By Michael Collins: IBF super middleweight champion Carl Froch (29-2, 21 KO’s) is making it pretty clear that he’d rather face Mikkel Kessler right now rather than trying to avenge his recent defeat against WBA super middleweight champion Andre Ward. It’s a smart move by Froch, because he doesn’t match up well against Ward at all because of Froch’s lack of hand speed and inside fighting ability.
Froch told Sky Sports Ringside “Of course, he’s [Ward] got a win over me. I’ve got a blemish on my record that I’d like to straighten out, as I do with Mikkel Kessler. Of the two, I’d rather get it on with Kessler first. This is a fight for the fans…I told you before, I’m gifted.”
Somehow I think the rematch with Ward will be one of those things that are put off and eventually forgotten about by Froch, because he simply will never be able to defeat a fighter like Ward without hand speed or an inside game. Ward was able to smother Froch’s offense last December and completely extinguish it just by staying close to him.. Froch, with his long arms, was completely helpless. The most Froch could do was land taps to the side of Ward’s head while in close. Froch quickly gave up on the idea of hitting Ward while in a clinching after Ward landed a huge left hand to the head of Froch. After that, Froch kept it pretty clean for the remainder of the fight in losing what should have been by a lopsided decision.
Kessler and his promoter Kallie Sauerland want the fight, says Froch. I think Kessler may end up regretting it if he agrees to fight Froch in Nottingham because he might not be able to win a decision there unless he gives Froch a real beating. It might take an extra special performance from Kessler to ensure that he comes out ahead on the scorecards because Froch won a questionable decision over Andre Dirrell in Nottingham in 2009 in a fight where Froch got away with a lot of fouling. Kessler and his promoter need to make sure there’s some kind of rematch clause where the rematch would take place in a neutral venue before they agree to the fight, because they could end up very unhappy if they lose a controversial decision to Froch.