By James Slater: Former two-time WBC super-middleweight king Carl Froch gave a televised interview with Central Tonight this evening, in which he explained his comeback plans. Last seen losing a wide decision to the excellent Andre Ward in the long awaited “Super Six” grand final, “The Cobra” has had a good rest over Christmas and New Year but is back in the gym now.
Explaining how he feels he has “18 months to two years minimum” left in the sport, 34-year-old Froch appears as hungry as ever. The plan, Froch, 28-2(20) said, is for a May 5th ring return at The Nottingham Arena – “against a top-ten opponent, somebody sensible” – before a big, big fight at The City Stadium in the summer, “with a rematch against Mikkel Kessler or maybe a fight with IBF champion Lucian Bute.”
Froch said he’d love to fight at home twice in a row, and he said he is especially looking forward to fighting IBF 168-pound champ Bute and “putting a thrashing on him at home.”
Promoter Eddie Hearn has been working towards a two-fight deal with Bute, and it remains to be seen if this will come off. But Froch, as he said tonight, has plenty of big names to choose from. The teak-tough boxer/puncher certainly looked to be pushing himself in training in the footage that was shown on the news programme – even if this was his first real day back at work. Training alongside local firemen, Froch had his lungs tested as he wore a mask that restricted his breathing, the fighter pushing his cardio system on the treadmill.
Can “The Cobra” make it back to the top and enjoy a third reign as world champion? I certainly wouldn’t bet against it. Ward aside, I’d have to give Froch a great chance against any super-middleweight out there. It will be interesting to see which “sensible” top-ten ranked foe Froch and his team choose to face on May 5th.