By James Slater – Carl Froch, now a three-time ruler at 168-pounds, has a bunch of potentially great fights out there for him right now. Not exactly rejuvenating his career with his awesomely-impressive 5-round destruction of Lucian Bute, Froch certainly gave his career a shot in the arm (indeed, a victorious Froch said post-fight on Saturday that he would have retired had he lost to the defending IBF king).
The future, which didn’t look anywhere near as bright after Froch lost to Andre Ward in the final of the “Super Six,” is exceptionally promising for “The Cobra..” On paper, Froch, 29-2(21) is contractually bound to give former champ Bute, 30-1(24) a return fight in Canada, but fans and experts everywhere are wondering whether the humbled southpaw will actually want a second fight. In light of how easily and badly he was manhandled, beaten up and stopped, why would Bute want a second fight?
Froch himself has told members of the media that he is somewhat concerned about Bute’s future, wondering if the beat-down he put on him will make him think about looking for the exit door. Without a doubt, it will take a huge slice of heart and desire for Bute to be able to get back to where he once was. Personally, and for what it’s worth, I think Bute would be foolish to head right into an immediate return with Froch – surely a confidence-building tune-up fight would be a far better idea?
But the future is all about Froch right now, and the Nottingham man who has, amazingly, fought eight consecutive world title fights and has ducked absolutely no-one, has no shortage of big names to choose from. Unbeaten Brit George Groves, who was at ringside on Saturday, has told Talk Sport that he feels he is ready to fight his countryman next, while former middleweight king Kelly Pavlik told Elie Seckbach that he would fight Froch “anywhere, as long as HBO or Showtime took the fight.”
Pavlik said he was not shocked when he heard that Froch had won, and he stated that Bute is known for having a none too great chin. “The Ghost” looked right into the camera as he talked with Seckbach, and he really looked to be genuinely up for the fight. “I beat him,” he stated flatly. This fight would be a massive event I’m sure, and unlike Groves – who needs more time to develop before he can think about going to war with as seasoned and as strong a fighter as Froch – Pavlik has the proven quality to be in with a real chance. At least the Pavlik of a couple of years ago would have had the necessary stuff to be capable of giving Froch a hard night; today’s version, campaigning as he has for just a couple of fights at 168, would surely enter the ring as a considerable underdog.
But whoever Froch fights next, it will be one hot ticket. The Ward loss aside (a loss Carl and his trainer, the underrated Robert McCracken, put down to a “flat” performance) Froch has never been in a dull fight. Against a Pavlik, a guy who has also thrilled a number of times, the action would be memorable. As Pavlik says, let’s make the fight happen!