By Terence Dooley
Carl Froch's rearranged clash with Arthur Abraham is now set for 27th November in Helsinki, with the Hartwall Arena expected to be announced as the venue in coming days. The two fighters have goaded one enough in the press this week, Abraham questioning Froch's mental strength and Froch dismissing Arthur's talk, labelling the Germany-based Armenian a 'smurf'. Mick Hennessy, Froch's promoter, confirmed the rearranged date when speaking exclusively to BoxingScene.com.
“The formal announcement will be made tomorrow morning for the venue details,” said Hennessy when confirming the switch to Helsinki. “We're just dotting the i's and crossing the t's. The banter has started between the two guys, and it is genuine banter. They are starting to needle each other. Abraham has been talking about the fight and Carl is talking about it as well. This is a serious fight.”
Abraham believes that Froch has not been able to put his April points defeat to Mikkel Kessler behind him, claiming that Carl is unable to come to terms with the loss of his '0'. Froch, though, has insisted that it will be business as usual come fight night and that Arthur, who lost his unbeaten record when slipping to a DQ defeat against Andre Dirrell in March, is trying to convince himself of victory.
“I think Abraham is trying to rattle Carl's cage,” insisted Hennessy. “Arthur knows better than anyone that Carl is a warrior of the highest order and doesn't pull out of a fight for no reason. Carl Froch is a tough fighter. Because of the level Carl fights at and the fact he's a serious puncher it is obvious that he's going to pick up injuries. One thing I don't want is for Carl to go into fights with injuries, he has done it in the past because of his desire but he needs to give himself the best possible chance for the Abraham fight.”
Andre Ward faces Dirrell in the other semi-final, the two men are good friends and have made no secret of this during the Super Six tournament, theirs looks to be a tactical affair. Froch-Abraham are getting it on and they don't appear to get along, it would have made a hell of a final.
“Yeah, you're right,” said Mick, “there is no doubt about it – it is the best fight by a long distance, the one everyone is looking forward to. I think it is going to be fight of the year, if not fight of the decade. If Carl wins then he's through to the final and will be the favourite to win the tournament.”
Indeed, the former WBC super-middleweight champion believes that he can win the Super Six and then avenge his defeat to Kessler, who is currently taking a nine month break before assessing his ability to return from an injury to his left eye, before taking on former rival, and friend, current light-heavyweight World Champion Jean Pascal. Hennessy feels that his charge has the physical and mental strength needed to achieve these goals, the promoter also feels that Kessler and Pascal will be happy to accommodate 'The Cobra'.
“Carl wants Kessler bad because he wants to set the record straight, he doesn't just think he can beat Kessler, he thinks he can knock him out. Mikkel will be back, he is devastated to be out the tournament, and he showed the form of his life against Carl. It was a close fight. Mikkel was mentally in form for that one because he knows how dangerous Carl is. That was Mikkel at his very best but it wasn't Carl at his very best. When they do fight again, and they will, you will see Carl do a job on Mikkel,” predicted Hennessy.
“Carl would love that fight,” he added when asked if the Pascal fight is viable. “If he wins the tournament and Pascal keeps his title then it is the biggest fight out there for Carl. They are friends, and the two teams got on great. Jean is a road warrior, he's as hard as they come and doesn't swerve anyone. Our teams work in similar ways and the two guys are very similar fighters so we can make it happen.”
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