By Edward Chaykovsky
WBC super middleweight champion Carl Froch is focused on his strategy to defeat Glen Johnson in the Super Six semi-finals. WBA champion Andre Ward is already in the finals and waiting for the winner of next Saturday's fight, which takes place in Atlantic City. Froch felt that he dominated Andre Dirrell in the first stage of the Super Six, and also made easy work of Arthur Abraham in the third stage. He credits Mikkel Kessler with giving him a tough encounter in the second stage. Kessler won a close decision over Froch but later withdrew from the Super Six with an eye injury.
“I’ve had three fights but I made easy work of two of them. I made easy work of Andre Dirrell. I’ve done more damage shaving myself than what Andre Dirrell did. And against Arthur Abraham I made easy work of that. I mean the only fight that was hard work was the Mikkel Kessler fight and that was my own fault. I stood in front of him for four or five rounds and made a fight of it which I shouldn’t have done and there’s reasons why I did that," Froch said.
“I don’t want to talk too much tactics but the plan is always to hit and not get hit. The one thing about Glen Johnson is I don’t think I’ll have to go looking for him. I don’t think he’s going to be on his back foot looking to jab and pick me off. He doesn’t have the speed or the skill to match me. So he’s going to come straight ahead.”
Froch is expecting another dominating performance against Johnson. He says Ward is going to present a tough challenge, but he's confident of beating the Olympic champion. Froch is not impressed with most of the wins on Ward's record and he feels the difference in punching power will come into play.
“He’s got some skills. He’s an Olympic gold medalist but having that doesn’t win world titles all the time and we’ve seen that recently. These top amateurs don’t always make top pros. He’s obviously won some great fights and he beat Mikkel Kessler which is a fighter I was close to so he’s got that. But other than that if you look at his record I haven’t been too impressed with him as far as who he’s fought or how he’s won," Froch said.
"Ward’s definitely a threat and someone I have to take seriously but I know I can beat Ward. One thing he’s lacking is punching power and that’s a big factor in the professional ring.”