By Mark Vester
A few days ago, WBC super middleweight champion Carl Froch lashed out at Joe Calzaghe over some of his recent comments on Showtime's Super Six tournament. Calzaghe said WBA champ Mikkel Kessler was by far the best fighter in the round-robin tournament and he felt Froch was not capable of dealing with the Danish fighter. Calzaghe has responded to Froch's comments in his recent Campaign Series byline.
"Congratulations to Carl Froch for making a winning start in the Super Six tournament with a split decision with over Andre Dirrell, but I have read in the papers I’ve upset him again. In my column in the Argus last week I suggested Carl has a suspect defense and that I thought Mikkel Kessler would have too much for him when the pair meet in March. I also wished Carl all the best for the tournament, because he’s the big hope for British boxing and I am tired of having to talk about him," Calzaghe said.
"But Carl isn’t happy with those comments. He has blasted me, describing me as jealous and saying that it’s just my opinion. He also says I vacated my title so I wouldn’t have to fight Carl. Firstly, of course it’s just my opinion. I don’t have a crystal ball, I can’t guarantee that Kessler will beat Froch, it is just my personal opinion. I didn’t cry about it when Froch tipped Jeff Lacy to beat me, I let my boxing do the talking."
Calzaghe laughed at Froch's comments that accused him of retiring to avoid a fight between the two of them. He hopes Kessler beats Andre Ward on November 21 to set up a perfect fight with Froch in early 2010.
"As for retiring to avoid a fight with Carl Froch, I don’t really have a response to that. I retired undefeated having just won two of the biggest fights of my life in America. One of my sons was crying his eyes out in New York when I fought Jones, begging me not to fight. For the sake of my legacy and family, I decided to call it a day, a decision I am very happy with. Carl Froch obviously wasn’t a factor, the idea is laughable," Calzaghe said.
"From what I’ve heard Froch versus Dirrell wasn’t good (apparently Dirrell was very negative), but we’ll see what Carl is all about against Kessler. I am hoping Kessler wins in America against Andre Ward in a couple of weeks, because it’ll set up the Froch fight perfectly. Carl should be focused on that, not me."
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