Carl Froch not about to take his new opponent lightly

After he beat Robin Reid last November, the last thing on Carl Froch's mind was a six-month absence from the ring. But things seldom work out completely as they are planned. While Froch's progress in 2007 was held up by injuries, this year has been hindered by injuries to his would-be opponents.
Yesterday, Froch got another new opponent, when it was announced that he will now face Albert Rybacki of Poland at the Trent FM Arena, Nottingham, tomorrow. It is his fourth opponent in about a fortnight and that brings its own dangers.

Froch, the 30-year-old British super-middleweight champion, had been due to face Denis Inkin in a final eliminator for Joe Calzaghe's WBC title. Inkin pulled out claiming a back injury, having earlier delayed the bout six weeks when he was affected by a virus. So Froch was handed the mandatory spot anyway, good on the one hand, although he was denied the chance of a win over a big name opponent.

That seemed to have been sorted out when Alejandro Berrio, the former IBF champion, took the contest, only to change his mind. In stepped Rubin Williams, but he never even left the United States before he was out and now Rybacki is in.

The best thing you can say about Rybacki is that he is unbeaten in 15 bouts, although he is 37 and took eight years to have 15 contests. Actually, the best thing is that he holds a 2002 win over Tony Dodson, the former British champion. But Froch will have to remember that he now has a ranking to protect so he must do a professional job. While a win over Rybacki will not bring the same plaudits as a win over Inkin, a loss is unthinkable.

He might be annoyed, but Froch has not been unduly disturbed by the regular changes.

"It's not ideal mentally," he said before the latest withdrawal. "Luckily I've got a big amateur pedigree and you would turn up at tournaments in Finland, Copenhagen or Canada and box four times in a week - tall, short, southpaw, orthodox, punchers, boxers, a big range, and you do not know who you box until you weigh-in in the morning. So I am sort of used to opponents chopping and changing.

"I'm very strong minded. Robert McCracken [his trainer] keeps my feet firmly on the ground and keeps me focused on the job at hand. I'm too professional to take him lightly.

"I'm at the stage of my career where I'm on the fringe of fighting for a world title, the WBC, which to me is the best title in the world. I'm ready to take on all-comers, anyone who wants to challenge me. Inkin was a decent opponent, unbeaten, a top-level opponent. So, mentally, it's a bit of a blow, but physically I'm ready.

"I'm ready to do a job on whoever turns up on Saturday. I feel like a lightning bolt, ready to explode."

Realistically, Calzaghe will not face Froch. If he does box at super-middleweight again, I am sure it would only be against Kelly Pavlik. So, who would Froch be likely to face if he boxes for the vacant WBC title?

Froch is No 1 in the latest rankings, with Inkin, who is presumably now out of the picture, No 2. Next is Mikkel Kessler, who is believed to be boxing Dimitri Sartison for the vacant WBA title next month. (This one has confused me as, while Calzaghe is the real WBA champion, they do run a "normal" world title when their champions unify title. However, I thought Anthony Mundine held this.)

At No 4 is Jermain Taylor, which would be good, but unlikely. Then there is Edison Miranda, who is boxing Arthur Abraham next month, which brings us right down to No 6, where there is Jean Pascal, an unbeaten Canadian (originally from Haiti).

Now, Pascal, who boxed at the 2004 Olympics, is scarcely a name to gets hearts racing, but, from what I've seen, he's an exciting, if crude, out-and-out slugger. He has boxed in England before, he won the 2002 Commonwealth Games gold medal in Manchester, beating Paul Smith in the light-middleweight final. And he could be coming to an arena in the Midlands soon.

In another major blow, John Fewkes pulled out of his bout with John Murray on the same bill. This battle of unbeaten lightweights was one of the most intriguing fights of the year, but may now never happen.

Comments

[Ron Lewis]

Taylor is a good match, but I doubt he would come out of America and I doubt the money Taylor would want would be available in the US.
I think Murray has the potential to get to the top, but he needs to calm down a bit, as he comes from the Ricky Hatton school of out of training living. I don't think he would have been moved any better by Frank Warren. Murray has had his problems - an injury he picked up winning the WBC Youth title in 2005 slowed him down and he missed a fight last year after he fell off his bike. But he's boxed three times in the US, including on the Mayweather-De La Hoya bill, and once in Canada. He needs to step up, however. The Fewkes fight being off is a blow and he had hoped to be facing Jon Thaxton by now.

[Nik Wheatley]

Hi Ron I don't understand......why is Jermain Taylor unlikely? He needs a credible belt and a credible performance and Froch needs a credible name on his CV. Seems to make perfect sense for both?

Also how highly do you rate John Murray? I have seen him a few times now (though not since Witter-Morua) and keep thinking he looks awesome. Can't help but think if he was with Warren he would be much further on by now.