18.04.09 – by James Slater – Unbeaten WBC super-middleweight champion Carl Froch, who meets Jermain Taylor in his first defence next Saturday in Connecticut, is still fuming over the fact that no TV station in his home country have bought the fight so as to show it live for his British fans. The fight will be seen live in America on Showtime, but fans in the UK – who already have to wait up until the early morning hours to watch most big fights that take place in the States – will have to make do with an internet broadcast of the fight. And though Froch and his promoter Mick Hennessey are grateful that at least the internet showing will prevent all of “The Cobra’s” fans from missing out, they are still hugely disappointed that no UK TV network has paid for the big fight.
Speaking from his training camp in Canada, the WBC champ explained how angry his is to The Mail Online.
“I don’t want to sound bitter and twisted,” Froch said. “But there are TV companies out there who have plenty of funds but they are not showing any loyalty to boxing.. I’ve got fantastic backing from Showtime and I can’t wait to show my skills to American viewers. British TV stations have shown some farcical fights in the past and now they are too scared to push the button on this one.
“Once I’ve done a job on Jermain Taylor, British television might miss out because I might just stay out here. Canada and America are fantastic places and, if the big fights can be made over here and if I’ve got the backing of Showtime, then I’m happy to stay out here and see out my career in America.”
It really would be a shame if Froch – who truly feels he is on his way – were to become a genuine star/great but not box in his home country ever again. Perhaps the 31-year-old is making the threat out of sheer frustration – frustration that his fans will miss out on TV coverage of his biggest fight to date – and he will eventually change his mind. But if Froch wins on April 25th and then his second defence is also ignored by the UK TV bosses, he may well make good on his threat. And who could blame him?
Last time out, against Jean Pascal when winning his world title, Froch put on first-rate entertainment, yet no-one in his own country wants to show his next fight? Strange indeed, even when taking into account today’s recession problems.
Promoter Hennessey also spoke about the lack of TV coverage, and he made it clear who he is most angry at.
“Setanta [TV company] have made no offer,” Hennessey said. “I asked them on numerous occasions and they’ve talked a good fight but, when it came down to it, there has never been an offer. Sky [TV] said they didn’t consider it a pay-per-view fight and didn’t want to use it as a normal Saturday night fight.”
With many predicting a great fight, there are sure to be a number of UK fans opting to stay up and pay-to-view the fight on the internet service that IS available.