KESSLER AND FROCH BEST OF PALS
Friendly fire outside the ring
CARL FROCH has struck up an unlikely friendship with his biggest rival in boxing, Mikkel Kessler.
The pair clash in the Super Six World Boxing Classic in Copenhagen in March but that hasn't stopped them becoming firm pals.
Danish ace Kessler even called Froch last night wishing him good luck before his first fight in the tournament against Andre Dirrell at Nottingham's Trent FM Arena in the early hours of this morning.
Whatever the result against Michigan's Dirrell, the WBC super-middleweight champion, Froch will still box Kessler and Germany's Arthur Abraham in the group stages of a competition to find the world's best 12st boxer.
They became the best of enemies when they met in New York earlier this year. And they have since got together in Berlin where Kessler trains and last month met up in Froch's home city Nottingham.
Froch, 32, told Sport of the World: "Kessler and I got on as soon as we shook hands.
"He is a man of my own breed - a warrior whose principals are the same as mine. He fights from the heart, no small talk. He means business and is a strong, proud man.
"We have so much in common. We're both clued up financially, have property interests and love fast motorbikes. There is plenty for us to talk about."
Despite bonding, Froch insists he won't be in the mood for small talk when he fights Kessler, whose only loss in 43 fights came on points against Joe Calzaghe in November 2007.
They are scheduled to meet at the 50,000-capacity Parken Stadium and Froch said: "Okay, I've befriended Kessler, we've met up a few times, have each other's phone number and we're getting on.
"But there is still that look in his eye.
"I've told him, 'respect before the fight, respect after the fight, but not during the fight'."
WBA title-holder Kessler, 30, starts his tournament in California on November 21 when he faces America's Olympic gold medallist Andre Ward.
Froch added: "The great thing about the Super Six is that you can lose a fight and still get through to the final, where I believe I'll meet Kessler again.
"You've still got the security of additional big money fights.
"The only thing I will not do is face Abraham in Germany for political reasons.
"There has been some strange judging there and that fight will take place in Britain.
"If I ever got blatantly robbed, I guarantee I'll beat up the judges, get arrested and be banned from boxing. But I don't think it will happen. Boxing has moved on from that."
This article has 1 comment
If it wasnt for a bit of strange judging Froch would now have a lose on his record after his fight with Darill, maybe after the judgement on that fight all the fighters in the supersix should refuse to fight in the UK !
By dazza. Posted October 25 2009 at 1:18 PM.