Froch wants Taylor clash

"Bad Intentions" on the agenda for new WBC super-middleweight champion

Last updated: 7th December 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Froch wants Taylor clash

Crowd pleaser: Froch

Jermain Taylor has bottled it before...He's now Carl's mandatory challenger but it looks like he's already looking for the exit signs.

Mick Hennessy
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Carl Froch's promoter is keen for the newly crowned world champion to take on Jermain Taylor in his first defence.

Froch claimed the WBC super-middleweight title with a unanimous decision over Jean Pascal in Nottingham on Saturday night.

Taylor, the former undisputed middleweight king, is the WBC's mandatory challenger, although promoter Mick Hennessy believes the American is less than keen on sharing a ring with Froch.

"Jermain Taylor has bottled it before," said Hennessy.

"He had a straight shot at Carl but he went into an eliminator against (Jeff) Lacy instead, which was a ridiculous backward step.

Exit signs

"He's now Carl's mandatory challenger but it looks like he's already looking for the exit signs.

"He's already looking to fight (IBF champion) Lucien Bute in his next fight instead, because Bute looked vulnerable in his last fight.

"Carl's the most exciting fighter in world boxing and he didn't have to take risks like that. What he's done tonight is going to make him a marquee star because not only did he beat a brilliant challenger, he beat him in style."

Froch's ultimate long-term ambition remains an open-air showdown at the City Ground, home of his beloved Nottingham Forest, but first he will tentatively plan a first defence in March or April provided his injuries heal.

The 31-year-old needed stitches to his left eye and both fists after a brutal 12 rounds with Pascal, and afterwards revealed he had also suffered a perforated eardrum and a cracked rib in the fight build-up.

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Comments (47)

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Michael Thornberry says...

This is for Reece Packham: Yes Froch is calling out the best. What's wrong with that? He's the champion he has the right to want to fight the best. Would you rather he dodged fights and fought nobodies like Amir Khan and countless other so called big name boxers! You sound ridiculous!

Posted 22:21 20th January 2009

Peter Ginley says...

For people who dismiss Calzaghe as one of the greatest boxers to come from these shores, says to me that you have got more of a personal vendeta against Joe rather a good boxing opinion. Apart from having punching power, everything else he has got is world class. The only person out there that would give Joe a close fight at the moment is Bad Chad Dawson. And I still think he would find a way to win.

Posted 15:22 11th December 2008

Russell Thomas says...

Carl has achieved the first step and won a major world title - FACT. Will he beat Taylor or Kessler? Possibly, so many thought Pacquio could not beat De La Hoya. I believe Carl did well cosidering the perpherated ear drum and cracked rib. But more importantly Carl looked beat before the fight started, Pascal totally out-psyched him, to overcome those nerves is something Audley Harrison never managed! Good luck CarL!

Posted 15:07 11th December 2008

Duncan Smith says...

I think the Froch/Calzaghe debate is pointless as the fight will never happen. All the debate serves to do is dilute support for Froch who is the 'coming man' of British boxing at the moment. He is very exciting and keen on fighting big names ASAP. Calzaghe will most likely retire next year and as such British boxing fans should give Froch a chance. No he may not be as good a Calzaghe but if he continues to provide high octane wars like he did last saturday his support will grow and memories of Calzaghe will fade or at least become less resonant. British Boxing is in a fantastic position thanks to the likes of Hatton and Calzaghe. American's no longer look at British boxers with disdain or mockery. As such, Froch, Haye and Khan can start from a better respect level than hatton or Calzaghe did. They had to earn it the hard way. So forget the intra national comparisons and get on froch/haye/khan's bandwagons...its a good time for british boxing and you should enjoy it

Posted 12:40 11th December 2008

Brett Llewellyn says...

Why the debate? Yes Carl Froch produced a decent performance, deservingly winning the title - but against a fighter with no boxing brain, just a willingness to look for that one 'big punch'. To suggest a fight between him and Calzaghe is ridiculous. Froch could well make a household name for himself but a Calzaghe he will never be. Joe is a master in the ring, superior handspeed and work rate would ensure an easy points victory if not stoppage over Froch. Talk of froch's punching power is irrelevant because Calzaghe's ring intelligence means he rarely gets hit cleanly. Thee''s always this talk of Calzaghe not wanting to fight the likes of hopkins and jones in their prime - what a joke. Boxing legends as they are, they knew the risks Calzaghe posed, a hungry, hugely talented fearless fighter.You Calzaghe critics should consider that they actually ducked him. Good luck Carl Froch, but 46 and 0 says it all!!

