http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2013/may/22/carl-froch-mikkel-kessler-rematch
From the article.
He has also been cut up around the eyes in fights, and Froch says: "I want to do him some damage. That's how I feel inside. If I have to nut him, I will. I have never really felt like this before. I have wanted to win before, but … I don't know what it is … but there is something about this guy that winds me up. It is anger and I have got to channel it. I am in there not just to win this fight but to put him out of the game.
"I am sick of him, I am sick of the fact that he has beaten me and I want to put the record straight and if that means I have to do him some serious damage, then I will do. So when I get in that ring on Saturday and look across at him and his promoter, I can tell you I am already in the mood." And he's not talking Glenn Miller.
----------------------------------
Talking about cheating by nutting him. All that stuff Froch used to say about Ward using his head and now he openly comes out and says he'll cheat if he has to.
I hope the referee is strong on Sat nt and deducts Froch points if he does anything that crosses the line - Froch can be a dirty fighter and in the Dirrell fight he gets away with constant rough housing and never get docked.
I also hope that nothing happens to either fighter but how would Froch feel if something happened to Kessler now after those words.
Kessler's mother's got to read that, his sister, friends etc. This is a father of two kids for God's sake.
The operative word here Eddie is 'build'. Groves is nowhere near ready for this - 12/18 months time, yes.
I like and repsect Hearn, please do not turn into another Warren and deliver us Groves fight next.
Boxing fans can pack up and go home if that happens - we have another bull**** promoter making unproven match ups and lining his pockets with in house fights.
I really hope Hearn is different and sticks to his word and gives us the best against the best - legend Hopkins against Froch first , then Ward and then Groves, DeGale whoever.
Froch can be dirty, he isn't always dirty but he can be when things aren't going his way. He tossed Dirrell in a wrestling move and got away with it.
I don't expect him to be against Kessler, but, if he is - the ref needs to have be strong and deduct especially if he does something like a deliberate headbutt as he has said he will do.
Massively crossed the line - you can say it's going to be a war, brutal fight etc but this too much.
This is the kind of the thing you'd expect from someone with a screw lose like Tyson.
It's been said and he's apologised and it'll be dealt with by the BBBC.
Just hope that nothing ever happens to any opponent and to any opponent of Froch's after these comments he's made.
You only have to look at the profound effect it had on Eubank and Benn where nobody died but their opponents life's were ruined. These comments were so irresponsible.
Boxing is a sport supposed to be to Gentleman engaging with rules and regulations and my the best man win. Comments like these we can do with out.
For those saying Froch is selling the fight - well just a day or two ago he said no animosity and hype needed between the two to sell this one coz everybody knows what to expect and then he makes these comments.
Stupid, stupid, stupid to make such comments.
Its done now though, he's apologised, so lets look forward to the fight now.
------------
Bro it's clear you don't care about any of that, it's just another opportunity for you to hate on Carl Froch like you have been doing in almost all of your posts lately. I'm guessing it's because he criticised Amir Khan at one point, well if they can get over it, so can you. Move on.
--------------------
Mate, I stand by everything I said. Don't tell me who and what I think - only my Mrs is allowed to do that. I don't like these comments and I don't give a damn who made them, I don't like the comments full stop.
What I don't like about Froch is he can be hypocrite and is one of these fighters that seems immune to be any criticism at all.
Like I said - if Mayweather, Khan, Cleverly or someone that most people on here don't like, or you personally don't like, you would be all over these comments.
What I do like about Froch is he's a warrior and in is v exciting fights that are great entertainment and great to watch.
I'm over him making the comments, looking forward to the weigh in and to a great fight on Saturday nt, bring in on!!!
Disgraceful comments from Froch. Didn't need to be said - killing someone in the ring, boxing is a sport.
Boxers put their life's on the line every time they step into the ring. A young British fighter only died the other day boxing and Froch says this.
I really can't help but think he's feeling the pressure a bit coz that's out of character to say something as outrageous as that.
I hope he apologies for it. Kessler is a class act and gentlemen. For those saying that it isn't bad would be all over this if it was a fighter they didn't like e.g. Mayweather or Cleverly or someone had said this.
Of course, Froch to many is immune to all and any criticism regardless of what's been said or done.
It's been said and he's apologised and it'll be dealt with by the BBBC.
Just hope that nothing ever happens to any opponent and to any opponent of Froch's after these comments he's made.
You only have to look at the profound effect it had on Eubank and Benn where nobody died but their opponents life's were ruined. These comments were so irresponsible.
