What lies ahead for the Cobra?
If Carl Froch thought he was going to be lacking in motivation for his fight last Saturday night with heavy underdog Yusaf Mack, he must have been relieved when his ears started burning with the belittling remarks of his opponent as well as British promoter Frank Warren. Mack called Froch a “fake Calzaghe”, a reference to former Welsh super middleweight legend Joe Calzaghe, who was a long-time rival of Froch’s. Meanwhile, Warren released a newspaper column in which he questioned those who termed Froch as a British boxing great. Clearly, Froch would be well motivated for his performance.
Froch stormed through Mack inside three rounds, finishing proceedings with a jolting straight right and sharp left hook, both to the body. In finishing the fight in such a manner, Froch swatted away those malevolent pre-fight retorts. He then announced he was due to become a father for the second time with his model partner Rachael Cordingley. All in all, it was a good weekend for “The Cobra”. As he exited the Capital FM Arena however, everyone’s thoughts turned immediately to the road ahead.
It is arguably Carl Froch’s greatest personal trait – the innate desire to constantly fight the best. Legacy is important to him, and stains on his record in the form of defeats to Mikkel Kessler and Andre Ward would rather be wiped away as far as he is concerned.
Last weekend was a welcome break from the toughest men his division has to offer, but Froch will be frothing at the mouth in anticipation of having that fire in the belly again. He wants people to doubt his chances, question his ability to win. Throughout his career, it is the uncertainty that seems to have propelled Froch to a realm beyond that of many of his peers.
This has been evidenced several times – coming from behind to stop Jermain Taylor seconds from the final bell, traveling to Finland to outbox Arthur Abraham in almost every round to become a two-time titleholder, pummeling the undefeated and highly respected Lucian Bute in a matter of rounds. Triumph in adversity is like cereal in the morning to Froch.
The road does not end here though, and unlike years ago, a lack of options will no longer be an issue for him. Adonis Stevenson has worked himself into the mandatory position for Froch’s IBF belt. Lucian Bute had a rematch clause administered prior to his defeat to Froch earlier this year, and so a return in Canada could be a possibility. Andre Ward announced via Twitter he would not mind journeying to England to fight Froch again. Mikkel Kessler has publicly stated he would be happy to take up the challenge, particularly if Ward does not.
So what is Froch’s ideal route of action?
Well, Stevenson is a mandatory challenger, so it’s hard to skip around a fight with him. At some point it’s likely to happen. Entanglement could come in the form of the Bute rematch clause; however it remains to be seen if Bute would willingly accept a second fight with Froch considering the vociferous beating he received first time out. Bute may take a couple more fights to regain his confidence, which was clearly fragmented during his recent lackluster display against the inexperienced Denis Grachev.
Froch’s promoter Eddie Hearn has excitedly stated he wants to make a stadium fight for his charge. This would take place sometime next summer in a perfect world. The two opponents of real magnitude to give such an event the atmosphere it deserves would be Kessler and Ward. Either is a compelling fight, but in terms of weighing up which fight the Nottingham crowd would rather see, it is not a choice.
If anyone saw Kessler-Froch mark one, they would gladly shell out for mark two in a heartbeat. It was a thrilling contest between men who like to box and brawl, and the styles would no doubt clash nicely once again in front of a large stadium audience. Perhaps, more importantly, it was an even fight. As much as Froch says he pushed Ward close due to the tight scorecards, the fight was a clear Ward win in everyone’s eyes. Froch’s faithful would not care much for a repeat of that, certainly not when the possible excitement level pales in comparison with the Kessler rematch.
So, it would appear the best strategy is for Froch to take on his mandatory, the dangerous punching Adonis Stevenson next. Should he come through that, a rematch with Kessler on home turf in front of his own would be a mouth-watering prospect, and one that would set up the winner nicely for a second crack at Ward sometime in the winter period.
In a way, it works out for everyone. Stevenson gets his shot at the title. Froch and Kessler get to settle the scores in their violent but strangely friendly rivalry, while Ward gets to prove once again he is top dog at the end of it. And so, the super middleweight division could come to the end of a beautiful and talented era in 2013, a year Froch, with a glint in his eye, quite rightly titled – “the year of the rematches”.
