World Boxing Council (WBC) Super Middleweight Champion Carl “The Cobra” Froch, Glen “The Road Warrior” Johnson and promoter Lou DiBella held an international media conference call on Wednesday to discuss their upcoming Semifinal bout in the Super Six World Boxing Classic on Saturday, June 4, LIVE on SHOWTIME® at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) from Adrian Phillips Ballroom at Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J.
Froch (27-1, 20 KOs) will defend his World Boxing Council (WBC) title against Johnson (51-14-2, 35 KOs), a former world champion. The Froch-Johnson winner will advance to the tournament Final to face World Boxing Association (WBA) champion Andre Ward, who secured a Final berth with a dominating victory over Arthur Abraham on May 14 in the other Semifinal bout.
The tournament champion earns the inaugural Super Six World Boxing Classic Cup and global recognition as the world’s No. 1 168-pound fighter.
The event is co-promoted by DiBella Entertainment, Warriors Boxing and Carl Froch.
Here is what the principals had to say on Wednesday.
CARL FROCH:
“I’m in great shape and have been in New York for the better part of two weeks which should give me plenty of time to get acclimated to this fight. It’s quite hot and humid but it’s the same in England. I should be getting the time difference out of my system here over the next few days and just look forward to the fight next week. I can’t wait to put on a great show in the Super Six Semifinals.
“As far as I’m concerned I’m an unbeaten fighter coming into this fight. I still consider myself unbeaten. That loss (against Mikkel Kessler) was maybe a little injection or a kick in the ass, whatever you want to call it, to get me back to where I was when I became champion against Jean Pascal when he was firing on all cylinders because he didn’t look like he was the other night. He let that fight slip away from him (against Bernard Hopkins) and didn’t seem to be in condition. Since that fight (against Pascal) I’ve only fought against top opposition: Jermain Taylor, Andre Dirrell, Mikkel Kessler, Arthur Abraham and now Glen Johnson.
“I come into this fight very, very confident and very strong. I’m in my prime. I’m 33 years old and fitter than I’ve ever been. I’m quite meticulous and a perfectionist about my workouts and training regime. I’m hitting times on my runs that I was hitting when I was 26, 27 years old. I’m doing the same amount of push-ups and sit-ups and pull-ups all in the time frame. I’m just feeling really, really fit and like I did when I fought Arthur Abraham. Never mind 12 rounds I can go 25 rounds right now. That’s how great I feel. I’m looking forward to this fight and I’m looking forward to putting a show on.”
You’ve had three fights and Green slipped in with one against a substitute fighter in the Super Six. Do you think that will make a difference in this fight?
“I’ve had three fights but I made easy work of two of them. I made easy work of Andre Dirrell. I’ve done more damage shaving myself than what Andre Dirrell did. And against Arthur Abraham I made easy work of that. I mean the only fight that was hard work was the Mikkel Kessler fight and that was my own fault. I stood in front of him for four or five rounds and made a fight of it which I shouldn’t have done and there’s reasons why I did that. I don’t think we should worry about how we got to this stage of the Super Six but the fact is we are here and in the Semifinals and I’m sure it means just as much to Glen as it means to me and it’s just as important to him. So we’ll forget about the past and worry about the here and now.
“I don’t want to talk too much tactics but the plan is always to hit and not get hit. The one thing about Glen Johnson is I don’t think I’ll have to go looking for him. I don’t think he’s going to be on his back foot looking to jab and pick me off. He doesn’t have the speed or the skill to match me. So he’s going to come straight ahead.”
What do you think about Andre Ward?
“He’s got some skills. He’s an Olympic gold medalist but having that doesn’t win world titles all the time and we’ve seen that recently. These top amateurs don’t always make top pros. He’s obviously won some great fights and he beat Mikkel Kessler which is a fighter I was close to so he’s got that. But other than that if you look at his record I haven’t been too impressed with him as far as who he’s fought or how he’s won. Ward’s definitely a threat and someone I have to take seriously but I know I can beat Ward. One thing he’s lacking is punching power and that’s a big factor in the professional ring.”
Will you be boxing Johnson or will you be looking to use your power punches?
“I’ll do a little bit of both. I’ll box around him and jab, chop, jab, chop with a lot of combinations. I don’t think it would be wise for him to sit in front of me for too long. If he walks into me he’s going to be taking on some shots. We’ll see how much the referee thinks he can take. It’s going to be brutal if he keeps walking forward and taking shots. He’s only had one fight at super middleweight and that was against Allan Green who is not a super middleweight, he’s too tall and too big. I watched that fight and Allan Green was dead from round two and three and he managed to take Glen to eight rounds. I’m going to be fresh and fit and strong and powerful with fast combinations from round one to round 12. I really wish this fight was 15 rounds.