Boxing is a sport supposed to be to Gentleman engaging with rules and regulations and my the best man win. Comments like these we can do with out.
For those saying Froch is selling the fight - well just a day or two ago he said no animosity and hype needed between the two to sell this one coz everybody knows what to expect and then he makes these comments.
Stupid, stupid, stupid to make such comments.
Its done now though, he's apologised, so lets look forward to the fight now.
It's good he's apologised but the problem is it's already been said now and out there in the public domain. What if something happened to Kessler now.
Froch's really let himself down this campaign with the whole sparring thing and now this. And, the comments after the sparring, this came from the same man who called Kessler up the day of the fight to tell him how to beat a fellow Brit by targeting Magee's body.
Either Froch isn't handling the pressure of this occasion v well or he's showing his true colours now.
Froch is so pumped for this one and sometimes there can be that realisation of expectation when you're a big favourite. Even though its a 50/50 fight when the large majority expect you to win and your facing a quality opponent that no given, some people fighters - can start to think 'what if'.
There is a danger of him burning and wasting lot of unwanted energy draining him emotionally and physically before the fight starts. Then again Froch could be completely fine come fight nt.
See the thing is, it doesn't matter who or what is to blame for Cleverly's choice of opponents. The fact is, his resume is pretty darn terrible, hence he's not regarded as a true Champ, only a titlist. The best opponent in my opinion is Bellew, and that fight was either way - not a clear win. As Froch said before, Cleverly is a WBO Champion not a World Champion. Until proven otherwise of course.
--------------------------
I'm not disputing what you say, but this hardly applies to Cleverly alone.
Really, every strap holder of the 4 belts except the Ring is a titliist and not a World Champ, that includes Froch. In modern day boxing Froch wouldn't have been World Champ as he has never been no:1 or beaten the main man in the division - he's been the best of the rest, never the best of the best in his division.
I agree Clev's oppo needs to improve but Cleverly is offering a fight to Froch/Kessler and is on record as offering Froch for a good while now. Cleverly seems to want the big fights and step up.
All he's doing is asking Froch for a fight and has sparred Kessler.
Why does Froch run Cleverly's opponents on the back of this, when he himself doesn't seem to want to fight him. All he has to say is Cleverly can spar who he likes it does't bother me and a fight with Cleverly is sometime away whilst I have bigger fish to fry and he proves himself against higher level oppo.
Cleverley is no World 'champion' he's a titlist until he fights someone half decent. Hopkins isn't the only world class fighter at the weight yet he seems to be the only guy at world level Cleverley is willing to fight!
----------------------------------------------------------------
He's offered Froch and Kessler to opportunity to challenge for his title.
http://www1.skysports.com/froch/story/28807/8719734
I think the thing over Cleverly's opponents is a little ott.
The American TV (not sure which network) turned down Cleverly Shumenov in America, they said he needed to build his profile (hence the Shawn Hawk fight in LA). Shumenov flat out refused to come to the UK to do it instead.
Kusemski (Breahmer pulled out last minute not Clev's fault)
Bellew a domestic rivalry
Karpancy - bad opponent
Hawk - to gain American exposure
Krasniqi - no:1 contender mandatory
First and last fight's he had no choice in the matter.
I can forgive the Bellew fight as a domestic rivalry - Bellew had been calling Cleverly out for years and with the heated press conference and everything...
Hawk too to gain exposure in the American market.
Karpency is a stinker of an opponent - no two ways.
Also, lets not forget Murat who he beat before becoming World Champ. Murat has a win and draw over Campillo who gave Cloud all he could handle.
Another decent opponent that gets overlooked.
I agree Cleverly needs a big fight and to step up in opponents now - there isn't any more room for B B+ level guys.
He was trying to be humble after being robbed.
He later went on to reveal the truth, that he has sufficient evidence that the referee was paid off and wasn't allowed to execute his gameplan.
He was robbed that night, not for the first time and I doubt the last considering it seems judges don't like his defensive mastery.
------------------------
Brilliant, I was taking you seriously for 5 mins as well.
Hats off to you sir, classic summing!
He was knocking him down but he couldn't keep him down.
D-MAC got dropped and flipped up like Prince Naseem that's how much the punches weren't bothering him.
He even had his hands down shaking his head like Floyd Mayweather slipping his punches with ease.
Like he said after the fight, the gameplan was to take him into deep waters in the late rounds and drown his soul but the paid off ref knew it.
The rope-a-dope was working.
__________________
This is nonsense.
I watched it live and McIntosh said in the interview after - he beat me fair and square he was too fast, too strong, I think got beaten by a future World Champion tonight.
