It is one of the most eagerly anticipated fights to take place on British soil in some time. Mega fights like this only come around every few years and this time, Carl Froch is talking a big game.
Froch is 8/13 to beat Kessler, click here to bet and claim your 20e free bet with Boylesports.com
Full of confidence after destroying Lucian Bute, a fight many thought he would lose, Froch is predicting that Mikkel Kessler will be in a world of trouble when they fight in London on May 25th.
Froch has even predicted to stop Kessler, in a rematch of their 2010 fight, when Kessler was awarded a points victory in his hometown. Froch holds the IBF Super-Middleweight belt whilst Dane Kessler holds the WBA strap and the fight is a unification bout which may lead to a fight with Andre Ward, whom both Froch and Kessler have lost to.
35-year-old Froch says he was not at his best in the first fight against Kessler but feels he is now at the peak of his powers and is confident of avenging that defeat.
“I’ve lost to him and I need to beat him,” Froch told Sky Sports News. “He’s in trouble. I’m gunning for him and I’ll be looking for the stoppage.
“I wasn’t 100 per cent (in Denmark) and I still nearly beat him. Now, I’m on the crest of a wave.
“I obliterated (Lucian) Bute, tore his title off him (Froch won with a fifth-round stoppage).
“Against Kessler I was just landing one punch at a time but, against Bute, I was landing combinations of 12, 14 punches.
“I was ill-prepared last time, my flight was delayed because of the ash cloud. I’ll be ready this time, more than ready, and he won’t be able to cope.”
Froch is adamant that the advancing years are not yet beginning to take their toll.
“I’m feeling good,” he said. “I feel physically in my prime, I didn’t turn pro until I was 25.
“You’re only as old as the number of punches you’ve taken, and I don’t take too many. I think there’s 18 months to two years left in me.”
Up-and-coming young Brit George Groves also promoted by Eddie Hearn who promotes Froch, is hoping to face Froch at some point but the older man says Groves is not yet ready.
“He needs a couple of meaningful fights, so people take him seriously,” said Froch.
“I’m the champion and everyone wants a shot at me. If he deserves it, he’ll get a shot, but, don’t worry, he’ll get a pasting!”