“I think I’ll get my vengeance against Glen Johnson. He’s a great fighter and a war horse and I won’t disrespect him. He really knows what he’s doing but I would have rather fought Mikkel Kessler just purely for the revenge. I’m a warrior myself. It’s a big thing for me to have lost that fight against Mikkel Kessler because I’m serious about this business and that blemish on my record, I’d love to get that corrected before I retire. Someday after I hang them up I want to be able to say I lost that decision to Kessler but I won it back. I’ve avenged that defeat. I think if he fights (Lucian) Bute in Montreal he’ll lose but if he gets it in Denmark I think he’ll win so let’s hope he gets that fight in Denmark.
“The final person to hold the Super Six Cup will have withstood the test of time. This tournament has given boxing fans and the press a lot to talk about and has given us a lot of fights that might not have happened. So it’s been a great thing. There’s been some negative things but all that negativity is totally unnecessary. It’s been a fantastic tournament with some top-level fights and fights that would not have happened. Big accolades have to go to Ken Hershman and all of the promoters and Lou DiBella who has had three fighters in this tournament.”
GLEN JOHNSON:
How you fought any one in your career style-wise like Carl Froch?
“Not really. He’s a tall guy that really kind of fights short sometimes. But in his last fight he actually fought tall and used his reach and boxed the way he’s supposed to box and the way he’s built to box. I’ve boxed tall guys before but never guys who have scrunched down and tried to be a short guy. But we are prepared for either style that he shows and we’re looking forward to an exciting fight.
“My advantage is being Glen Johnson. I think I know boxing inside and out. I’m going to go in there confident and use my skills to my potential and you’ll see me come out victorious. Carl Froch is a great fighter and I have no disrespect toward him. This is a business and I’m going in there to win the fight. All the talk and all the other stuff goes out the window. This is for all the marbles so we’re going in there to win the fight.
“I wish I would have listened to my manager a long time ago and gone down there (to super middleweight) sooner. But I think things happen for a reason. I’m just really, really excited for this opportunity.”
Why did you resist your manager?
“The main reason is that I didn’t think I would be able to maintain that weight. I always felt like super middleweight wasn’t who I was and I didn’t want to put the strain on to make that weight.
“I’m not concerning myself too much with what Carl Froch’s plan is or what he’s going to do to be honest with you. I’m more concerned with what I’m going to do. I’m focused on my game plan and what I have to do. I have a winning formula and I don’t think Carl Froch is the one who can tell me different.”
Are you approaching this fight like a last-chance fight?
“I definitely feel a little bit of urgency for this fight. I mean, I’m not getting any younger. I’m not going to take any fight for granted. I know I have a lot of skills and talent left in me and I’m looking forward to showing that to the people. I’m here to show the people what I can still do and want to walk away from this tournament being the champion. I know there are people still skeptical about what I can do at my age but I actually get excited when people mention my age and focus on my age because that means they are not focused on my skills and what I bring to the table.”
Did Hopkins’ win over the weekend give you some inspiration?
“(Laughing) Bernard fought a wonderful fight and congratulations to him for the win. I knew he was definitely going to win the fight but I didn’t know if he was going to get a decision. Kudos to him. He’s definitely an inspiration to us old guys.”
Do you think you’ll get a rematch with him?
“I don’t know. I want it. I don’t know if Bernard wants it though. I just have to take it one fight at a time and not be the problem and we’ll see what happens.”
LOU DiBELLA:
“I think we have a terrific fight ahead of us. Carl Froch is a tremendously exciting champion and has only been in good fights and the same could be said of Glen Johnson.
“I think Carl Froch is one of the most under appreciated champions in the world. He’s a tremendous talent and has great flair in the ring and a lot of pizzazz outside of it. I’m just a big fan of Carl Froch.
“As many have said before if you don’t like Glen Johnson then you don’t like boxing. I think he’s one of the most widely respected fighters in the game. There’s not another fighter in the game who doesn’t respect Glen Johnson. He’s a road warrior who’s once again on the road in New Jersey. You never know what an old mad can do which is what Bernard Hopkins just showed.”
FERRANTE TOPS IMPRESSIVE UNDERCARD AT ROUND 3 FRIDAY JUNE 3RD
CHESTER, PA (May 25, 2011)—On Friday night June 3rd at Harrah’s in Chester, Joey Eye Boxing along with David Feldman will present ROUND 3 that will be headlined by a six round Lightweight scrap between Philadelphian’s Victor Vasquez and Gutavo Daily.
Fans in attendance will be treated to a six bout undercard that will feature some of the most popular and up and coming talent in the Philadelphia.
Topping the undercard will be popular Light Heavyweight Tony Ferrante of Northeast Philadelphia taking part in a six round bout against Joe Park of Florence, South Carolina.
Ferrante, 26 years old, won his first nine bouts which included wins over Anthony Pietrantonio (6-1) and he won the WBF United States title with a eight round majority decision over Billy Bailey.
Ferrante lost that title when he dropped a ten round unanimous decision to Chuck Mussachio (15-1-2).
Ferrante will be looking to get back in the win column after he was stopped in three rounds to undefeated Ronson Frank (15-0) on January 28th
The Thirty-seven year old Park of Florence, South Carolina has a respectable record of 8-5 with six knockouts and will be a good test for Ferrante as he has fought some top prospects.
