If Froch Doesn't Fight Degale It's The Same As When Calzaghe Didn't Fight Him?

Fx12y ago

Before Calzaghe retired, Carl Froch was seen as one of the biggest threats in the division but Joe never fought him, even after Froch constantly called him out for years. Instead, Joe went after the money fights. At the time, Froch wasn't too well-known. Degale is now Froch's mandatory and he's made it clear that he wants to fight Froch straight away. He called Froch out years ago but now he's in a mandatory position for the title so he's earned the right to fight Froch - it's not just a random call out, it's a fight that should legitimately take place based on rankings. Now, if Froch doesn't fight Degale would he be doing something similar to what Calzaghe did to him years ago? Froch is now a proven champion and a boxing star, he has the freedom to do what he wants but that doesn't change the fact that Degale finds himself in a position where the champion might not fight him even though he's the mandatory challenger. Degale might be cold-shouldered by Froch, just like Froch was cold-shouldered by Calzaghe.

Comments (20)

786

I think the comparison applies to Degale too now. It was made with Groves but they are two separate individuals. IMO he has earned the right to fight Froch just like Groves did so if Froch didn't fight him then Degale's personal experience would be similar to what Froch experienced with Calzaghe. I see where you're coming from and from Degale's point of view, to quote Lennox, 'definitely'. Having said that, in facing Groves, Froch did something both Calzaghe and Steve Collins failed to do at the end of their careers.

12y ago

Daddy_T

I can see why people think degale should get the fight I mean when you look at it... Does Degale deserve a shot? ... Well yeah I think so. But has froch earned the fight to not fight him and chase the big money Chavez fight instead ... definitely ... if any fighter on the planet has earned the right to fight who he wants so he can get big bucks it's froch. imo froch gets his big payday v chavez ... Degale hopefully gets a shot at somebody like Bika or Abraham.

12y ago

Ham_Porter

Froch was an insignificant pissant when he was made mandatory to Calzaghe, with his most notable win coming over a shot-to-sh*t Robin Reid. Any notion that Calzaghe moved up to take on a substantially more lucrative fight, and a considerably more established name in Hopkins to avoid Froch is the very worst sort of revisionist history.

12y ago

punch stats showed that groves out landed degale I don't trust punch stats to be honest with you, they are proven to be unreliable and they are highly susceptible to human error.

12y ago

People made the same comparison before the first Groves fight was made, now that he's beaten him twice I didn't expect this same comparison to be made with Degale. Like Haye said over the weekend, there will always be a young hungry guy trying for the world title and that Carl has earned the right to do what he wants at this stage of his career. Honestly, Froch and Calzaghe are not very comparable. Two very different fighters. I think the comparison applies to Degale too now. It was made with Groves but they are two separate individuals. IMO he has earned the right to fight Froch just like Groves did so if Froch didn't fight him then Degale's personal experience would be similar to what Froch experienced with Calzaghe.

12y ago

slimshandy69

Well that's arguable because a lot of people thought Degale beat Groves in that fight - it just can't be said categorically that Groves is better than Degale, their fight was a majority decision so even one of the official judges had it as a draw. One of the factors in that fight which I think caused the judges some errors in judgement was the crowd going crazy at every little success Groves had because he definitely had the crowd on his side in that fight - it's known to affect judging, sometimes quite shockingly. So in my opinion, Degale is actually a better fighter than Groves. punch stats showed that groves out landed degale

12y ago

IMDAZED

Yes, of course. Does it matter or hurt him? No. Just like it didn't hurt Calzaghe's standing. At this stage of his career, Froch should pursue big fights.

12y ago

786

12y ago

Froch fought the best British opponent already in Groves, so no. Well that's arguable because a lot of people thought Degale beat Groves in that fight - it just can't be said categorically that Groves is better than Degale, their fight was a majority decision so even one of the official judges had it as a draw. One of the factors in that fight which I think caused the judges some errors in judgement was the crowd going crazy at every little success Groves had because he definitely had the crowd on his side in that fight - it's known to affect judging, sometimes quite shockingly. So in my opinion, Degale is actually a better fighter than Groves.

12y ago

Chrismart

I thought Calzaghe did the right thing by going to Vegas, getting a pay day and not taking a fight with Froch. If Froch skips the DeGale fight to fight Chavez in Vegas, i think that's the right thing to do also. I suppose they're pretty similar circumstances..both Clazaghe and Froch earned their right to end they're career with the fight(s) they choose.

12y ago

bojangles1987

Welcome to NSB. I remembering reading, hours before the rematch, that Groves would KO Ward. Now, according to some posters here, he's a 'bum', a 'tomato can' and 'domestic-level fighter'. Ridiculous, eh? :lol1: Fixed that for you.

12y ago

gmc_rfc_06

Froch fought the best British opponent already in Groves, so no.

12y ago

soul_survivor

I don't mind if Froch avoids his mando to fight Chavez or Bika. With Bika he gets a shot at the wbc title and with chavez its a fight with a big, tough opponent, possibly a vegas ppv.

12y ago

denium

DeGale is a talented boxer imo, and if he really is injury free, i could see him causing some waves in the division. Froch however, is on another level, and when DeGale starts doing that crap on the ropes, he'll get punished, badly.

12y ago

TGD

12y ago

alexguiness

Many people were writing DeGale off as a tomato can before his win at the weekend, and Groves was being talked up at the next big thing at SMW. Now people are claiming that DeGale would school Froch & is being ducked. It's funny how things in boxing change so quickly. This. Basically Degale performed well at the weekend, he did everything he had to do. That said, I was expecting more from Gonzalez - he looked overwhelmed and did not perform as well as I thought he might. On reflection, I don't think either Degale or Groves are on the same level as Froch now. Froch should look towards Vegas and Chavez Jnr. He deserves the fight and payday. I can understand Degale pushing the fight and calling out Froch, but I think he may have to wait a while longer. And finally, in all honesty I am still not convinced that Degale is the talent he would like us all to believe.

12y ago

JACK1190

Carl can do what he wants, it's no where near the same as when Chalzaghe didn't fight him. Froch has faced waaaayyy better competition than Calzaghe back to back, so if he wants the bright lights of Vegas and a big payday, which he deserves, then go for it I say, f*ck DeGale!

12y ago

MBE

Welcome to NSB. I remembering reading, after the first fight, that Groves would KO Ward. Now, according to some posters here, he's a 'bum', a 'tomato can' and 'domestic-level fighter'. Ridiculous, eh? :lol1: Indeed. If ward fought groves and were to beat him it would be the best name on his resume, bar froch, still.

12y ago

yoz

I wonder how they're going to work this out because it's hard to see Froch vacating. It will definitely be interesting to see how it plays out. If DeGale is hellbent on a title shot, i'm sure Hearn could arrange something with Bika. That said, it would be a difficult fight and probably isn't a commercial stand alone fight. Similarly, if Froch heads to Vegas for Chavez Jr, what does Kessler do?

12y ago

yoz

12y ago