Froch: Loeffler Realized My Size, Kept Golovkin Away

By Edward Chaykovsky

Former super middleweight champion Carl Froch says promoter Tom Loeffler of K2 Promotions seemed intimidated when they met face to face at Saturday's huge event in Dusseldorf, where Tyson Fury upset Wladimir Klitschko for the heavyweight titles.

Froch spoke to Loeffler about facing middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin at a catch-weight. He believes Loeffler realized the size difference and made up his mind that a fight with Golovkin was a bad idea. The two sides were negotiating earlier this year before Froch announced his retirement from boxing.

"When he took one look at me, shook my hand and looked up at me, I think he thought, 'Blimey, I didn't think he was that big!,'" Froch told Sky Sports.

"Look at those pictures with Golovkin and Amir Khan that night [on Twitter]; they are about the same size - and I am massive compared to them both. Golovkin hasn't fought anyone near my size. The last guy [David] Lemieux was probably his biggest but is he going to jump in with someone as big as me, who is proved at world level, and is bigger and stronger? Unfortunately for the fans I am retired, I am happily retired and I am staying retired."

Froch claimed Loeffler would not allow Golovkin to come near him for a face to face meeting and allegedly kept the unbeaten puncher away.

"We were just chatting about fighting at a catchweight but [Loeffler] didn't want him [Golovkin] to come near me," Froch said. "[Loeffler] didn't say anything, he didn't want to agree to anything - it didn't even sound like he wanted [Golovkin] to even come up to 168-pounds. As soon as that was mentioned he was straight on to talking about fighting Canelo [Alvarez].

"But not only am I enjoying retirement, even though I am still fit, I am not going to get down to 168 at this stage of my life. It wouldn't be good for my health."