Abraham vs. Froch Opens up Super Six Stage 3
The first bout of Stage 3 in the Super Six tournament, Arthur Abraham vs. Carl Froch, is coming on August 17th. This bout promises to be the most action-packed outing of the Super Six tournament yet, as the division’s two biggest punchers collide. The bout also renews the classic Britain vs. Germany rivalry that exists in the minds of all UK-based sports fans (albeit in the minds of virtually no one in Germany). Yet it is a bad match-up for Froch, so bad in fact it is hard to see it happening outside of the structure of a tournament like the Super Six. Carl “The Cobra” Froch” will lose this fight, and lose it bad.
In many ways, Carl Froch has always reminded me a bit of Washington, DC’s William Joppy, a two-time WBA middleweight champ in the late 1990s. Froch is a lot bigger that Joppy, of course, and Joppy was certainly faster than the plodding Briton. However, both fighters have a hands-down style that relies on footwork and reflexes to avoid blows, and sheer toughness to soak the blows up when they land. Joppy was a lot better at the first half of that than Froch has ever been or will ever be, but Froch is made of granite, from his head to his ankles. To a certain extent, being temptingly easy to hit is a part of the game plan with that kind of defense, since it lures the other guy into position where you can hammer him back. That strategy has worked so far, but it will fail miserably against Abraham.
First, Abraham is nothing if not patient. He lost his cool against the slick, fast-moving Andre Dirrell once he was in danger of losing the fight, but otherwise Abraham has shown a willingness to drop rounds if it meant he was figuring out the other guy and getting to a point where the big guns could come out. While I expect Froch to punch with enough muscle to periodically drive Abraham’s high guard apart, I do not see the Cobra being able to do so consistently enough to score on his preferred terms. Abraham will do what he does best, and in so-doing he will take Froch out of Froch’s game plan. Froch will probably retaliate by fouling the crap out of Abraham, who will no doubt respond in kind, but I doubt Abraham will abandon his game plan in doing so.
On the other side of this equation, Froch’s defense is limited and the road to his jaw is wide open. Once Abraham feels he can safely bring his guns to bear, Froch’s chin will be tested over and over again. Granite or not, there is simply no way Froch can take repeated, square-on hard shots from a banger like Abraham. If Jermain Taylor was able to drop Froch, Abraham will crack him open like a walnut. I don’t even think it will take that long, and I feel this fireworks-laden battle will end with Froch on the canvas before the 6th Round.
