Hearn: Carl Froch's Realistic Options - Golovkin, DeGale

By Shaun Brown

Carl Froch’s former promoter Eddie Hearn has spoken to Boxing Scene about today’s comments from the former world super middleweight champion about at a possible comeback.

The now 38-year-old had spoken about a return to action next spring possibly against IBF champion James DeGale. Froch hasn’t fought since his spectacular knockout of George Groves in May 2014 at Wembley Stadium and retired from boxing in July this year.

“It’s an easy job for me and he’s world champion,” said Froch when talking about DeGale. who makes his first defence against Lucian Bute on November 28 in Canada.

Hearn says that the option is there for his former star attraction but will only be there for the remainder of 2016 because of his age.

“If he was the kind of person that after over a year out had ballooned in weight, had led a bad lifestyle then my advice would be there’s no way back at that age but he’s not. He’s probably inside 13 stone, he’s training most days and I don’t think anything has changed in his ability to compete since the George Groves fight in which he put in a great performance."

The Matchroom supremo said that negotiations for a fight between Froch and DeGale would be “extremely difficult”.

“Carl would want a huge amount of money to return and James would have the mentality that he’s champion going into that fight."

One name that hasn’t completely gone away is Gennady Golovkin. The Kazakh superstar who currently is wrecking his way through all things middleweight remains by far the most lucrative option for Froch.

“I know Carl has a curiosity about the Gennady Golovkin fight not so much from a financial perspective but just because he’s curious at how good Golovkin really is and sickly enough how hard Golovkin actually punches," commented Hearn.

"I think the only realistic options are James DeGale and Gennady Golovkin but you have another Brit fighting for a world title in Martin Murray against Arthur Abraham. Victory for Murray could bring in another option.

“I know what I paid him for the Wembley fight and I know what I'd have to pay him to entice home back and when you’re talking about those kind of numbers you’re only talking about some very selective fights!”

Shaun Brown is Boxing Scene’s UK Editor. Follow him on Twitter @sbrown2pt0 or contact him at sbrownboxing@gmail.com