Carl Froch (31-2, 22 KOs) successfully defended his IBF super-middleweight belt in a hard earn twelve round unanimous decision over WBA super middleweight champion Mikkel Kessler (46-3, 35 KOs) on Saturday night at the O2 Arena in London.
For those who where betting on boxing predicted Kessler to win considering the first time around, it was Kessler who won a tight unanimous decision to win one of the 168-pound world titles.
In the end the judges scored it 118-110, 116-112 and 115-113 for Froch. CompuBox credited Froch with landing 261 of 1,034 punches (25 percent) and had Kessler landing 194 of just 497 punches (39 percent). Kessler, accurate as he was, simply waited too long to throw what he thought were perfect punches. Froch, however, let it all hang out far more often, and he was rewarded for it.
Immediately after the fight Froch was asked if he wants to avenge his lost against Andre Ward, who owns another version of the WBA’s super middleweight world title.
“I’ve always said I wouldn’t like to fight Andre Ward again. No disrespect to Andre Ward. I’ve been a little disrespectful enough to someone who’s a great fighter. He’s a boxing purist, he’s very good at what he does, but he’s not an entertaining fighter. His style is not one you would really want to watch and watch. That’s the only stick I give him, but he’s effective in what he does. He knows how to win, but he’s not a fighting man. He doesn’t like to brawl. He doesn’t get the crowd out of their seats. He doesn’t seem to get the television companies excited, but he’s the only other guy to beat me so that’s a fight out there I know I can win. I don’t think it’s going to be easy, I’m not saying if I fight Andre Ward next I’m going to beat him but I could beat him if I get it right, and in England I get it right. So let’s get him over to the United Kingdom and get the fight on next if he wants it. Let’s do it!”
Andre Ward, who was at ringside as a commentary for HBO, stated “Carl Froch respects me. He can say what he wants to say about not being effective. I have a great fan base and I’m happy about that. But when you can’t defeat a certain style, you tend to knock it.”
Other names being toss around as possible opponents is WBO champion Nathan Cleverly theres also talks about a Froch-Kessler rubber match and of course Andre Ward.
Who would you like Froch to fight next?