He was knocked down 4/5 times and just wasn't in the fight or throwing anything when he got stopped. Cleverly looked strong and nothing McIntosh - he walked through McIntosh.
The fight on youtube if anyone wants to see it.
This was a British Title fight a good few years back now.
Some more about the sparring here.
http://www.nathancleverly.co.uk/2013/05/07/clev-accepts-kessler-sparring-call/
Cleverly looks so much bigger than Kessler
Sorry, but Froch would beat Cleverly.
-----------------------------------
I guess we'll agree to disagree on this one, and I do believe it would be close, but i have good reasons for believing Clev gets his hand raised.
Doesn't look like its going to happen, certainly not anytime soon anyway.
Clearly this has upset Froch and worries him about the top prep Kessler is getting.
If is bothered by it he shouldn't show it, how stupid. Of course, every fighter is in the game for themselves, its not a team sport like the Amateurs.
If Groves and Cleverly get offered top sparring to bring them on then of course they will take it.
Also, if I was Carl Froch I wouldn't be mentioning anything about Cleverly's opponents when he has flat out come out and said he doesn't want to share a ring with Cleverly.
That comes down to promoters, it's a GBP-TR style war between Warren and Hearn. Froch would wreck Cleverly.
----------------------------------
I don't agree - Cleverly is a big LHW, v tall, huge frame and strong and has a great chin with a big engine, I think Cleverly may edge Froch.
http://www.boxingscene.com/hearn-no-froch-vs-hopkins-no-catch-weight-fight--65477
First Hearn denied they'd been made an offer to fight Cleverly, now he says he's called him out but Froch would be at a big disadvantage.
Froch previously said he didn't want Cleverly, as he hasn't fought anyone yet.
Now they're saying its a weight disadvantage.
Fair enough, but you get the feeling Froch for some reason is reluctant to face Cleverly (maybe he feels a bigger, stronger guy with a solid chin and better work rate and engine can outwork him).
I understand there's bigger fights out there for Froch in status like Hopkins then Ward first etc but when the offer's there from a fighter and your not prepared to take it - then why run down his opponents - no need for it, when the guy you're running down is ready and wants to fight you.
Using your logic then, Cleverly would be around around rank 5 or 6 in the world rankings without these belts. Without these belts, why would Froch even consider fighting Cleverly? He wouldn't, so unfortunately we have to accept that these belts mean something.
As you said, Cleverly should be upping his opposition at 175 rather than chasing Froch, whom is only a titlist at 168. Unless he goes down to 168, I don't see how Cleverly would get any credit for beating Froch at 175 simply because Froch is very very effective at 168 and has never been above the weight.
----------------------
Listen, Froch was calling Calzaghe out as British Champion and expected Calzaghe to fight him.
Calzaghe mocked Froch and his worthless opposition at the time, Froch didn't like it. Now he's doing the same to Cleverly.
So how are the two different in Froch's eyes, at least Cleverly hold's one of the 4 straps and offers Froch something to gain - another strap at another weight.
I didn't like the way Calzaghe mocked Froch, I agreed with Calzaghe that he had far bigger fish to fry at that stage but thought he should have been moe respectful in the way he turned down Froch, end of.
Of course the up and coming guy wants to fight the guy who's most recognised for status and cash.
The difference right now between Froch calling out Calzaghe and Cleverly calling out Froch is there is a least a carrot on offer Froch if he takes the fight i.e he has something to gain if he wins.
I was pointing out using your initial logic that Froch wouldn't have even been a Champion back in the old day of one belt.
Cleverly isn't merely chasing Froch - he's offering a fight to him, Kessler, Hopkins and basically anyone else that wants a crack.
Really - you don't think Cleverly gets 'any' credit if he beats Froch at 175? Froch is an established name with a lot of good names on his CV - and hard as nails, I grant you, Cleverly does not as much credit as beating Froch at a catchweight or 168 or if Froch comes up and proves himself at 175 first but, he still get good credit all the same.
It will at least show Cleverly can mix with the elite of 168/175 and isn't just a paper champ as many are saying.
Simply, the thing I don't like is - why should Froch run down Cleverly's oppo, when he doesn't want the fight - he could have been more respectful about it the same way Calzaghe should have been imo to Froch.
D-MAC? Forgive me if this is low hanging fruit, but who are you referring to?
---------------------------
I believe he's talking about Danny McIntosh a British Dometic fighter.
I don't know if this is true though, its the first time I've heard McIntosh knocked out Groves in sparring.
Froch used to spar with him and said he is a big puncher tbf.
