By James Slater – It has been made official how the second “Super Six” semi-final, between WBC 168-pound champ Carl Froch and ageless wonder Glen Johnson, will go ahead on June 4th at Atlantic City, New Jersey. Originally looking like going ahead on May 21st, the new date will allow both fighters a little extra time in which to prepare for what could well be an extremely tough night’s work for both guys..
The first “Super Six” semi, between WBA champ Andre Ward and former middleweight boss Arthur Abraham will go ahead in Carson, California on May 14th. This fight, unlike, Froch-Johnson, has the look of a relatively easy fight to pick. Most fans feel the unbeaten Ward will have too much skill and class for the smaller Abraham. Abraham, of course, took a confidence-draining loss last time out, when he was all but shut-out by Froch in November of last year.
From an action standpoint, the June clash will in all likelihood be the better fight. Once again having to travel to fight, Froch – who has had just one of his last four fights in his home country – will return to the country that saw him come back from a points deficit and sensationally stop Jermain Taylor in the final seconds of the final round. Since then, Froch has scraped a points win over the tricky Andre Dirrell, lost a close decision to Mikkel Kessler and then schooled “King” Arthur. What will happen in the fight with the teak-tough “Road Warrior?”
Johnson may be 42 to Froch’s 33, but in his last fight, in what was his “Super Six” debut, Johnson smashed Allan Green to 8th-round TKO defeat. Froch knows he has a hard night ahead of him, as does the Jamaican warrior. “The Cobra” said he will see to it that his rival will not be able to get past his long left jab. Johnson no doubt envisages his getting on the inside and turning the fight into a battle of attrition. This one may well come down to which fighter it is who is able to dictate tactics.
Froch can box when he wants to, as he did against Abraham; but he can rumble with the best of them also. Johnson knows all the tricks in the book having been around as long as he has, and nobody needs to be reminded of his physical and mental strength.
Froch had hoped to get the fight at home, but instead he must now prepare himself for a war at Atlantic City.