British News Roundup: Carl Froch, Brook Rips Khan, More

By Terence Dooley

Parts of America may be snowed under at the moment, but here in the U.K. the weather is surprisingly mild and the early-January boxing freeze is showing signs of thawing as fights are getting made, claims are flying about and former fighters are still hitting the headlines.

Carl Froch may have retired from the sport yet he can still attract attention.  When the Nottingham Post fired out a headline that read ‘Froch eyes a date at renamed arena Nottingham Arena’ earlier today a few fans may have assumed that “The Cobra” is ready to get back down to business, just not in front of 80,000 people at Wembley this time.

Froch, though, told Jemma Page of the Post that the only event he has any interest in is as far removed from one of his blood and thunder bouts as possible.

 “It's a fantastic arena here in my home town—long live the Nottingham [Motorpoint] Arena,” said Froch when asked about the recently renamed Arena.

“I've not got anything booked yet but I have three kids now, so I'm looking at Disney on Ice in May. We went last year and it was great and the kids loved it.”

Froch has fond memories of the venue, he won the WBC 168lb title there by beating Jean Pascal in 2008, the first of his world title wins.  Now, though, he is getting behind his brother’s attempt to crack the sport.

Lee Froch has followed in his Carl’s footsteps and has the full support of his 38-year-old sibling.  "[I]t would be nice to see my brother, Lee 'The Renovator' Froch, fill this place in one of his future fights, as he's now semi-professional,” added Froch.

************************************************************

Kell Brook is a long way off retirement, the 29-year-old IBF welterweight title-holder recently took time out from talking about his long mooted fight with Amir Khan to discuss March’s bout against mandatory challenger Kevin Bizier.

Both Brook and the British boxing fans seem a little underwhelmed by the fight, which was placed on his toes by the IBF, but he has to take it if he wishes to keep his belt.  Furthermore, the staccato nature of the Khan negotiations has left him with few other options bar what is essentially a “keep Bizier” fight.

“I'm going to go in there all guns blazing and get rid of this guy in style,” said Brook, (35-0, 24 early) when speaking to David Pye of The Bolton News.

“If we can't get the kid from Bolton then I'd like to get Danny Garcia in a unification, the Shawn Porter vs. Keith Thurman winner, the Manny Pacquiao vs. Timothy Bradley winner—I just want to have a massive fight in the summer.”

He added: “Khan has got no respect for me and that is what makes me want to punch him in the face even harder.  For him to dictate terms to me, the champion, makes me laugh.

“I want that fight, every boxing fan in Britain and beyond wants the fight, even all the other fighters in the divisions want to watch us fight: it's THE fight that is being talked about.  It would kill him losing to me, when he was chasing Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao he could live with losing to them, but he couldn't lose to me and live with it after slagging me off for years.”

************************************************************

Some fighters blame anyone and everyone for loses or shortcomings, so it is nice to see a boxer admit that he has made a few mistakes and needs to rectify those mistakes in order to move on.

Middlesbrough's Simon Vallily (7-0, 1 KO) netted a Commonwealth Games gold medal in Delhi in 2010 yet has only had seven professional contests since turning over in March 2013.

Injury and incarceration have been to blame, as well as promotional problems, but he has vowed to kick on after being released in October after serving four months for breaching a restraining order that was taken out by his former partner.

“The only person that has beaten me so far is myself,” he told Adam Steel of the Gazette Live.  “I'm my own worst enemy and I'm sick of it, to be honest.  I still don't see anyone in the British cruiserweight division out there to bother me, and I would fight any one of them.

“But any Tom, Dick or Harry can say they are the best cruiserweight in the country—it's about going out and showing it.  I've got the talent, I'm in brilliant physical condition and I've got brilliant genetics.  At the same time, I know I've got demons to keep in check and I've been here before.  How many times is it that I've said I'm going to push forward?  I'm going to let my fists do the talking from now on.”

Sparring sessions with Tony Bellew have increased his confidence, and getting on local promoter Phil Jeffries’s March 5 bill at the Rainton Meadows Arena has increased his chances of lining up a decent run of nights.  It is time for the cruiserweight to reward trainer Mike Marsden’s faith in him and put the wheels back on a career that hit the skids.

************************************************************

Fight fans often mire themselves in misery, throwing “cold water scepticism” over anything positive—I’m guilty of it myself, it’s probably the mind-set you need to survive life as a boxing fan—but sometimes fighters do something that you cannot knock them for.

Recently-minted WBO middleweight titlist Billy Joe Saunders (23-0, 12 early) gave Rhyl’s Michael Fitzpatrick a boost by getting in touch to praise the Welshman for his efforts in raising cash for the Ty Gobaith Children's Hospice, who took care of his daughter.

She suffers from hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, a form of brain damage caused by a lack of blood and oxygen, and is the driving force behind her father’s charity drive.  The story popped up in today’s Daily Post (North Wales) courtesy of Jez Hemming, who just reported the facts and didn’t try to dress anything up.

Saunders got in touch via video message through a mutual friend, Adam Calland, and had words of support and advice for Fitzpatrick, who is due to run the London marathon later this year.  Facebook requests started to flood through and the concerned father is well on his way to his hoped for £1,900 charity haul.

“It made my day to see that video,” stated Fitzpatrick.  “I'm more chuffed that he mentioned my name.  It's special because I'm doing all this for my daughter but it was like it was a little bit for me.”

He added: “Ty Gobaith are absolutely amazing—they take the pressure off. It's just nice acting like a normal family.”

Please send news and views to @Terryboxing.