By Michael Collins: Bernard Hopkins, the WBC light heavyweight champion, feels that Carl Froch (28-2, 20 KO’s) has unfinished business with Andre Dirrell (20-1, 14 KO’s) from their Super Six fight from October 2009, and he feels that instead of Froch looking to fight IBF super middleweight champion Lucian Bute next in April, Froch should be proving himself against Dirrell.
Hopkins told On The Ropes Radio “He [Froch] should fight Andre Dirrell.”
That message probably won’t register with Froch, though, because he feels he clearly beat Dirrell in that fight, and Froch’s British boxing fans give him cover by backing him with that belief.
I personally like the idea of Froch and Dirrell fighting again given how questionable decision was in that fight. Froch was able to get away a great deal of fouling on that night and I can’t remember a fighter getting away with so many different kinds of fouls as Froch did without once being penalized by the referee. I’ve seen fights where one guys is continually blasting another guy below the belt and the referee completely ignoring it all night. But with the Dirrell-Froch fight, Froch was mixing his fouls up and the referee just seemed like he wasn’t engaged on that night. At the very least, I think Froch should have lost a half dozen points for various fouls but I really think he should have disqualified, especially for the body slam he did in the 5th.
It doesn’t look as if Froch will be facing Bute next because Showtime reportedly isn’t into putting a coming off of a loss like Froch is and having him fight for a title. They obviously want Froch to do some redeeming, preferably against quality opposition instead of guys that no one has ever hear of or care about. Dirrell would be perfect and Froch did say earlier today that he’s looking to fight a top 10 contender.
Dirrell might not be a top contender right now but you can bet he’ll likely be a lot better than the guy that Froch ultimately chooses. This is why it would be a breath of fresh air if Froch stepped up and fought Dirrell again but in a neutral venue this time.