Filed under: Boxing
WBC SUPER-MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE: BOARDWALK HALL, ATLANTIC CITY, SUNDAY JUNE 5, 2011, 0200 GMTCarl Froch finally gets his chance to shine in front of a big UK TV audience when he puts his WBC super-middleweight crown on the line against veteran Jamaican Glen Johnson and Nottingham's "Cobra" must not let the opportunity slither away on the famous boards of Atlantic City.
A new five-fight promotional deal with Matchroom Sport has seen Froch line up a deal to be shown on major boxing broadcaster Sky Sports after years of obscurity on fringe pay-per-view channels or no coverage at all in the UK.
The Nottingham boxer, nicknamed "The Cobra," has been aired to mass audiences in the US as he won his way to the semi-finals of the Super-Six Boxing Classic tournament, a competition to find the best super-middleweight in the world, but he's been craving to show off his skills to fight fans in Britain for many years.
Because of this absence, only avid boxing followers will have seen his late knock-out win over Jermain Taylor, his outfoxing of Andre Dirrell and his tactical master-class victory over Arthur Abraham as all three of these outings were shunned by major UK broadcasters.
Even in his only defeat, in a barn-storming contest with Mikkel Kessler last year, Froch dazzled spectators in a thrilling contest but sadly not as many UK television viewers as he would have liked were able to tune or aware it was shown - that will all change in the early hours of Sunday morning when he pits his skills against wily veteran Johnson.
Now he has his chance, an impressive display for Froch on Sky will add more numbers to his growing list of admirers, and also help him step out of the shadows of Britain's other boxing stars Amir Khan and David Haye, but the Nottingham man cannot overlook Johnson.
The Jamaican may not have youth on his side at 42 but those years bring vast experience with 67 fights and he has also some impressive scalps on his record with Roy Jones Jr, Antonio Tarver and Britain's own Clinton Woods all defeated by Johnson, albeit in the light-heavyweight division.
Johnson is a man on his own mission after stepping back down to super-middleweight to take part in the Super Six Tournament and despite his age he will be hungry for a place in the final where WBA champion Andre Ward lies in wait.
But Froch has done it the hard way all his career and by going the traditional route of a top-class amateur career before going on to claim British, Commonwealth and world titles in the paid ranks, he knows the game inside out.
"The Cobra" has never been shy of taking a tough fight, has taken on all the big names in the division and now his just desserts are getting ever closer.
On the verge of stardom in the UK, a place in the final of the Super Six at stake and his WBC title on the line, the Nottingham man has pressure on him to impress, but he's never failed to do so yet, so it is doubtful that will change against Johnson.
TALE OF THE TAPE:
Carl Froch
Age: 33
Height: 6ft 1in
Reach: 74½in
Fights: 28
Wins: 27
KOs: 20
Losses: 1
Glen Johnson
Age: 42
Height: 5ft 11in
Reach: 75in
Fights: 67
Wins: 51
KOs: 35
Losses: 14
Drawn: 2
Form Guide: Froch comes into this one on the back of a tactically-perfect display against Abraham whom he out-boxed for 12 rounds to score a comfortable points victory and regain his WBC title which he lost to Kessler in his previous outing. Johnson stepped back down to super-middleweight after a decision loss to Tavoris Cloud and won his spot in the Super-Six semi-final with an impressive eight-round stoppage of Allan Green.
Odds: Froch 1/5, Johnson 3/1, Draw 30/1
CARL FROCH:
The WBC champion is keen to put on a show in Atlantic City and prove that he is one of the most exciting fighters that Britain has to offer.
Froch certainly has evidence to back that up owing to the many thrilling fights he's been in and his last five fights have been against the best the super-middleweight division has to offer.
"I'm the most exciting British fighter we've got," Froch told the media at the pre-fight press conference in stiflingly hot New York before travelling to Atlantic City.
"I'm involved in fight of the year nearly every time I fight because I put it all on the line; I don't look to go in and nick a decision and run and hold and keep out of the way.
"I'm a very proud warrior and with that mentality comes great fights - especially when I'm in with opponents that mean business and I've been fighting guys that mean business for my last five or six fights. Fight fans should look forward to some great fights with me."
The confident Nottingham man is hoping to bring more world championship boxing to Britain when he finishes off with the Super Six Tournament and refuses to pinpoint how long his career will last.
"If I was trying to be realistic now I'd say five more fights. There's no reason why it can't be seven actually, get the Super Six out of the way then have five proper big fights, world championship fights here in Britain."
Strategy: Expect Froch to box in a similar fashion as he to how he beat Abraham - boxing on the outside and picking his man off. Johnson will be busier, so he'll have to be more alert but that should not be a problem.
GLEN JOHNSON:
The Jamaican ring veteran may be the underdog but that is something he thrives on and is confident he can cause an upset to relinquish Froch of his crown.
Johnson has only been stopped once in his 67-fight career, at the hands of the legendary Bernard Hopkins, and he is in no mood to let Froch come anywhere near being the second.
"Carl Froch can say whatever he wants. Just make sure he shows up Saturday night, because he is going to take a pounding," claimed the 42-year-old.
"I feel great, I'm really looking forward to this fight, I'm ready for it and I will come out victorious."
Johnson also claimed he is able to continue to box at 42 because he has treated his body well and that he won't be suffering because of his age against Froch.
He said: "All I know is that I feel young and don't feel any different than at any time in my life. There is nothing I can't still do. I can still run as fast as I used to.
"It is not a matter of feeling my age, it is just the way I feel. I don't drink, party, smoke or do drugs. I know I can become the undisputed super-middleweight world champion."
Strategy: Johnson will look to push Froch back on to his back-foot as he knows the British boxer doesn't particularly like to be pressured constantly, whether he can do it for 12 rounds remains to be seen, but it's his best chance of causing an upset.
FANHOUSE PREDICTS:
Froch has predicted Johnson won't even win a round, and while we don't think it will be so conclusive, we go with a comfortable points win for the Nottingham man.
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