Froch ready for Williams
WBC challenger warming up for potential Calzaghe showdown
Last updated: 5th May 2008
Froch: Wants to fight Calzaghe
Williams deserves a lot of credit. He's obviously prepared to fight anyone, he has a true fighters' heart, unfortunately I can't say the same for Inkin or Berrio.
Carl Froch
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Carl Froch will step up his bid for a world title showdown with Joe Calzaghe by taking on Rubin Williams at the Trent FM Arena in Nottingham on Saturday.
Froch had been due to face Denis Inkin in an eliminator to become the mandatory challenger for the WBC's super-middleweight title.
However with Inkin pulling out of the contest for the second time, the WBC has made Froch their No.1 contender for the belt currently held by Calzaghe.
And Froch will look to close in on a fight with Calzaghe - should he return to the 12st division following his victory over Bernard Hopkins at light-heavyweight - by beating Williams.
Froch had seemed set to fight Alejandro Berrio on the bill at Nottingham - which will also feature WBC light-welterweight champion Junior Witter's third world title defence against Timothy Bradley - but the Colombian also pulled out.
Promoter Mick Hennessy said: "Williams has stepped up to the plate so fair play to him. Others like Alejandro Berrio didn't after his team verbally agreeing to fight Carl 10 days ago.
"After Denis Inkin pulled out twice, and then Team Berrio changing their minds, Carl is obviously the one everyone wants to avoid now in the super-middleweight division. But Carl will fight for the prestigious WBC title in the fight after this one, so he can't afford any mishaps."
Credit
Although Froch is full of praise for Williams stepping in at late notice, he is determined to put on a show to reinforce his standing in the ranks.
He said: "Williams is a tall, rangy box puncher so he will be a good test for me, he has been very active this year and has already fought against two world-class fighters that's why he is ready to fight me right now.
"Williams deserves a lot of credit. He's obviously prepared to fight anyone, he has a true fighters' heart, unfortunately I can't say the same for Inkin or Berrio.
"I've heard all of Inkin's excuses, viruses, bad back, etc; I don't buy it for a second. After doing this a second time to me the man's got no honour he is a coward, he does not deserve to share a ring with me.
"I am disappointed with Team Inkin for allowing this to happen. I could compile a list of things that have gone wrong with me in the lead up to both of these fights, from viruses to injuries to everyday niggles, but as fighters we would never fight if we took Team Inkin's attitude.
"Berrio was just as bad by mucking us about, one minute saying he was in and the next saying he was out.
"It doesn't matter who is in the corner though, I will still win in style and show everyone why Joe Calzaghe is avoiding me."
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Comments
James Griffiths says...
Froch is a decent boxer but he got to be careful making his way up the ladder, personally i think froch would get a thumping against the likes of kessler! He hasnt really beat anyone of any significance. He got potential but if he is going to call out the big names all at once hes gunna get humiliated. Froch vs reid was a joke everyone is pretty clued up on that, no dissrespect to reid! Youve got to appretiate that frocky is ambitious but hed be sleeping with tha fishes if he got into a ring with the likes of calzaghe!
Posted 13:37 7th May 2008
Nathaniel Bell says...
Calzaghe looked like the overrated fighter he is when he narrowly beat grandad hopkins....Lacy's hype was proved to be nothing more than that i mean his biggest win was probly robin reid...lol...as for kessler hes not much better..just the governing bodies best option. Which Truly WORLD CLASS boxer other than Eubanks on the way out has Calzaghe beaten...He slaps with his punches as we all saw against hopkins...I think Froch would suprise all u Calzaghe fanboys/girls and knock him out like hopkins could've done. I mean Calzaghe is no De La Hoya/ Mayweather/ Cotto...all fighters who beacame superstars long before their final furlong becos they constantly dominated the best around as soon as possible. Is Pavlik really that much better class-wise than froch...chec k his fights with taylor and you'll see probly not...as for Jones he just beat a man who hadnt boxed for 5+ years is that really the fight of a legend...lol only in english eyes..Calzaghe is very good dats it!!
Posted 05:50 7th May 2008
James Carr says...
Froch is no doubt a good fighter but he surely realises that joe is after some major purses in the twilight of his career. Perhaps when Carl has beaten everyone put in front of him and is chasing the big money in Vegas, he will be just as inclined to duck the latest up-and-coming fighter.
Posted 17:30 6th May 2008
Greg Cheverall says...
Joe won't step in with Froch. Never happen. Froch has to call him out to try and make it happen, i dont think it's disrespect. Froch is a potential long term champ, Joe deserves his pay days. Keep em apart
Posted 17:19 6th May 2008
Dominic Gordon says...
Let's get one thing straight here, Froch is a world class fighter. Joe won't fight at 168lbs again, Joe needs to be fighting Box office names now. Jones and Tarver are the only names that the Americans would want to see in the same ring as Joe. Joe has been in this business for countless years and he deserves his paydays. Froch wont give him that! Joe will have to relinqish his titles soon so maybe a battle between Froch and Kessler for the Vacant belts!!
Posted 14:43 6th May 2008
Stephen Mayley says...
