Froch wins brutal encounter
Carl Froch successfully defended his IBF super-middleweight crown in a brutal encounter on 26th May.
The fight, a rematch with Danish fighter Mikkel Kessler, was decided on points in a thrilling encounter at London’s O2 Arena, in front of a sell out crowd.
Prior to the fight Froch has promised to avenge his 2010 defeat to Kessler, and it was the Nottingham fighter who started the brightest in the early rounds. Kessler attempted to claw his way back into the early rounds, but it was the power and accuracy of Froch’s jabs that kept the Dane at bay.
The Dane found his feet in the fourth round, showing his trademark speed beating Froch to the punch on a number of occasions. But it was the fifth round when the fight began to explode, which Kessler landed two huge left hooks to leave Froch wobbling and the expectant crowd concerned.
The fight remained equal throughout the latter part of the contest, with both Kessler and Froch landing huge sickening punches, leaving both fighters looking unstable at times.
Roared on by a home crowd, Froch kept his balance despite a resilient attack from Kessler, and sealed a sensational win on points, with the final round being a classic.
Froch won a unanimous decision from the three judges, who scored the fight 118-110, 116-112 and 115-113 all in ‘The Cobra’s’ favour. “It feels really good,” Froch said.
“The only thing that feels bad is that I have had to beat such a real gentleman, a real warrior and real nice man.”
“He did hurt me a couple of times; I think everybody saw that, but I hurt him a little bit more and I thought I deserved the win. I thought it was unanimously my fight.”
The future remains unclear for Kessler, who had said he might retire if he lost to Froch but this has yet to be confirmed.
Who Froch fights next is still undecided, with rumoured future encounters with either Andre Ward or Bernard Hopkins being discussed.
But for now Froch, who threw an enormous 998 punches throughout the fight, he can revel in his achievements and a victory in front of the largest crowd of his career.
The fight was a superb advert for Boxing, gripping an audience and giving Froch the exposure his illustrious career finally deserves.
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