Posted 00:55 11th December 2008

Paul Adams says...

Please Mr Froch fight Kessler and we will have the pleasure of seeing hin knock you out, Pavlik also would destroy you in three rounds.

Posted 19:26 10th December 2008

Adam Whiteley says...

come on u guys, i belive most of u are missing the point, i mean wen, on saturday night did joe calzaghe figh? and all most of u are talking about is how good or bad joe is, or how good or bad his opponants have been, the fact is, froch jus become champion, not joe, joe has been champion for years now, leave the guy alone, give froch his due respect, the guy won for christ sake, talk about froch, maybe joe would beat him, maybe he wouldnt, who'd have thought de la hoya would be destroyed by paquioa, i know i didnt, u jus never know do u, bring on jermain taylor to face carl, would be interesting to say the least, maybe he will turn out to be better than most of u are giving him credit for, who knows, i jus know a lot of u will have an egg on your face if he turns out to be one of the greats, but well see huh? support the guy

Posted 17:20 10th December 2008

Reese Packham says...

lets see froch defend the tittle 20+ times then he can start talking about calzaghe. froch is the new jr witter trying 2 make a name by calling out the best end of

Posted 14:58 10th December 2008

Bomber Walker says...

Daniel Huck - you are spot on. There are some real idiots on here such as Stuart Bannerman, Danny Cheung and James Mackenzie. Froch would stand a very good chance of beating Calzaghe, Joe won't be able to hurt Carl with his 'slaps' and Froch is a very hard puncher and the fact is that Joe has been ko'd in his last two fights by lesser punchers. When Joe retires all he will be remembered for is having boring fights with plenty of excuses, fighting a couple of legends past their best and avoiding the best fights around such as Carl Froch. Joe Calzaghe an all-time great? Dont make me laugh!

Posted 13:22 10th December 2008

Owen Ryan says...

I totally agree with Dan Huck, Joe Calzaghe is a fraud and has clung onto that belt for ten years by boxing has been or reality tv 'stars', through his career he has always side stepped fighters like Froch because he has to much to lose not that he cannot an anything, what happened to fighters proving themselves on a domestic level before the claim to be a legend of boxing, people like Calzaghe make it difficult for boxers like Froch and eastman to fulfill there potentil as they have to go the long route to get a title shot sometimes to late, people gave Joe a shot when he was a young domestic champion, isnt it about time he gave Froch a shot??? my thoughts are NO he wont because he will be exposed as the most well managed fighter in history!!!

Posted 11:04 10th December 2008

Daniel Huck says...

MKULEKO NCUBE - 2 judges didn't give it 118-110 WAYNE LLOYD - Calzaghe isn't top 5 British - Stupid DAVE APPLEBY - Apart from Kessler who has JC beat in his prime ? Dont say Lacy he'd had 26 fights and look at him since STEPHEN MAYLEY - Calzaghe has been hit twice in two fights and been dropped ! MANJOT SINGH - moron !! JT avoided fighting for the title and opted to fight in an eliminator for the same belt - Your Sir are a clown

Posted 09:29 10th December 2008

Big Man dem says...

froch is good fighter but calzaghe would destroy him, froch would not be able to touch him he would get slapped silly

Posted 00:42 10th December 2008

Stuart Bannerman says...

Bomber - How can you say Joe has no punch resistance? That would imply that he has been ko'd. The man has beaten every fighter put in front of him, including one of the best fighters for over a decade in Bernard Hopkins. Calzaghe is up there with the likes of Pacquaio for best pound for pound fighter in the world, and is one of the greatest Super Middleweights of all time. Get a grip man.

