Carl Froch

Carl Froch
Statistics
Real name	Carl Froch
Nickname(s)	The Cobra The Sheriff of Nottingham Nottingham Terror
Rated at	Super-middleweight
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Reach	74½″ / 189cm
Nationality	British
Born	(1977-07-02) 2 July 1977 Nottingham, England
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	34
Wins	32
Wins by KO	23
Losses	2
Draws	0
No contests	0
Medal record Competitor for  England World Amateur Championships Bronze Belfast 2001 Middleweight

Carl Froch (born 2 July 1977) is an English professional boxer who fights as a super middleweight. As of 26 May 2012 Froch is the reigning IBF champion at super middleweight, having defeated Lucian Bute for the title, and on 25 May 2013 Froch became the WBA unified champion after defeating Mikkel Kessler.

He has also held the British, Commonwealth, and English titles at super middleweight and is a two time WBC world champion. As of 1 January 2013, he is the best British pound for pound boxer, according to the BBC.^[1] He was also voted WBN (World Boxing News) fighter of the year 2012^[2] and fighter of year 2012 by BoxRec.^[3] Froch was awarded 2013 GQ (UK) Sportsman Of The Year.

Froch is ranked number 8 pound for pound by Boxrec and number 10 by The Ring Magazine

Amateur career

Froch began boxing at his home in Meadows, Nottingham at 9 years old. He later joined the Phoenix ABC in Gedling, Nottingham. As an amateur, he won two ABA Middleweight titles in 1999 and 2001 and a bronze medal at the 2001 World Amateur Boxing Championships before turning pro and having his first pro fight in March 2002. As an amateur, Froch lost to American Peter Manfredo Jr. in a 4th round technical knock out.^[4]

During his amateur career, he lost a fight to Denis Inkin, who he was scheduled to fight in a title eliminator in 2008, but Inkin pulled out on three occasions.^{[citation needed]} Interestingly, he also boxed Jason Booth when a teenager on more than one occasion. Booth went on to fight as a professional at Flyweight to Super bantamweight.

Professional career

Froch is trained by Robert McCracken and managed by Eddie Hearn. In 2004, he won the vacant British and Commonwealth championships. He has defended both against Brian Magee, Tony Dodson, Matthew Barney and Damon Hague, and the Commonwealth belt alone against Ruben Groenewald and Dale Westerman.

Following a victory over the Russian Sergey Tatevosyan, on 9 November 2007 at Trent FM Arena in Nottingham he stopped veteran ex-world champion Robin Reid, after saw Reid retire from the sport for four years.^[5]

On 10 May 2008, at the Trent FM Arena in Nottingham Carl Froch stopped unbeaten Polish Albert Rybacki in the 4th round of a scheduled 12. Rybacki was drafted in as a last-minute replacement after initial opponent Denis Inkin pulled out on two occasions and no Top 30 fighter was willing to take the fight at two weeks' notice.^{[citation needed]}

Froch vs Pascal

On 6 December 2008, Froch fought Canadian Jean Pascal for the vacant WBC super middleweight title and won after a hard-fought 12-round brawl.^[6] Both combatants showed enormous grit and determination, landing and taking huge shots from one another without even flinching. After the fight, it was revealed that Froch had sustained a perforated eardrum and a cracked rib in his final sparring session before the fight. Froch's promoter Mick Hennessy gave Froch the opportunity to withdraw from the fight, but Froch refused.^[7] Since the fight, Froch and Pascal (who has since become a light-heavyweight champion) have become friends on a personal level and have made a promise to face each other again in the future.^{[citation needed]}

Froch vs Taylor

On 25 April 2009, Froch fought Jermain Taylor in his first defence of his WBC super middleweight title, at the Foxwoods Resort in Foxwoods, Connecticut. Froch survived a third-round knockdown – the first of his entire career, amateur and professional – and, behind on two of the three judges' cards coming into the final round, he managed to stop his opponent with 14 seconds remaining in the 12th round to retain his WBC super-middleweight title.