Both Cleverly and Bellew destroyed him in domestic match up's, he big and strong and punches hard but has limited ability.
Froch would kill Cleverly, at any weight.
He seems like a nice guy, but Clev is not very good...he lost to Bellew IMO.
__________________
Click this bar to view the full image.
That's an opinion not really a great argument. Care to elaborate how?
It was from someone in Groves camp.
-----------------------------------
I've never heard anyone publicly say that so if it's true it be interesting to see them state it officially as has been done the other way around.
I can see why Froch is upset because it is great prep for Kessler.
Of course you can never 100% replicate any fighter but Groves has that low left that flicks up like Froch and is decent all around to be fair, just a question mark over his chin.
Cleverly is bigger than Froch, stronger than Froch and faster than Froch - he also has a great engine that should really push and test Kessler in sparring.
Kessler could come in v sharp and fit, his team need to make sure that he doesn't leave anything in the gym though.
He did put Groves down in sparring but i heard Groves put him down as well.
------------------------------------
It's common knowledge Groves is a little weak around the whiskers. I heard and even Booth has admitted that froch knocked him down (not out) in sparring.
Where did you hear he knocked Froch down, is there any credibility to this?
cleverly might be trying to give Kessler a pre-fight touch up in sparring to show his patriotism and make a few quid along the way. Looking at that photo, Kessler is near weight and Cleverly looks some kilos past SMW.
------------------------
I don't think tbh Cleverly gives a _____ about anything other than getting class sparring to bring himself on.
Cleverly was only two weeks after his fight with Kraniqi and he was in ripped shape, he's not a huge party animal outside the ring, he just a very big LHW.
I recently saw Calzaghe and Cleverly standing next to each other and Cleverly is a monster - v tall and his frame in v wide. The picture is pretty true reflection.
I also saw Cleverly a few years (before the Murat fight) and he's gotten taller and filled out.
I saw interview recently before the Kraniqi fight where the interviewer asked him if he's gotten taller and Cleverly said, you're not the only one to think that.
Having seen him at Krasniqi fight, I think he's a genuine 6'3 now
This comment is from Froch is frankly laughable.
He's never unified - lost to Kessler their only common opponent.
Got dominated by Ward and has never beaten a genuine former SM Champ.
The only two Froch's fought he's lost to. All his wins are against blown up Middle's or Light Heavy's.
Pascal - LH Champ, struggled with the weight and moved straight up after the fight.
Taylor - Former middle, win of his last 8 fights before Froch, well past his best
Dirrell - Never been champ, most think he beat Froch, a green 18 fight novice
AA - Former Middleweight, lost 3 in a row at SM
Johnson - lost and drew with Clinton Woods ffs
That's just not a great record when you break it down.
A tough run of fights but so has Glen Johnson, it doesn't matter if you lose the most important ones.
Calzaghe - two weight undisputed Champ, united twice at SM, held every belt at SM and became undisputed when he beat Kessler.
Before stepping up and beating Hopkins the main man at LH for the Ring to become the man at 2 weights.
Beating Bute means jack, Bute hasn't beating anybody and is a paper champ himself, and timing, well how come Hopkins is 46 and still whupping everyone's ass including Pascal - your best win.
Froch got embarrassingly dominated by Ward - end of.
Joe was no1 in 2 divisions with a legend on his record and unifications and an unbeating kessler who Froch lost to.
Froch lost to the two other best fighters in the division - arguably no 3 not no 1.
This must be a JOKE.
Having blown up Middleweights and drained LH's on your record doesn't count for all that much, especially when you lose the two fight against genuine SM"s.
What does beating Bute prove - he's fought no one and already lost to Andrade
It was a close fight - had Cleverly winning by two.
At the end of the day, he didn't have to give Bellew a chance but he did and he did in his hometown.
Bellew had a chance to win a World Title and he had the fight in his Hometown, he didn't take it and he lost.
If he's good enough he'll be at that level in a few fights and will get the chance again.
Cleverly - his hometown fight only held 5,000 - they needed a poor name for everyone to make money off that one.
Cleverly hadn't fought in Cardiff for 4 years, as World Champ he deserved a homecoming.
His only option now is unification against - Shumenov, Cloud, Hop/dawson or his mandatory.
All tough fights and a step up.
Personally, he's not ready for Hop/Dawson regardless of what his promoter thinks - step him up in levels and put him in with Shumenov or Cloud first. Its a unification with something to gain and he can take on his mandatory after - who in many ways imo is a tougher fight then Shumenov or Cloud.