02.05.06 – Long before Joe Calzaghe took apart Jeff Lacy two months ago in Manchester, Irish southpaw Brian Magee achieved the same result during his glittering amateur career and in less than one month’s time, the Belfast slugger will set forth to rip the British and Commonwealth Super Middleweight titles from the grasp of brash champion Carl “The Cobra” Froch.. The two meet at London’s historic York Hall on a Maloney Promotion taking place on Friday, May 26. “Carl Froch comes into this fight with a good pedigree,” admits Magee. “He’s not someone I can take lightly but I’ve been in with better fighters and faced better competition; I am definitely the more experienced man.”
Magee, a former IBO Champion who kept the belt through seven defenses against the likes of Hassine Cherifi, Jerry Elliott, Omar Gonzalez and Andre Thysse, can also lay arguable claim to the European title after losing a dubious razor thin split decision to Vitali Tsypko in Germany last summer. But the Ulsterman, 25-2 (18), refuses to dwell in the past, preferring to focus on the matter at hand. “I’m looking forward to this one with Froch,” he said. “It’s a good opportunity for me. If you look at Carl’s record, there’s been some fights where he’s looked utterly spectacular against the guys he’s fought but also some lately he’s not looked as good in.”
Froch, 18-0 (14), dazzled Britain as an amateur, winning a Bronze Medal in the World Senior Amateur Championships and has enjoyed a meteoric rise as a professional, caging the Commonwealth title in just his 12th pro bout before adding the British crown two fights later. The ultra-confident Nottingham stylist has defeated such accomplished foes as Henry Porras, Matthew Barney and Reuben Groenewald but had his hands full in his last outing against Australian journeyman Dale Westerman three months ago. Froch’s performance in that contest was likely marred by an arm injury that also forced a rescheduling and relocation of the fight with Magee to its current date of May 26 in London.
Magee isn’t sold on the idea that Froch may have found his level in the Westerman clash, but considers that the British and Commonwealth Champion’s habit of self promotion could be having a backlash effect. “He does a lot of talking before fights and so people expect fireworks,” surmised the Irishman. “When he doesn’t produce them, it might look like a bad performance. I haven’t heard much from Carl’s camp at the moment but I’m sure I will in the next couple of weeks.”
After signing with Maloney Promotions earlier this year, Magee is confident that his two year odyssey since losing the IBO crown to Robin Reid is finally over. “Frank Maloney and his brother Eugene are good people to work with and I’m looking forward to success with them,” said Brian. “Before, I had a few good opportunities called off so I’m glad to have this kind of title bout. Obviously, I want to win in style so it would be nice to have a big victory but Carl’s not an easy fighter to fight, he’s very awkward. It should be very interesting and I’m looking forward to it.”
Tickets to Maloney Promotions’ Friday, May 26 Carl Froch – Brian Magee fightcard, “Belief, Pride And Passion”, are priced at £70 and £35 and can be purchased online at www.maloneypromotions.com or by calling the Maloney Promotions box office at 0871 266 1508.