After the fight, Froch was quick to send out a verbal challenge to unbeaten Welsh boxer Joe Calzaghe and was also quoted as saying "Kessler, Pavlik, Hopkins, I want them all to feel the force."^[8][9]

Super Six World Boxing Classic

On 13 July 2009, Froch agreed to take part in the Super Six World Boxing Classic super middleweight tournament devised by American giant Showtime, with the winner of the tournament winning the WBC and WBA world super middleweight titles. The tournament featured 6 boxers including Andre Dirrell, Mikkel Kessler, Arthur Abraham, Jermain Taylor, Andre Ward and Froch. Froch's first opponent in the Super Six was Andre Dirrell.

Andre Dirrell

The bout took place in Nottingham on 17 October and Froch's WBC title was on the line. Froch won the fight and retained his title with a split decision victory over the previously undefeated Andre Dirrell.^[10][11] Two of the judges scored the bout 115–112 in favour of Froch, with the other scoring the bout 114–113 in favour of Dirrell.^[12] There is widespread discussion in the boxing community about the fairness of this result.^{[citation needed]}

Mikkel Kessler

Froch's next fight was against Mikkel Kessler, who lost the WBA super-middleweight title to Andre Ward.^[13] Froch's WBC title was again on the line. In a closely fought contest in Kessler's home country of Denmark where both men had great moments throughout the fight, Kessler took Froch's title and inflicted Froch's first professional defeat via unanimous decision, the judges scoring the contest by margins of 116–112, 115–113 and 117–111. The scoring was somewhat controversial, as some boxing announcers had scored the fight much closer, with some awarding Froch the win and others scoring it a draw.^{[14][15][16][17]} Froch later stated that the fight was close and that he believes the decision would have gone his way if the event had been held in Nottingham.^[18] The Fight was a contender for the 2010 Fight of the Year.

Arthur Abraham

Froch faced former IBF middleweight champion Hard hitting King Arthur Abraham in the third stage in Helsinki Finland at the Hartwall Finland fearing that if he fought in Abraham's adoptive home country he might get mugged. However, since an eye injury forced Mikkel Kessler to relinquish his WBC title and resign from the tournament, Froch-Abraham was for the vacant WBC super middleweight title. Both Froch and Abraham came off of a loss in stage two of the Super Six. Abraham lost after a disqualification against former Froch victim Andre Dirrell.

Froch regained the WBC super middleweight title by gaining a unanimous points victory over Arthur Abraham in Helsinki. Froch won the fight against Abraham in a dominant manner, with the scores given by the judges of 119–109, 120–108 and 120–108, reflecting the one-sided nature of the bout.^[19]

Glen Johnson

Off the heels of his victory over Abraham, Froch entered the semifinal stage of the tournament. His semifinal opponent on 4 June 2011 in Atlantic City, New Jersey was Glen Johnson. Froch retained his title with a majority decision victory, with the scores given by the judges of 116–112, 117–111, and 114–114.^[20] After the fight Froch criticised the Japanese judge Nobuaki Uratani in an interview on Sky's Ringside show remarking that he "must have fallen asleep after round 3."

Andre Ward

Carl Froch lost in the final of the Super Six World Boxing Classic tournament in a dramatic bout against WBA super middleweight champion Andre Ward. The vacant The Ring super middleweight title would be on the line in the fight, as well as Froch and Ward's super middleweight titles. In the first 7 rounds, Ward outboxed Froch, successfully using his jab to neutralize Froch and beating Froch to the punch from a distance and at close range. In the later rounds, Ward seemed to take his foot off the gas, leaving Froch to win a couple rounds near the end of the fight, though they were close and fairly competitive rounds. The judges scorecards were 115–113, 115–113 and 118–110, all in favor of Ward. Ward won the vacant The Ring super middleweight title.

