – WBC super-middleweight champion Carl Froch and WBA light-welterweight ruler Amir Khan.
It’s a pretty poor showing compared to times gone by, when the UK had many more world champions atop the boxing world, but Khan and Froch are two talented and exciting fighters all the same. Both big fans of the other, there is no rivalry or sense of jealousy aimed at one another, but who is the better fighter, Froch or Khan? And more importantly, which of the two men has the better chance of keeping their world title in the coming months, if not years?
Due to the way he was starched in less than a minute by Breidis Prescott in his sole loss, Khan initially jumps out as the lesser fighter of the two men. Froch is unbeaten and he has proven his iron jaw a number of times. However, an unbeaten record and a fine chin are not the only ingredients needed to make a great fighter. Few would argue how Khan is a superior boxer to “The Cobra,” a man the critics have called clumsy and amateurish. That accusation could never be thrown the 22-year-old’s way. Chinny, he may be, but Khan is a superb boxer with fast hands and admirable skills.
When it comes to quality of opposition, Froch has the edge. Jean Pascal is an underrated fighter who the 32-year-old has seen off, while Froch’s incredible last-round KO of Jermain Taylor in America rightfully earned him much praise. Andreas Kotelnik aside, it could be argued how Khan has yet to take on such world class opposition (a faded Marco Antonio Barrera doesn’t count).
Both men have potentially bright futures. Khan, fighting as he is in the talent-rich 140-pound division, will have no shortage of top names to get it on with in the coming days. The problem may be regarding whether or not Khan can beat the likes of Juan Manuel Marquez (a fighter Khan has spoken about wanting to fight a number of times), Dmitriy Salita and even Ricky Hatton – even with new trainer Freddie Roach teaching him more and more about the defensive side of the sport. It sure is going to be fun finding out though.
Froch, too, will be in the thick of it soon. Bravely and sensibly taking part in the Showtime-devised Super-Six tournament that will throw together six of the world’s best 168-pound fighters, Froch will soon be engaging in potential classics against the likes of Mikkel Kessler and Arthur Abraham (who will be boxing for the first time as a 168-pounder in October, against Froch’s old foe Taylor). If these aren’t fights Froch’s UK fans can get excited about then what are?
Again, though, despite his calendar being filled with more than enough worthy match-ups, the main problem for Froch will be keeping his perfect record. Will both he and Khan still be world champions this time next year? I’d say Khan – who will likely be able to pick his fights a whole lot easier – has the better chance of the two. But also again, it’s going to be fun finding out.
The UK has two potentially great fighters to be proud of right now, and both men have exciting futures ahead of them. For however long they stay where they are, it is to be hoped the British fans get behind the two men.