Carl Froch was once, in his words, “just a skinny white kid from England.” Few Americans knew much about him, figuring he likely was another overhyped fighter from the UK who would fade once his competition improved.
But because of Showtime’s super middleweight tournament, Froch has proven to be one of the more entertaining and competitive boxers in the sport. Tonight, he faces veteran Glen Johnson at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City for the right to reach the finals of the World Boxing Classic.
Froch, 33, made a name for himself in April 2009 when behind on the scorecards, he knocked out Jermain Taylor in the 12th round to defend his WBC super middleweight crown. He then entered the Super Six tournament where he is 2-1 with victories over Andre Dirrell and Arthur Abraham sandwiched around a loss by decision to Mikkel Kessler.
Froch (27-1, 20 KOs) will be defending the WBC title tonight, but more importantly looking to advance to the tournament finals where unbeaten WBA champion and former gold medalist Andre Ward awaits tonight’s victor.
“I can’t wait to put on a good show against a good fighter like Glen Johnson,” Froch said. “I’m coming in to this fight, very, very primed. I’m feeling really, really fit and strong. This is an opportunity for me to show that I’m a pay-per-view fighter, and I’m not going to waste it.”
Johnson, a former light heavyweight champion, was one of three boxers added to the tournament when three original participants — Taylor, Dirrell and Kessler — withdrew because of injuries. Johnson (51-14-2, 35 KOs) defeated Allan Green on an eighth-round TKO last November in his only bout of the tournament. Even at age 42, Johnson remains a dangerous opponent.
“I know boxing inside out,” Johnson said. “I’m just going in there confident and to use my skills. Froch is a great fighter. I have no disrespect for him. This is about business and I’m going in there to win the fight.”
Johnson is a straight-ahead fighter who doesn’t mind taking a few punches to deliver his own blows.
“It’s going to be brutal if he keeps walking forward and taking shots,” Froch said. “I’m going to be fresh, fit and strong and powerful, throwing combinations from Round 1 to Round 12. It’s going to be 12 rounds of hell if that’s what’s needed.”
The tournament was first announced in the summer of 2009 and has survived withdrawals and postponements. Yet, the brainstorm of Showtime executive Ken Hershman has accomplished its goal of creating a series of meaningful and competitive fights.
“It’s a shame the original six aren’t all in there,” Froch said. “But that just shows how hard this tournament is. It’s not just the mental game. But it’s also the physical side of things. The final person to hold the Super Six trophy will have withstood the test of time physically and mentally.”
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Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. fights for his first world title tonight when he challenges Sebastian Zbik of Germany (30-0, 10 KOs) for his WBC middleweight title at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. HBO will televise. Chavez (42-0-1, 30 KOs) will be trying to win his first title in the same city where his father, boxing legend Julio Cesar Chavez, won his first title at the Olympic Auditorium.
“This is the perfect opportunity for me to create my own history,” Chavez Jr. said.
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A statue of the late IBF lightweight champion Leavander Johnson will be unveiled today during an 11 a.m. ceremony at Center City Park in Atlantic City. Johnson died in 2005 from injuries suffered in a fight while defending his title. … Brooklyn’s Zab Judah will face Amir Khan in a junior welterweight unification bout July 23 at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.