By Edward Chaykovsky
Virgil Hunter, trainer of WBA super middleweight champion Andre Ward, is picking 168-pound contender Carl Froch (33-2, 24KOs) to beat newly crowned IBF champion James DeGale (21-1, 14KOs).
Froch and DeGale have had a rivalry going since last year, when DeGale became the mandatory challenger to Froch's IBF belt. Froch vacated the title earlier this year and the IBF ordered Froch and DeGale to fight each other for the vacant title.
Last month in Boston, DeGale captured the world title with a twelve round decision win over Dirrell.
Hunter saw DeGale's old flaw resurface in the win, where the Olympic gold medal winner significantly slowed down in the second half of the contest. DeGale had similar issues during key moments in his close points loss to George Groves several years ago.
To beat Froch, Hunter says the opponent will need a full tank of gas for the entire twelve rounds to counter-act the rabid attacks of Froch down the stretch.
"To be honest I can’t see any way DeGale can defeat him. No-one who runs out of steam in the second half of a fight the way James did against Dirrell will beat Carl," Hunter told Daily Mail.
"Froch can’t be taken out early and he is deadly in the latter part of a fight. He proved that twice more against George Groves. Despite the controversy about the ending of their first fight the referee was right to stop it because Carl was about to knock George out. Just as he did in the second fight."