Bute vs Froch

The IBF officially enforced Carl Froch as Lucian Bute's number one mandatory challenger. The fight, billed as "No Easy Way Out", took place on 26 May 2012 in Froch's hometown of Nottingham.^[21] Despite being the underdog with bookmakers, critics and fans around the world, Froch dominated Bute throughout the fight to become the new IBF super-middleweight champion via TKO in round five, making Froch a three-time world champion.^[22][23]

IBF champion

After the Bute fight and acquiring IBF belt, Froch defeated Yusaf Mack via knockout. The British website BoxRec named Froch the "Fighter of the Year" in the end of 2012.^[24]

Froch vs Kessler II

On 26 May 2013 (NB the match was scheduled for the 25th, but started after midnight BST), Froch beat Mikkel Kessler in a rematch from their fight in 2010 via a unanimous points decision at The O2 Arena in London, with the judges scoring the bout 118-110, 116-112 and 115-113.^{[25] [26]} After the match, Froch hinted at a rematch against Andre Ward^[27] in the UK, or a possible rubber match against Kessler.^[28]

Froch vs Groves

The IBF installed George Groves as Froch's mandatory challenger, their bout taking place on Saturday 23 November at the Phones4u Arena, Manchester with Froch's IBF and WBA super-middleweight titles on the line. Froch defended his titles with a TKO victory in Round 9, despite being floored by a right from Groves in the First. There was some controversy as many observers felt that referee Howard Foster stepped in to end the contest prematurely. The three scoring judges had scored Groves ahead of Froch before Groves was shaken by some powerful Froch blows in the 9th. The controversial ending has prompted a widespread demand for a rematch to be fought between the two.^[29][30]

On 24 January 2014, the IBF ordered a rematch between Froch and Groves, giving Froch 90 days to fight Groves or relinquish his IBF title.^[31]

