By Frank Warren
Established TV companies have nixed Carl Froch so his recent fight with Mikkel Kessler was carried by newcomer Primetime TV. Froch has said his deal is on a “fight by fight basis, but the best platform is Sky”. Bite the hand that feeds you – why don’t you. Froch’s problem is he doesn’t think before opening his mouth.
Froch also said that if he’d had a millionaire promoter, he might be a bigger name. If promoting was about being rich to succeed then he is way off. The game is littered with wealthy guys who don’t have a clue!
He doesn’t need a rich promoter but someone to advise, guide him and to stop him whingeing about whingeing about everyone and everybody.
Naseem Hamed, Chris Eubank and Lennox Lewis tried their hand with plenty of cash in the bank, but got nowhere. It’s all about your judgement and calculated risk taking, and in a way that’s what the Super Six is.
Showtime deserves praise for trying something different. But it is flawed.
The problem is it could take more than two years for a winner to be decided, far too long in a sport where one fight can turn the rankings on their head.
And the Ring Magazine’s number one, Lucian Bute, isn’t even involved.
A better format would have involved the best four or eight fighters in a straight knockout.
For me a round robin just doesn’t work.
***
Kelly Pavlik lost again, getting turned over by big outsider Sergio Martinez in Atlantic City.
Joe Calzaghe must be kicking himself – I really wanted him to fight Pavlik after he defeated Bernard Hopkins but he didn’t want it.
Pavlik was unbeaten at that stage in his career, and was being touted as one of the best fighters in the world.
But I always thought he was one-dimensional, and he was brutally exposed by Hopkins. Calzaghe would have walked it.
Recently, there were rumours that football agent Barry Silkman has been touting a Calzaghe comeback to various television stations against Robin Reid.
If Joe does return, he’ll have to face a Boxing Board of Control hearing about his cocaine use, and may not get the green light to box.
He probably escaped a hearing in recent weeks after giving up his role as a promoter.
***
Two week ago I wrote that power-puncher Edwin Valero’s life was spiralling out of control. Sadly that very night he was arrested for murdering his wife, and a day later he killed himself in his prison cell.
I can’t think of many worse personal tragedies, especially as the couple leave two young children behind.
Perhaps the bad motorcycle accident Valero had a few years ago, which left him with head injuries and unable to box in many US states, affected his mental state.
***
Azumah Nelson has a movie coming out – if it’s anything like his career, it will be an under-rated classic.
I promoted the fight between Nelson and Pat Cowdell, and the Ghanaian was awesome that night. Immediately after I remember his promoter Don King offering a huge purse to Barry McGuigan’s manager Barney Eastwood to fight Nelson – it never happened.
For me he was one of the most unsung and best boxers in my time in the game.
***
Bruce Trampler, who works for Bob Arum, is one of the best matchmakers in the world and a man I’ve got massive respect for, has suffered a mini stroke in Atlantic City.
I’d like to wish my fellow Hall of Famer a swift recovery.
***
X-Factor star Stacey Solomon will sing the national anthems ahead of Kevin Mitchell’s world title challenge against Michael Katsidis.
You wait for a famous face from Dagenham, then two come along at the same time…
Meanwhile Kevin’s personally sold 5,000 tickets for the fight, I expect a big crowd.
