Nottingham’s Carl ‘the cobra’ Froch will be proudly visiting the Nottingham Forest city ground this coming Saturday and will be taking a special guest along – his 10 week old son Rocco. Froch’s little fighter will also be presented with his own personalised Nottingham Forest football kit when the pair appear in-store between 12pm – 1pm on Saturday and his doting father is looking forward to the occasion..
“I’m very proud of my Nottingham roots and to be invited down to the City ground with my little boy, to be kitted out with his own Nottingham Forest outfit will be a very special moment for me.” said Froch who is currently in training for his Super Six showdown with Arthur Abraham in Monaco** on October 2nd.
“Rocco’s mum is from Liverpool, but despite the great teams that she has up in her neck of the woods, nobody has emulated what the great Brian Clough did with Forest!” said Froch. “As a manager he was pound for pound, the best in this country during his peak.”
“Whilst Forest isn’t in the top flight right now, we’re in safe hands and hopefully Rocco will soon be watching his team get back to where they belong, the premier league. As a father, taking his boy to the football is a great moment for me. I come from a close family and look forward to me and my brothers taking the kids down to cheer Forest on in years to come. It’s the little things like this in life that I really enjoy and I am looking forward to it.”
Sarah Kirk, Store Manager at the City Ground said, “We are thrilled to have Carl Froch appearing at the brand new Nottingham Forest store at the City Ground on Saturday before the Forest vs. Norwich City match. He will be in store between 12-1pm and fans are welcome to come and meet him and have their picture taken with the UK’s top boxing star, and of course visit the new state of the art store, where new products are arriving every day including replica kit, training, men’s, ladies, kids and baby fashion.”
Carl will also been joined at the store between 1-2pm by former England and Forest midfielder Steve Hodge who will be signing copies of his new book “Man with the Maradona Shirt”.
Nottingham Forest main sponsor ‘Victor Chandler’ will be presenting Carl with a £250 bet with odds at 100-1 on whether Rocco Froch eventually plays for the club. Carl will gracefully donate this charity bet to the E39 Ward at the Queens Medical Centre in Nottingham. Forest fans will also have the opportunity to donate to charity, with a potential to win some cash in years to come.
Froch, who is currently training at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield under trainer Robert McCracken, will also be making an appearance on the pitch at half time. “It would be a dream if Rocco turned out for Forest one day. He’s got his mum’s good looks and so long as he hasn’t inherited my first touch of the ball, it could be a reality! I’ll be happy with whatever career my son follows in life, but being a professional footballer is a fantastic lifestyle – and certainly beats getting thumped for your wages !” joked Froch.
To pre-register your interest for Froch vs. Abraham
ticket and travel packages, please go to www.hennessysports.com/ticketupdate.htm.
The Nottingham Forest club store at The City Ground has undergone a major overhaul to offer Forest fans a truly unique shopping experience. The new store is 200% bigger and offers exciting new product ranges including all home, away and training kits, a variety of fantastic fashion lines and souvenirs and a heritage and memorabilia display area. Fans can also see a complete range of exclusive and authentic Forest merchandise at the all new online store at www.nottinghamforestdirect.com.
Address: Nottingham Forest Club Shop, the City Ground, NG2 5FJ.
LINDSAY WARY OF SOUTHPAW CHALLENGE
Lindsay not overlooking “The Silent Danger”
Belfast’s Martin Lindsay may not be in title action on September 11th but the British featherweight champion faces a dangerous assignment none the less.
Lindsay (16-0-0) takes on former WBF Intercontinental champion David Kiilu in an eight round contest on the undercard of Jason Booth’s challenge to IBF champion Steve Molitor.
Kiilu, 37, has won his last three fights by stoppage and despite his age is a dangerous puncher with 19 wins inside the distance.
The Kenyan is no stranger to Britain having suffered defeat at the hands of Nicky Cook, Choi Tseveenpurev and Rendall Munroe back in 2004.
The fight will represent the first time Lindsay has faced a fellow southpaw since turning professional six years ago:
“I haven’t boxed any as a professional yet but I have boxed a few in the amateurs.” The 28 year old explained.
“Some of them can be very awkward and can make you look a bit clumsy but at the end of the day you have to expect things like that and you just have to keep your head down and stay focused, try and get your shots off and not be worried about him.”
After an impressive performance against the durable and brave Welshman Jamie Arthur back in March, Lindsay finds himself in the mix for a shot at European honours, something that both the fighter and promoter Frank Maloney believe is the next step on the ladder. He explained:
“The EBU have me ranked number one so sometime in the not too distant future I want to be challenging for the European title.”
Maloney added: “Steven Smith and John Simpson fight on September 4th and Martin will box the winner of that with the purse bids ordered by BBB of C for next week. After that we will be looking for the European crown.”
The fight is scheduled for eight rounds, which is a shorter distance than the championship norm of twelve, but the Belfast southpaw has pointed out that this will not affect the way in which he is preparing for the fight:
“4-6 rounds is a different sort of fight and you need to prepare different but 8-12 is not so much of a sprint so I wont be changing too much in my way of preparation.
“I’ve already managed about 50 to 60 rounds of sparring since I returned from my holidays at the end of July. We have got a southpaw in the club at the moment for the first time in a long time so it’s been good practice.”
