Golovkin's Coach Rips Carl Froch: He Retired, Didn't Back Up Talk

By Radio Rahim

In recent weeks, retired former super middleweight champion Carl Froch has taken his fair share of verbal shots at WBA/WBC/IBF/IBO middleweight champion Gennady 'GGG' Golovkin (35-0, 32KOs).

When the fight was first announced, Froch rained down his criticism on Golovkin's decision to fight IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook.

Brook moves up by thirteen pounds to take the fight on September 10th at the O2 Arena in London.

A few days ago, Froch revealed his personal pound-for-pound list, where he ranked off the 10 best fighters in the world.

Froch listed Golovkin in the number eight position. That decision drew a lot of questions, since many of the more credible pound-for-pound lists have Golovkin ranked within the top five.

Froch explained exactly why he believes Golovkin is not deserving of a top five position.

"For all the talk of fighting from 154-168-pounds, Triple G just hasn't fought anyone to justify his lofty place for me. I've literally never heard of some of his recent victims - it's a shame there isn't a prime Kelly Pavlik or Jermaine Taylor at 160-pounds nowadays. Even the early 160-pound Arthur Abraham or the pre-Pavlik Edison Miranda would have took it to him and then we could gauge him," Froch told Sky Sports.

"He's looked great in all his outings, but it's opponents we need to see and not just hear gym stories. I don't think he'll run through Kell Brook like many others are saying at all. I also think Billy Joe Saunders and Chris Eubank Jr would give him a fight."

Abel Sanchez, who trains Golovkin, has paid attention to some of Froch's recent statements. He says the Nottingham fighter has absolutely no room to criticize Golovkin based on the outcome of last year's negotiations.

According to Sanchez, Froch received a very lucrative offer to face Golovkin - who was willing to move up to 168 and travel over to fight in the UK - but Froch unexpectedly announced his retirement when the two sides believed a deal was close.

"He's missing the fact that he doesn't read when he keeps talking all that crap. He retired. They offered him a contract. They offered him the fight. They offered him great money - but he retires. He's missing the point that when you talk - you should be able to back it up. Kell Brook stepped up, Carl Froch didn't," Sanchez told BoxingScene.com.