by James Slater – Unbeaten 31-year-old super-middleweight talent Carl “The Cobra” Froch is understandably feeling great right now. Having picked up his first world title – the WBC 168-pound crown – with a magnificent points win over previously unbeaten Canadian Jean Pascal in a fight-of-the-year candidate this past Saturday, the British fighter has more than enough to celebrate..
What has pleased Froch, now, 24-0(19) the most, however, is proving his many critics wrong. Before Saturday’s fight, there was no shortage of people out there claiming Froch was not as good as he himself felt he was, his defence and perhaps even his chin were suspect, and that he still had plenty to do if he were to achieve even half the goals he’d set for himself.
Well, after going through the 12 give and take rounds he did with the hugely determined Pascal, and after taking the bombs that bounced off his chin throughout, Froch has, as he himself says in today’s issue of This is Nottingham, silenced the pessimists.
In the article, the new WBC champ recounts the great fight.
“Now they [the critics] know I’ve got a granite chin,” Froch began. “But I wish I hadn’t taken quite so many punches. I’ve been hit harder in my career – but not so often. My trainer, Robert McCracken, keeps telling me to jab and keep out of trouble. I must drive him mad, but I can’t resist going for a big finish.”
Froch did indeed get hit plenty by Pascal – at times in the hugely exciting fight both men were almost reckless with regards to showing disdain for the punches coming their way. This made for a sensational fight – without a doubt THE fight of December 6th, despite what was going on across the Atlantic that same night – but Carl is feeling it now.
“I’m a bit sore today,” Froch admitted. “I cracked my ribs in sparring. I’m not sure who did it. Then I got cut, I don’t think it was a punch. I think it was a clash of heads. It was a big occasion; the biggest night of my life so far. But I wasn’t nervous. I wasn’t nervous at all. I was just so focused on the job I had to do. This was serious stuff. There was a lot at stake. You only get one shot and I wasn’t going to waste it. I dived in straight from the bell because I wanted to take the edge away from him.
“I wanted him to feel my power early on. I couldn’t afford to let him get comfortable. The fans helped me. The Atmosphere was unbelievable.”
Now holder of one of the world titles at super-middleweight, it’s no secret Froch wants to unify all three major belts at 168. There is no word yet on who he will either fight next or make his first WBC defence against, but one name being bandied about is that of Jermain Taylor. That would be some good fight for the new year.
For now, though, Carl Froch can revel in his fine win and in his becoming a new British star of the ring.