Cobra comeback: Froch considers DeGale super-middleweight clash
Published:
Lee Gormley | November 9, 2015
Carl Froch contemplating comeback
Four-time super-middleweight champion Carl Froch has been retired from boxing for 14 months, but has recently claimed he would consider returning to the ring for one final time next year, potentially in an all-British title bout with James DeGale.
‘The Cobra’ announced his retirement in July last year, after rallying to a record of 33 victories, two losses and 24 knockouts, but the 38-year-old revealed he has kept up an intense training schedule since, and confidently declared that he would topple current IBF super-middleweight title holder DeGale.
DeGale v Froch in 2016?
In May, ‘Chunky’ DeGale overcome Andre Dirrell on points to lift the vacant IBF strap, becoming the first ever Briton to win a world title and an Olympic gold medal. The 29-year-old Londoner defends that crown against Lucian Bute on November 28th, when he is odds-on 1/6 favourite with Coral, and a victory could be the motivation needed for Froch to return for a potential clash in 2016.
“It’s an easy job for me and he’s world champion,” declared Froch. “Get my old belt back, show them all how it’s done and then retire. There’d be something satisfying about that.”
The former world champion has not entered the ring since dispatching George Groves at Wembley last year, but a returning encounter with DeGale may prove too tempting to decline, though he claims he isn’t looking beyond 2016.
“I always said, ‘Once I’ve retired, I won’t come back,’ but just lately now, 18 months on from my last fight, I’m starting to think to myself, ‘You know what? I’m fit, I’m strong, I’m in good shape,’” continued the Cobra.
Froch worried about nobody
“There’s nobody at my weight where I’m thinking ‘I’m worried about him’, not even Andre Ward.”
Previously returning WBA champion Ward handed Froch the second of his two career defeats back in 2011, winning by unanimous decision, and has recently had to pull out of his scheduled bout on the Miguel Cotto versus Canelo Alvarez undercard. Although, it’s DeGale that Froch wants.
“If I did fancy it, I’m thinking spring next year, get Christmas out of the way. I’m training every day. I’m not doing much punching but my fitness is up.
“If I was going to fight again, and it’s a big if, I’d be ready for next year. Another slice of the action, another snippet in the limelight, a massive fight, all the attention on me – I’m not an attention-seeker but it’s just relighting that old flame.
DeGale beating Bute is motivation
“I’m not missing it. I’m not saying I’m going to come back and fight again but, if I was going to, it’d have to be next year or the door’s definitely shut.
“I did always say, ‘Never say never,’ and there comes a point when I can and that’s the end of next year.
“But it’s a big if. I might just stick with poker. The desire’s gone, it’s getting the desire back, what would I need? It might be DeGale beating Bute, coming back and mouthing off.”
In Canada, DeGale will put his IBF belt on the line against its former holder Bute, where the Romanian-born fighter is 4/1 to reclaim it, but a victory for the Hammersmith southpaw could see him collide with ‘the Cobra’ next Spring, in what could be a truly great British showdown.
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