Carl Froch's warrior credentials are assured regardless of who he faces next, but it would leave a nagging sense of disappointment were he to choose James DeGale over Gennady Golovkin for his final fight.

Froch is considering exiting semi-retirement - he has been inactive for a year - to meet either domestic rival and IBF champion DeGale or feared Kazakhstani knockout specialist Golovkin.

DeGale is the safe option both in business and competitive terms, guaranteeing crossover appeal and a large paycheck while offering less potential for an inglorious end to an otherwise magnificent career.

Golovkin's celebrity has yet to extend outside the sport, but boxing regards with awe the 33-year-old who has stopped all but three of his 33 victims and has not gone the distance since 2008.

It would be brutal showdown between two aggressive fighters, testing Froch's granite chin like never before while challenging Golovkin's ability to carry his frightening power up a division to super-middleweight.

Sadly it seems that if Froch is to fight for a 36th time, then he will take the easier route into retirement by meeting DeGale judging by his most recent interview on the subject.

"I would love nothing more than to show the British people what I would do against someone like James DeGale," Froch said.

"He's the newly crowned IBF champion, he's got my old belt, and it would be nice to go out and say, 'Yes, he's won the belt, but look what I can do against him'.

"I know what would happen in that fight. That's an easy fight for me. He's a bit of a novice pro. He would get absolutely knocked out.

"The only reason I'd like the Golovkin fight is because it would be a really difficult fight to win.

"He's tough kid, he's unbeaten and he's got a knockout punch. I don't think many people would give me a chance and, you know what, that excites me. I like that.

"Call me stupid, call me brave, call me what you want ... that's a fight I can win."

Froch has forged his reputation on clashing with the finest operators in the super-middleweight division, on these shores and abroad, proving his bravery time and again.

DeGale would be a dangerous opponent who guarantees another fascinating night at a sold-out Wembley Stadium and Froch has earned the right to follow a less perilous path at this stage of his career.

But only pursuing the high-risk, high-reward option of Golovkin will he honour his own legacy of an indomitable fighter willing to face any challenge.