Hennessy takes Froch cause to Manila

Mick Hennessy, the promoter of Carl Froch, will this week travel to Manila for the WBC convention to press the cause for his man to get a shot at the world title.

Froch is ranked No 2 by the WBC and Hennessy wants the organisation to sanction an eliminator between Froch and either Jurgen Brahmer, the No 1 contender from Germany, or Denis Inkin, the No 3 from Russia. If the eliminator is sanctioned, it is likely to be upgraded to be for the vacant title if Joe Calzaghe decides to vacate the belt.

The unbeaten British champion looked in good form on Friday night at Nottingham Arena, putting Robin Reid on the floor three times before the former WBC champion was pulled out by Brian Hughes, his trainer, at the end of the fifth round. For Froch, 30, who has been out of action since March because of a knee injury he sustained playing football, it was just good to get back in the ring.

"I've had five competitive rounds in a year," Froch said. "I got Tony Dodson out of there in three rounds then Sergey Tatevosyan in two, so I wanted the rounds. There's nothing like being here with the crowd and the judges, Robin was strong and fit. This was his last hurrah and he caught me a few times, I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel it.

"I would have been happy to go the 12 rounds, but he didn't have what it takes to go the distance with 'The Cobra'.

"If he [Calzaghe] doesn't move up, I'll be knocking on his door saying 'let's get it on, son', I'll go down to Cardiff, I boxed all over the world as an amateur, I've boxed in America as a pro - a ring's a ring as far as I'm concerned."

But Nottingham Arena was jam-packed last night, breaking it's record for a night of boxing. "Even before the 'walk up', the arena confirmed that it was the biggest attendance for boxing - bigger than for any of Carl's previous fights or the two times Amir Khan boxed here," Hennessy said. "When have you ever seen a crowd like this for a British title fight? Ricky Hatton didn't get crowds like this for a British title fight, it's never been done in the modern era."

But Froch wants a world title. "If I can get an eliminator or win one of the titles if Calzaghe moves up, I'll be a world champion and there will be big bucks and big belts on the table," Froch said. "That's what makes things happen."

Comments

[doncaster boxing]

Carl froch is in my opinion the hardest hitter in the division since nigel benn and gerald mcclellan. that is fact and joe calzaghe knows it.in fact who has joe fought who would trouble froch? Lacy and Kessler and Tocker pudwill and Manfredo wouldnt bother Froch as once he catches them with those big old paws it good night vienna.