Carl Froch would not stand a chance against Joe!! If you study Froch is defence is not existant and Joe would exploit this and take him out within 3 rounds. Froch should fight Kessller and should he win it, which i think he would not, only then can he earn the right to fight Joe!
Posted 13:08 6th May 2008
Matt Trousdale says...
Froch should not be calling out somebody of Joe Calzaghe's class until he beats a Lacy or a Kessler & proves himself on the world stage. At the end of the day, Joe, is now a superstar & quite rightly is looking for the big pay days as he comes to the latter stage of his career. There's no doubting Froch is good & will probably win a world title at some stage, but i think Calzaghe would beat him if they fought anytime soon.
Posted 12:10 6th May 2008
Dave Coope says...
Froch v Calzaghe, Witter v Hatton, Fights everybody wants to see but im afraid calzaghe and hatton aint fighting to increase there reputations anymore, just there bank balances
Posted 12:02 6th May 2008
Wesley Graham says...
Froch would dismantle Calzaghe with Power and Accuracy! But the same reason why Hatton wont fight Witter, is that if they lose then Froch and Witter would now be the main men!! Not a chance Calzaghe or Hatton would risk losing that status for a smaller pay check then fighting a has-been in the states. C'mon guys put your ego's aside and give the public what they want to see!
Posted 10:21 6th May 2008
Richard h says...
i think froch calzaghe would be a good fight, people dont realise how hard froch can hit and how quick he is!calzaghe in his day would put him away but i just dont think he has the power now!if he did beat froch it would be his boxing brian that did it and it would be on points!the only thing that is stoppin the fight is money!calzaghe can fight has beens for 10 times the pay day as froch and not get hurt!take the easy money joe!
Posted 00:53 6th May 2008
Glen Deadman says...
froch, i think you will become world champ, you are good, very good infact you could clean up but calzaghe is now a great. you might be one day and i hope you will be, i went out to vegas to watch him come back and beat someone, (hopkins) who has been in with the best and beaten the best for 20 years. After being put down in the first! calzaghe came back and beat the executioner, carl, start beating top 10 contenders b4 you call out the best 168 lbr ever, you don't need him and he doesn't you, like ali didn't need tyson! clean up 168 now and we will be flying out to vegas to watch you soon and we will.
Posted 22:55 5th May 2008
Sam S says...
Froch is the mandatory challenger to Calzaghe's WBC belt so therefore he is rightly calling him out. Undoubtably JC will not fight him as he is looking for a big paydays for his retirement from boxing. Froch has shown his boxing process and respectability in Inkin and Berrio both pulling out. I honestly believe one day Froch could be Champion but not whilst JC is king.
Posted 17:41 5th May 2008
Wayne Smith says...
froch fight someone like lacy or kessler before you fight joe it would be over with in 6 rounds joe is too far ahead of you at this stage of your career and if you fight joe which i dont think will ever happen your undefeated record will go
Posted 17:39 5th May 2008
Darren Gibbons says...
All you guys are wrong big time! joe's a slapper not a puncher! dont get me wrong, his slaps seem to do the job, but he's not that good. When joe gets into the ring with a big name he struggles. e.g kessler who has he fought? and against old man hopkins, that was one of the worst fights ive watched. If he cant get rid of oldman hopkins, hes no chance against the mighty froch. Froch would beat joe,no dout!easy pie
Posted 17:29 5th May 2008
Andy Russell says...
You all talk like Froch is domestic level, that Calzaghe is a different class. Fools! Froch would give Joe a better fight than most of his opponents. Froch was 2001 World Champs bronze medallist with a good amateur pedigree, and has comfortably beaten those actually willing to fight him. I am not saying Froch would beat Joe, but to slag him off the way some of you have is pathetic.
Posted 15:49 5th May 2008
Andy R says...
half of these comments don't make any sense. 1. calzaghe ain't that great, he beat a 42 yr old grandad in a very boring fight. kessler & lacy were average at best. 2. you say no-one has heard of froch, no-one had heard of calzaghe till he fought eubank, everyone has to start at bottom. 3. froch will be world champ for years to come. only thing i do agree with is that it's true that this fight will probably never happen cos calzaghe will relinquish his titles & fight roy jones & tarver.
Posted 15:44 5th May 2008
Rich S says...
Froch deserves respect because he trains and fights that is hard enough in itself, however I dont think he would beat a motivated Calzaghe, who is now at superstar status in world boxing. . . He does stand a chance though if it ever happens.
Posted 15:26 5th May 2008
Scott Healey says...
sorry carl, you are good, and will become a serious world title holder. and people are scared to fight you. but get a grip, your not in joes league. and your not on his radar. he doesnt need you, you need him.
Posted 14:34 5th May 2008
Kris Henderson says...
froch would get eaten alive by kessler let alone joe , calzaghe is the best so he fights the best , who has froch really fought. get a grip . you aint nothing !!!!!
Posted 14:02 5th May 2008
James Bennett says...
froch fight mikel kessler and beat him before trying to say joe avoiding you
Posted 13:33 5th May 2008
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