By Victor Salazar
New York - If there is anyone who knows the importance and history of the super middleweight division in the United Kingdom - it is retired former world champion Carl Froch (33-2, 24 KO’s). During the final years of his career, Froch took the torch from Welshman Joe Calzaghe (46-0, 32 KO’s), who many feel is one of the greatest fighters to ever compete at 168 pounds.
This past weekend, IBF champion James DeGale (23-1-1, 14 KO’s) had the opportunity to take the torch from Froch - had he unified the titles by defeating WBC champion Badou Jack (22-1-3, 12 KO’s). The two traded knockdowns and the bout ended in a majority draw. Most ringside felt Jack was the winner including Froch, who says DeGale needed that victory to become a superstar.
“If DeGale would have won [on Saturday], he would have been the next big man in the division,” Froch told BoxingScene.com. “It was close, it was hard for him. General consensus at ringside is he lost the fight. He’ll come back but he’s going to need a new set of teeth.”
Froch feels DeGale needs some time off and a lesser opponent for his comeback fight. But, Froch is fully aware that it's often difficult to get motivated for lesser opposition - a theory that may have been proven when DeGale had a bad performance against Rogelio “Porky” Medina (37-7, 30 KO’s).
“He’s still the IBF champion but i don’t he should be jumping in with the very best after this,” explained Froch. “I fought the best of the best time and time again and I quite enjoyed it. But it's hard; 10-12 weeks to get up for it if you’re fighting Joe Blogs and it hurts your performance. He's at the age now where you need the big fights.”
A plan was set in place, if DeGale would have won, to set up a massive showdown in the United Kingdom against rising super middleweight Callum Smith (22-0, 17 KO’s).
However, Froch believes Smith is not ready for that fight just yet. If given a choice, Froch would advise Smith to fight Anthony Dirrell for the vacant WBC super middleweight belt - which Jack vacated earlier this week to move up in weight.
“Callum needs to fight for the WBC [title], I think against Anthony Dirrell. I think then after they can unify. I don’t think Callum is ready to fight someone like DeGale right now,” Froch said.