The bout will provide chief support to the world title fight between Molitor and Booth which is held at the Rainton Meadows Arena in Sunderland on September 11th.
The undercard will feature local boxing talent including Kirk Goodings (4-0), Martin Ward (8-0) and George Watson (8-1-2) as well as debutant Glen Foot.
Olympic Bronze Medallist and super middleweight prospect Tony Jeffries (7-0-1) will also be appearing.
Tickets are available from 08712261508, 0191 564 0202 or www.frankmaloney.com. Ringside £95 or unreserved £35.
TRAVIS WANTS GROVES THREESOME
TRAVIS DICKINSON wants to sock it to George Groves by scoring a hat-trick against the Commonwealth super-middleweight champion.
The unbeaten Durham fighter beat Groves twice as an amateur, including a Junior ABA final win by first round KO.
Dickinson (6-0) is making great progress as a professional and boxes at Houghton-le-Spring’s Rainton Meadows Arena on Saturday September 11 when he faces Welsh champion Shon Davies (7-6)
The six-rounder takes place on the undercard of Jason Booth’s challenge for Steve Molitor’s IBF super-bantamweight title.
Dickinson, 22, has already mixed in good company and defeated recent Prizefighter winner Patrick Mendys on his debut in March 2009.
He said: “My first aim is a British title and of course another clash against George would be fantastic. He is really going well.”
Travis vividly remembers his 2006 KO of Groves adding: “I can hit with both hands; I dropped him with the right and then when he got up I finished him with the left hook. His legs were all over the place from the first knockdown.
“He wasn’t the most skilful, but he was always strong for his age.”
Promoter Frank Maloney believes a Groves showdown will take place next year and added: “I have a working relationship with Groves’s manager Adam Booth and next year I don’t think it will be hard to make.
“It would be a brutal battle, both of them storm forward and give it their all. Fans and TV viewers will love it.”
In the chief supporting bout to Molitor-Booth, British featherweight champion Martin Lindsay (16-0) boxes a non-title bout.
Local stars in action include Olympic bronze medallist Tony Jeffries (7-0-1), Travis’s older brother Jon Lewis Dickinson (8-1), Trevor Crewe (2-2), Gary Fox (2-0), Kirk Goodings (4-0), Martin Ward (8-0), George Watson (8-1-2), and debutant Glen Foot.
Tickets for the massive night of action are available from 0871 226 1508, 0191 564 0202 or www.frankmaloney.com. VIP Ringside are £95 with the rest a bargain £35. Get yours in advance for a show that looks certain to sell out.
Hot Prospect Tyler Goodjohn set for Pro Debut on 10th September
LONDON (24th August) Haddenham’s Tyler Goodjohn is set to turn his back on his amateur career and make his professional debut on the undercard of the exciting “Night of International Boxing” promoted by Hennessy Sports at York Hall, Bethnal Green on Friday 10th September.
The co – feature fights involving two of the UK and Ireland’s very best boxers, John O’Donnell who is taking on Olympic Bronze Medalist American Terrence Cauthen over 12 rounds and Tyson Fury who will be fighting over 10 rounds will be televised in America on SHOWTIME® at 11p.m. ET/PT (same day delay). The event will also be shown in Canada on the Super Channel Network and the UK Broadcaster will be announced soon.
The 19 year old former Junior ABA champion made the decision a while ago to turn pro after a debatable decision in the quarter finals of the ABA’s went against him. So earlier this year he joined European Champion Darren Barker, Southern Area Champion Lee Purdy and hot prospect Bradley Evans by joining up with highly respected trainer, Hainault’s Tony Sims.
Trainer Tony Sims said “The lad is only 19 years old and has a lot to learn but he’s already showing true dedication and commitment by doing a 3 ½ hour round trip a day just to get to the gym. But then again when you think he’s training and sparring with the likes of John O’Donnell, Lenny Daws and Lee Purdy it makes the travelling worthwhile and can only have a positive effect on his future.”
Tyler Goodjohn said “It’s always been in the pipe line for me to turn pro and that decision was made even easier when I teamed up with Tony Sims, he’s not only a top bloke but also a fantastic trainer who has already taught me so much in the last 6 months. It also helps when you train with guys like Darren Barker, Lee Purdy and Bradley Evans. All of this experience can only make me become a better boxer and seeing what Darren has achieved inspires me to work hard and follow in his footsteps.”
“I will be bringing a good crowd with me to York Hall and hopefully I will reward them by put on an exciting show and recording my first win.” Added Goodjohn.
The exciting “Night of International Boxing” will also see Colchester’s Lee “Lights Out” Purdy who will be back in action looking to defend his Southern Area Welterweight title (*subject to board approval), Royston’s former ABA Champion Bradley Evans is stepping up to 6 x 3 minutes rounds for the first time in his pro career, Phill “Intense” Fury will be looking to record his 6th straight victory and the highly popular Light Welterweight Chris “the flash” Evangelou from Enfield will be looking to entertain the York Hall crowd and extend his unbeaten record.
John “Gorilla” Ryder (Middleweight) of Islington will also be making his professional debut on the night.
Tickets for this great night of international boxing are ON SALE NOW and can be purchased from the Ticketline Box Office on 0844 888 4402 or via www.hennessysports.com. Tickets are £35 for unreserved seats and £60 for Ringside.