Posted 14:05 9th December 2008

Rob Hanns says...

if carl froch defend his wbc tittle,he can be worth a shot of jc,but to my mine joe aint really done anything look at hes record,to be a legend its not to be unbeaten but to fight the best lets look at when joe should of fought steve collins making excuses,ok why did joe fight the winner out of clinton woodsvsglen johnson,joe prefer johnson but run away from woods,did not fight hopkins&jones at their best,could of fought s.ottl that unbeaten german,look at james tony,ronald wright,tarver,duck all them at their peaks then run away from defending the super middleweight tittles,wbc,wba,ibf,then go up to light heavy weight and said i will clear up the light heavy weight but aint fought non of thoses guys for their tittles,now come on joe your just going for records,they say joe very good at winnning just rounds,now hes running out of easy fighters what next call out steve collins and nigel benn or how about marvin hagler,sugar ray leonard or thomas hearns so joe can go into the hall of fame to be a legend,i notice when pac man beat de la hoya they say hoya was pass it,if hatton would have beat him they would say hes a legend the same as joe beating jones and hopkins,like when lewis beat tyson the say lewis beat a tired tyson,records if joe wants to beat a unbeaten record should look at julio cesar chavez he was unbeaten 82 fights now thats a record even if he should of got beaten earlier,lets look when joe fought robin reid,joe always fighting easy boxers,reid only had weeks to prepare to fight joe,joe let the ibf super middle weight tittle go to fight a fighter from a show called the contenders thats a joke joe fought two boxers from that show,now joe could fight dawson who just beat tarver which joe would of jump to fight tarver joe knows by fighting dawson hes record might go,and if that goes he has nothing,joe should retire and let proper boxers in the uk box for proper tittles,warren got a part to blame too,lol..

Posted 14:00 9th December 2008

David O'donnell says...

I think its clear to see from this fight that Froch is operating at world class level. Super Middle is my favourite division (mainly due to Calzaghe), and aside from Kessler i can't see many other Super Middle's that outclass Froch! JT is a good boxer and does have power in this division but he can't take a punch (see the Pavlik fight). Carl should beat Taylor, but he should avoid like the plague Kessler and Calzaghe if he want to keep his perfect record! Calzaghe and Kessler are another level. A fight with Pavlik would also be interesting, with Froch winning in my opinnion(Pavlik got found out against hopkins, he has limited boxing skills, over hyped American i think!)

Posted 11:17 9th December 2008

Neil Toosweet says...

I honestly thought that Froch had always made basic mistakes that either he knew he could get away with at the level he was boxing, or others in the know knew something I had'nt seen! It must have been that people in the know, knew!!! his chin is AWSOME!!!!!!! Froch will be so exiteing! but that chin can only last so long! but Hey! lets enjoy it while it does, wow wow wow,! thank you carl froch!!!! n please dont stay around to long after you make your fortune!!!!

Posted 19:07 8th December 2008

James Mackenzie - smith says...

Well if you didn't find the RJJ bout entertaining enough, surely you did find the Kessler one of some entertainment, or the Lacy scrap. Or the many fights before that, such as Robin Reid off the top of my head. Rediculous to say you can't remember Joe being in an entertaining fight.

Posted 17:16 8th December 2008

Chris Walsh says...

Well done to Froch, He's become a world champ now and noone can take that away from him. Whether He truly is 'world class' however, still remains to be seen. I think that if He does fight taylor next, he may get exposed by Taylor's jab and I can see a convincing win points win for JT. He needs to fight decent opposition though and JT would be a good test for him... Stay away from Mikkel Kessler though. Kessler would destroy Froch within 3 rounds EASILY!

Posted 16:21 8th December 2008

Danny Cheung says...

bomber you obviously dont know what your talking about. Have you seen the Calzaghe Kessler fight? the shots he took in that fight were equal to the punches that Froch gives. Calzaghes speed would be to much for him, he wouldnt be able to hit or dodge Calzaghe. Jermain Taylor vs Froch would be a good fight. Both strong lads with good chins. Taylor's speed isnt exactly brilliant but he would be alot quicker than Froch which would give Taylor the edge for me but at the same time his chin isnt as steady as Froch's. The best fight i think possible for Froch would be him and Kessler. What a fight that would be. 2 big hitters standing toe to toe. Kessler possible victor?

Posted 15:45 8th December 2008

Giovanni Sechi says...

I think it was a great fight and a good performance, but Froch looks far from the finished article. The Calzaghe fight is a complete non-starter, but for another 6 or 7 fights I would avoid Pavlik and Kessler like the plague. If he could get Taylor it would be good to compare how he does compared to Pavlik. Lucien Bute would be another good option. I was at the Calzaghe v Kessler fight and about half way through it looked like Kessler would win it. It was only Calzaghe's ability to adapt that won the fight. I think Kessler could have a shot at unifying the division if he can arrange the fights.

Posted 15:23 8th December 2008
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