By James Slater – It looked like a natural fight to make immediately after Carl Froch had blown away Lucian Bute on Saturday night, and now it looks like Froch-Mikkell Kessler II will indeed be the next fight in the exciting careers of both the battling Brit and the classy Dane.
According to a piece on Ringtv.com, Froch has already been in contact with the man who out-pointed him in a classic fight back in April of 2010, and the plan is for the return to go ahead in either September or October – and chances are excellent the return will go ahead in Froch’s hometown of Nottingham..
Speaking to Ringtv.com, Froch said he’s far more up for fighting Kessler in a rematch compared to taking one with Andre Ward, who out-pointed him back in December of last year.
“I’ve just had a chat with Kessler,” Froch said. “I saw him ringside on Saturday and I’ve just spoken to him again now. We talked about potentially fighting in September or October because I’d much rather fight Kessler than Andre Ward because Kessler’s a fighting man, a man of my own stature. He comes to fight.”
Froch had an agreement to grant Bute a return fight in Canada should he win on May 26th, yet an IBF rule will not allow this immediate rematch to go ahead even if the badly beaten Bute wants it.
“I think one of the rules when you get stopped, knocked out or suffer a TKO when defending your IBF title is that you can’t fight for it again in your next fight,” Froch explained. “So Bute will have to have a warm-up. I’ll be given an opportunity to defend the title first and then, if he does want to execute the rematch clause, I’m happy to go to Canada and honour the contract.”
So, it looks for all the world as though Froch-Kessler II will be next. Both warriors want it, the fans want it and it should be no real problem setting the fight up. Can Froch get the win this time? In light of how fantastic he looked on Saturday night, and factoring in the perfect hometown record Froch has, no-one will be in a rush to bet against “The Cobra.” Kessler, although he won, took heavy punishment in the first fight against Froch (as did Froch from Kessler) and some say he has not been the same since ; what with his eye injury and his long periods of inactivity.
At this early stage, even with Kessler coming off that impressive one-punch icing of Allan Green, I’d have to make Froch the favourite to win the sequel. What can be looked forward to with a great, great deal of assurance, however, is another sizzling fight.