Froch: If Eubank Faces Golovkin in September - I'd Be Shocked

By Edward Chaykovsky

Retired former super middleweight champion Carl Froch would be shocked if a fall showdown was finalized between British middleweight champion Chris Eubank Jr. (23-1, 18KOs) and WBC/IBO/WBA/IBF middleweight champion Gennady 'GGG' Golovkin (35-0, 32KOs).

Eubank was in action this past Saturday night when he stopped previously undefeated Tom Doran (17-1, 7KOs) in the fourth round.  Doran went down four times in the contest.

Froch was ringside as an expert analyst for Sky Sports and watched Eubank's performance. He feels the young up and comer is not ready quite yet to face a boxer like Golovkin at world level.

Eubank's only fight with a world level opponent was against current WBO middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders and that saw Eubank lose a close twelve round split decision.

Eubank's promoter, Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Sport, is trying to finalize that fight for a date September in the UK.

Froch, who at one time was involved in discussions to face Golovkin before announcing his retirement, is not convinced that Eubank actually wants that fight in the fall, but he also doesn't see him as a massive underdog in the contest.

“It's a very interesting fight, because I've said it before - when you look at Golovkin’s record there's no any one particular name that jumps out as a world class or proven world class fighter. Because of that, you can't write off anybody against him,” said Froch to IFL TV.

“They say something about Billy Joe Saunders fighting him, and people might laugh at that, but why wouldn't you say that Billy Joe or Chris Eubank can’t get in with Golovkin? You know what I mean? I don’t think the fight should happen straight away, not because I don’t think he can win the fight, I just don’t think he’s quite ready for that level yet."

" He’s a British champion. I’d like to see a British champion defend the British title and win the belt outright and then step up to European, or after that a world title...maybe an eliminator or maybe not. But if he starts beating the drum now for the Golovkin fight, he knows it’s not going to happen for two years anyway. He’s saying all the right things. He don't want the Golovkin fight. That's my opinion. I don’t think he wants to fight Golovkin [in September]. I don’t think he should."

"Don’t ask me whether I think he’ll win or not, because I will just open a can of worms for all the lovers and haters, so I’m not going to say what I think about the fight. I think I've said enough about it. It’s a fight that will be very, very interesting.  I'd certainly like to see it."

If the fight actually comes off, Froch will Eubank a lot of credit for stepping up to the plate when so many other fighters avoided Golovkin.

"They’re talking about it happening in September. If that fight happens in September - I’ll be shocked and I’ll give Eubank Jr. a mass heap of credit, because he deserves it for taking on such a dangerous fight. I'm not gonna give you a prediction,” said Froch.