Photo by Peter Mark Heintzelman / ESB – Jermain Taylor’s promoter, Lou DiBella admits that this weekend’s World title showdown with Nottingham’s Carl Froch is a must win fight for the man known as “Bad Intentions”.
The former undisputed Middleweight champ will aim to become a two weight World title holder at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut as he bids to rip the WBC Super Middleweight title from Froch who is making his first defence of his title and looking to maintain his status as Britain’s only reigning World Champion.
The fight will be available live and exclusive to British and Irish fight fans via an online pay per view at frochvtaylor.com and DiBella says that Taylor cannot afford to contemplate defeat..
“If Jermain lost badly I don’t think he’d continue, that’s my own personal guess,” said DiBella. “If he can’t beat Carl I think he’s going to take it as a real sign that it’s time to leave.”
DiBella though believes that Taylor, who is still only 30 is hungrier than ever for success. “Jermain’s financially set, he has money in the bank. The reason he wanted this fight so badly was for his legacy, it was to become champion again. He feels that the WBC belt should be worn round his waist.”
The challenger is certainly not short on confidence and has already predicted a KO win on Saturday night. “Every fighter knows when he’s ready to do battle and I’m ready,” said Taylor. “My conditioning, stamina and mental preparation is on schedule. I’m peaking at just the right time.
“When you match his skill sets with mine, I don’t see how Carl Froch can win this fight. I know you hear that kind of thing a lot from fighters, but, believe me, I honestly believe it to be true in this case.”
McCracken – Britian’s Got Talent with Froch
Carl Froch’s trainer Robert McCracken believes that British fight fans should enjoy Carl Froch while they can. McCracken won British and Commonwealth titles as well as challenging for the World title during his own career and as a trainer he has successfully guided Froch all the way to the WBC World Super Middleweight title.
The Nottingham man is Britain’s only reigning World Champ and he makes his first defence at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut on Saturday night against former Undisputed World Middleweight Champ, Jermain “Bad Intentions” Taylor.
It’s a fight that British and Irish fight fans can see live and exclusive via an online pay per view at frochvtaylor.com and McCracken believes that viewers will witness a special performance from Froch on what promises to be an historic night for British boxing.
“Carl’s a special fighter and people should enjoy him while he’s fighting because he’s a one off and there won’t be another one like him for 50 years,” said McCracken.
“He’s the complete package, he can fight, he can box, he can punch and he can take a punch, he entertains the fans and he’s as dedicated to the sport as anyone I’ve ever seen.
“Taylor’s a great fighter but Carl’s a bit special and that’s why he’s taken the fight. He’s not asked for any favours, he’s coming over here in his first defence to take on a top, top fighter but I’ve every confidence in him because I know what he’s capable of producing.”
Froch V Taylor is live and exclusive on frochvtaylor.com from 2am GMT in the early hours of Sunday morning. Orders are now being taken for the fight which costs £9.95 (or €11.00 for Irish viewers) and the fight will be available in both 750kb/s and 1mb/s to give fight fans a true quality streaming experience. For further information visit frochvtaylor.com.
Danny O’Connor On Taylor/Froch Card
Hot New England prospect Danny O’Connor is ready for Saturday night’s throw-down with 21-fight veteran Travis Hartman on the Carl Froch-Jermain Taylor undercard at MGM Grand Foxwoods in Ledyard, Connecticut. 2004 U.S. Olympic Team alternate O’Connor (5-0, 2 KOs) will be fighting not too far from His Framingham (MA) home for the second time in a row. Missouri-native Hartman (9-11-1, 7 KOs) will serve as a solid test, as well as a measuring stick for O’Connor, having fought other promising prospects such as Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr., Jorge Perez, Jr., Shamone Alvarez, Damain Frias and Ray Sanchez.
“I’m excited about fight Saturday night,” the Seminole Warriors Boxing-promoted O’Connor said. “It’s a good opportunity for me to showcase my talents on a big fight card, the Taylor-Froch undercard, which will give me good exposure. I’m eager to display all we’ve been working on since my last fight. I feel very strong for this fight.”
The 23-year-old O’Connor, who defeated 2008 Olympic Gold medalist Felix Diaz a year ago in a USA-Dominican Republic dual meet, is fighting again as a light welterweight (140) but gradually moving down to lightweight (135).