Park won his first four bouts via stoppage before dropping an eight round unanimous decision to undefeated Shane Benefield (11-0).
After three more wins, Park lost to former world title challenger LaJuan Simon (13-0-2).
Park has also fought Marcus Upshaw (3-0) and his last bout came against undefeated knockout artist Jason Escalera (5-0) where Park was stopped in three rounds back on June 25th, 2009.
In a four round Lightweight bout, undefeated Lightweight Angel Ocasio will see action against Randolph Scott.
Ocasio, twenty-one years old of Philadelphia, has a record of 4-0 with one knockout is coming off an impressive four round unanimous decision over George Santiago as part of ROUND 2 that took place on March 18th at Harrah’s in Chester.
Besides his exciting style, Ocasio brings a rabid fan base that has supported him emphatically through his first four bouts
Scott, twenty-seven of Sailsbury, Maryland has a record of 0-3 and is coming off a six round unanimous decision to Jamie Palma (13-13-1) on May 9, 2009.
Twenty-two year old undefeated Middleweight Rashad Brown (3-0, 1 KO) of Philadelphia will battle Phillip Burnette (2-2, 1 KO) of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Brown will making his first start in his home state after three straight wins in Atlantic City.
In his last outing, Brown stopped undefeated Darryl Parker (2-0) on March 26th as part of the Yuriorkis Gamboa – Jorge Solis world Featherweight title card.
Burnette, twenty-six, will be looking for his third straight win as he is coming off a unanimous decision victory over experienced William Wilson (8-6) on February 18th.
Part of the “Delaware’s First Family of Boxing”, Super Featherweight Joey Tiberi (3-1, 3 KO’s) will be looking to thrill his fans when he battles Jonathan Ocassio (0-7) of Philadelphia in a bout scheduled for four rounds.
After his scintillating pro debut knockout as part of ROUND 2 in March, Super Middleweight Fred “Freddy J” Jenkins Jr. of Philadelphia will take on six fight vet Corey Preston.
The twenty-four year old Jenkins, who is the son of longtime and well known Philadelphia trainer Fred Jenkins, looked explosive in taking out Scott Brunner in two rounds on March 18th.
Preston, 1-5 of North Carolina has been in with tough competition and Jenkins will be the fourth undefeated fighter that he has faced.
Rounding out the card will be the pro debut of Lightweight Naim Nelson taking on Kywame Hill.
Both Nelson and Hill are from Philadelphia so bragging rights will be at stake.
Hill has a record of 1-7 but the combined record of the thirty-three year old is 21-3-3.
The fights will be recorded for a tape delay broadcast by www.gfl.tv
THERE WILL BE A PRESS CONFERENCE AT LOU TURK’S—500 POWHATTEN AVE. IN ESSINGTON, PA ON WEDNESDAY JUNE 1st at 7pm
THE WEIGH IN WILL TAKE PLACE ON THURSDAY NIGHT JUNE 2nd at 6pm AT LOU TURK’S
BOTH EVENTS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Tickets are now on sale for $100 (VIP); $60 (Ringside) and $45 (General Admission) and can be purchased at the Harrahs Chester Gift Shop; By calling Joey Eye (267-304-9399); David Feldman (610-291-0806); 800-480-8020 or on www.webtix.net
WBC News
May 25, 2011 – Mexico City. From WBC President Dr. José Sulaimán: The Federation of Boxing Commissions (FECOMBOX), through its President Carlos Gonzalez Hinojosa, based on the unquestionable unity and reciprocity that there is between all the boxing commissions of the Mexican Republic, notified the President of the Boxing Commission of Tijuana, as well as Licenciado Aldrete and Licenciado Wilhelmy, affiliated to FECOMBOX, and also the WBC, about the fight between Omar Chavez and Genaro Trazancos, scheduled to be held this Saturday, and the health risk that is being run by Trazancos after his long series of losses and knockouts in the final part of his career.
Trazancos also violated the agreement of national boxing on not accepting bouts of Mexican fighters in the State of Arizona, due to the inhuman and discriminatory laws implemented by such State against Mexican and Latin American people. That means he absolutely ignored the humiliations and assassinations suffered by our people.
The WBC supports the information sent to our friends of that Honorable Commission of Tijuana and regrets that some Mexican promoters are resorting to agents of boxers who are mercenaries and “gym pirates” to contract rivals of Mexican fighters without considering that these rivals run a health danger and denigrate the honor and respect they must have to the fans of all the Mexican cities where fights like this one are held.
The WBC has already started a world campaign to eradicate from boxing all of those people that “steal” boxers of very low quality from gyms, without medical exams, without authorizations given by their boxing commissions, “pirates” of boxing who take boxers secretly in exchange for peanuts. It is intended to take care of the health of the boxers even more, and avoid that the fans off the world keep being swindled by these people who hold uneven fights with the only purpose of benefiting their boxers.