By James Slater: Unbeaten super-middleweight Carl Froch has vacated his British 168 pound championship, as he now feels his future is well and truly at world title level. As fans know, a fight with the also unbeaten Jean Pascal of Canada, for the vacant WBC super-middleweight belt, is set for December 6th. “The Cobra” who feels he pretty much cleaned up the U.K domestic scene, will have hometown advantage and is confident he will become not only a world ruler, but the very best at the weight..
Speaking via his regular column in The Nottingham Post newspaper, 31-year-old Froch told of how he is extremely proud of winning the famous Lonsdale belt and how he often fought whilst injured – something he says other pros fail to do.
“It’s been nearly four years to the day since I won my treasured British title by 1st round KO of Damon Hague,” the 23-0(19) Froch wrote yesterday. “But, as of last week, I have now vacated the best belt in Britain after writing to The British Boxing Board of Control to inform them of my decision to allow others to fight for the famous Lonsdale belt as the world scene now awaits me!”
Froch wrote of how he “took care” of all his U.K rivals, such as Brian Magee, Tony Dodson, Matthew Barney and Robin Reid – sometimes with injuries he was forced to fight through.
“Although defending the title has been a pleasure, like the old saying goes you also have to deal with some pain. I had to bite down hard on that gum-shield and dig deep to conquer some of those opponents,” Froch wrote.” Against Magee I snapped a metacarpal in the 2nd round yet still went on to KO him nine rounds later. Against Barney, I had injections in my right hand to numb the pain, rather than cancel the fight, for my fans. I’m not complaining because it’s all part and parcel of the game. But it is frustrating as some of my contemporaries will break a toenail and pull out of a fight!”
Froch didn’t state which fighters he was referring to with regards to pulling out of fights, but it is true some boxers pull out of fights at the first opportunity. No doubt, though he still has a lot to prove in some eyes, Froch has shown heart and has done everything right so far in his 23 fight career. Next up is Pascal and his first world title fight. Can “The Cobra” make the transition from British champ to world champ?
Pascal will be no pushover. The Canadian, though no big puncher, is a good boxer, he is also unbeaten at 21-0(14) and he is much the younger man at age 25. Froch will have one big advantage in the fight being held in the U.K, though. Pascal has only fought outside of his native Canada once (in the U.S in his last fight) and it remains to be seen if boxing in front of Froch’s vocal British fans will phase him at all. Indeed, Pascal has shown bravery by agreeing to take the fight in Froch’s Nottingham backyard.
December 6th’s world title clash has the makings of a very good and interesting fight. This is the acid test for both men.