Professional boxing record

32 Wins (23 KOs), 2 Losses
Res.	Record	Opponent	Type	Round	Date	Location	Notes
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	32–2	George Groves	TKO	9 (12)	2013-11-23	Phones4u Arena, Manchester, United Kingdom	Retained IBF and WBA super-middleweight titles.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	31–2	Mikkel Kessler	UD	12	2013-05-25	O2 Arena, London, United Kingdom	Retained IBF super-middleweight title. Won WBA super-middleweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	30–2	Yusaf Mack	KO	3 (12)	2012-11-17	Capital FM Arena, Nottingham, United Kingdom	Retained IBF super-middleweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	29–2	Lucian Bute	TKO	5 (12)	2012-05-26	Capital FM Arena, Nottingham, United Kingdom	Won IBF super-middleweight title.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	28–2	Andre Ward	UD	12	2011-12-17	Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States	Lost WBC super-middleweight title. For The Ring/WBA(Super) super-middleweight titles.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	28–1	Glen Johnson	MD	12	2011-06-04	Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States	Retained WBC super-middleweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	27–1	Arthur Abraham	UD	12	2010-11-27	Hartwall Arena, Helsinki, Finland	Won vacant WBC super-middleweight title.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	26–1	Mikkel Kessler	UD	12	2010-04-24	MCH Messecenter Herning, Herning, Denmark	Lost WBC super-middleweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	26–0	Andre Dirrell	UD	12	2009-10-17	Trent FM Arena, Nottingham, United Kingdom	Retained WBC super-middleweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	25–0	Jermain Taylor	TKO	12 (12)	2009-04-25	Foxwoods Resort Casino, Mashantucket, Connecticut, United States	Retained WBC super-middleweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	24–0	Jean Pascal	UD	12	2008-12-06	Trent FM Arena, Nottingham, United Kingdom	Won vacant WBC super-middleweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	23–0	Albert Rybacki	TKO	4 (12)	2008-05-10	Trent FM Arena, Nottingham, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	22–0	Robin Reid	RTD	5 (12)	2007-11-09	Trent FM Arena, Nottingham, United Kingdom	Retained British super-middleweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	21–0	Sergey Tatevosyan	TKO	2 (12)	2007-03-23	Trent FM Arena, Nottingham, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	20–0	Tony Dodson	KO	3 (12)	2006-11-24	Trent FM Arena, Nottingham, United Kingdom	Retained British/Commonwealth super-middleweight titles.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	19–0	Brian Magee	KO	11 (12)	2006-05-26	York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, United Kingdom	Retained British/Commonwealth super-middleweight titles.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	18–0	Dale Westerman	TKO	9 (12)	2006-02-17	York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, United Kingdom	Retained Commonwealth super-middleweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	17–0	Ruben Groenewald	TKO	5 (12)	2005-02-12	Trent FM Arena, Nottingham, United Kingdom	Retained Commonwealth super-middleweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	16–0	Matthew Barney	PTS	12	2005-07-09	Trent FM Arena, Nottingham, United Kingdom	Retained British/Commonwealth super-middleweight titles.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	15–0	Henry Porras	TKO	8 (10)	2005-04-21	Avalon, Hollywood, California, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	14–0	Damon Hague	TKO	1 (12)	2004-09-24	Trent FM Arena, Nottingham, United Kingdom	Retained Commonwealth & won vacant British super-middleweight titles.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	13–0	Mark Woolnaugh	TKO	11 (12)	2004-06-02	Trent FM Arena, Nottingham, United Kingdom	Retained Commonwealth super-middleweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	12–0	Charles Adamu	PTS	12	2004-03-12	Trent FM Arena, Nottingham, United Kingdom	Won Commonwealth super-middleweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	11–0	Dmitry Adamovich	TKO	2 (8)	2004-01-30	Dagenham, Essex, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	10–0	Alan Page	TKO	7 (10)	2003-11-28	Derby, Derbyshire, United Kingdom	Won vacant English super-middleweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	9–0	Vage Kocharyan	PTS	8	2003-10-04	Alexandra Palace, London, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	8–0	Michael Monaghan	TKO	3 (8)	2003-04-16	Trent FM Arena, Nottingham, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	7–0	Varuzhan Davtyan	TKO	5 (8)	2003-03-05	York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	6–0	Valery Odin	TKO	6 (8)	2003-01-28	Trent FM Arena, Nottingham, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	5–0	Mike Duffield	TKO	1 (6)	2002-12-21	Dagenham, London, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	4–0	Paul Bonson	PTS	6	2002-10-25	York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	3–0	Darren Covell	TKO	1 (6)	2002-08-23	York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	2–0	Ojay Abrahams	KO	1 (6)	2002-05-10	York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	1–0	Michael Pinnock	TKO	4 (4)	2002-03-16	York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, United Kingdom	Professional debut.

Titles in boxing

Major World Titles:

• (2) WBC super-middleweight champion (168 lbs)
• IBF super-middleweight champion (168 lbs)
• WBA super-middleweight champion (168 lbs)

Regional/International Titles:

• BBBofC English super-middleweight champion (168 lbs)
• Commonwealth (British Empire) super-middleweight champion (168 lbs)
• BBBofC British super-middleweight champion (168 lbs)

Personal life

Froch was born in Nottingham in 1977. He is of Polish Jewish heritage.^[32] Early in his life Froch wanted to become a footballer and play for Nottingham Forest, his local football team, and has stated that he would love to fight at the City Ground. Froch is an fan of Johnny Cash and is also a historian with regards to combat.^{[citation needed]} His partner is UK glamour model Rachael Cordingley with whom he has a son Rocco and a daughter Natalia.^{[citation needed]}

He is a supporter of Nottingham Forest and occasionally trains at Forest's training ground when a fight is upcoming.^[33][34] He has also appeared on the Sky Sports Saturday Morning Football show Soccer AM the week before a fight.^[35][36]

References

External links

• Official website
• Professional boxing record for Carl Froch from BoxRec