02.12.05 – Carl Froch hit out at WBO super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe after stepping off the scales at yesterday afternoon’s weigh-in for his Commonwealth super middleweight title defence against Ruben Groenewald at the Nottingham Arena tonight, (December 2nd). Froch, laughing comments made by Calzaghe and his father/trainer Enzo in this month’s edition of Boxing Monthly, said: “Enzo called me a clown, but that pair are the joke. I reckon they are the Steptoe and Son of boxing, they are always whinging..
“Did you see Joe walking around the ring holding his hand up after his fight against Evans Ashira? Was he having a laugh? I hurt my hand against Henry Porras in Hollywood in April, but still boxed on and got the stoppage. Then I took the injury into my win against Barney. It hurt like hell, but you didn’t see me walking around afterwards moaning about it. If you asked me he looked like Julian Clary.”
Froch continued: “I have been chasing Joe for about a year now, but all they do is talk. Enzo reckons his boy would smash me from pillar to post, but then prices him out of the fight by asking for £1 million. That just doesn’t add up.
“I think they know what I know, that I will knock Joe out cold and end his career. That would explain why they swerve me at every opportunity.
“Instead of hiding behind his dad, why doesn’t Joe get in the ring and fight me? That’s what the public want to see, him against the British champion.”
Froch, conscious that Calzaghe is fighting Jeff Lacy in March, just wants his rival’s commitment to fight.
“Win or lose against Lacy, I want to fight Calzaghe,” he continued. “If he goes elsewhere afterwards and denies everyone a massive domestic fight, then everyone will know that he is a coward.”
‘The Cobra,’ 16-0 (12), looked in fantastic shape as he registered 11 stone 12lb 12 oz, (Groenewald 11 stone 13lb 2oz) ahead of the fourth defence of his commonwealth title. He is understandably confident.
“Now that my hand is fully healed I feel great, bull strong. I make the weight so easily that my trainer Robert McCracken says I am the luckiest boxer alive.
“Ruben is a tough proud, warrior, a good fighter, but I can’t see what chance he has. Then again I can’t see what chance anyone would have against me.”
Manchester’s John Murray also weighed in ahead of his historic challenge for the WBC Youth World Title. He registered 9 stone 9 lb whilst opponent Nacho Mendoza was 9 stone 7lb 12oz.
“Cold-blooded predator,’ headlined by Carl Froch v Ruben Groenewald, takes place at the Nottingham Arena on Friday 2nd December. Tickets are available on 0870 121 0123. The undercard features a historical fight for the WBC Youth Lightweight world title between Manchester’s John Murray and Colombia’s Nacho Mendoza. For the latest bill please visit www.HennessySports.com