By Terence Dooley
Eddie Hearn is standing firm on behalf of Carl Froch as negotiations continue with Lucian Bute over a two-legged showdown between the two super-middleweights. IBF boss Bute contacted Froch after the ‘The Cobra’ lost the Super Six final to Andre Ward, the French-Canadian’s team have offered Froch an April 14th date in Montreal only for Hearn to insist that any deal must include a UK return unless there is a shutout or KO in the first leg.
“It has to be right for us,” reiterated Hearn when speaking to BoxingScene.com about the discussions. “The fans like the fight. We won’t do anything silly. We’ll take it if the money’s right and there’s a return here in Britain. I am also looking at other opportunities for Carl to fight at the end of April or May at the Nottingham Arena in some kind of elimination match and then the rematch with Mikkel Kessler at the end of the summer should Mikkel win the WBO title from (WBO titlist) Robert Stieglitz in April.
“Carl’s enjoying the rest at the minute. He’s just at home now waiting on that dreaded call from me to tell him to get his arse back into the gym. Carl deserves a fight in Nottingham, the public wants it and we want to deliver that. Carl’s used to earning a certain amount of money so we have to match those figures. If it means going back over to America for a world title then so be it. But we hope that his next fight will be in Nottingham.”
Froch struggled to cope with Ward’s speed and boxing ability in Atlantic City. However the 34-year-old is still one of the top boys at 168lbs. Hearn feels that Carl lost to one of the best super-middleweights in recent memory. “Andre’s very, very good, he picks you off from the outside then ties you up in the inside and we were surprised by how strong he is,” admitted Hearn.
“Carl got off to a terrible start, he wanted to get off to a fast start but that didn’t happen, so he was behind by the seventh round and then did well from the eighth onward. The better man won on the night but Carl’s a warrior so he took it on the chin and knows he has to build himself back up if he wants to get the rematch. Ward’s a very good fighter, not the most exciting to watch but he’s good at what he does.”
As for Hearn, Eddie followed his father Barry into the sport of boxing despite having other options available to him. He is clearly relishing his time in the sport, telling me that the challenge of bringing a bit of order to this chaotic business has kept a spring in his step.
“I love it,” he enthused when asked if he is still enjoying his role. “Some people spur me on more and more everyday – I think I’ve given everyone else a kick up the arse to be honest with you.”
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