CARL FROCH RULES WORLD

CARL FROCH wrote his name into boxing's hall of fame and then dedicated his world title to the tragic mother of his trainer.

In one of the greatest fights ever seen in a British ring, Froch unanimously out-pointed Canadian Jean Pascal to lift the WBC super-middleweight belt vacated by Joe Calzaghe.

The 6,000 Nottingham crowd were in a frenzy as both fighters slugged it out over 12 brutal rounds before Froch earned a 118-110, 117-111, 116-112 decision.

Emotional Froch, nursing a badly cut left eye, said: "I want to dedicate this victory to Christine, the mother of my trainer Robert McCracken who sadly died this week.

"Despite this awful tragedy he was still here by my side tonight."

McCracken had flown back from Froch's Irish training camp after his mother was taken ill.

Fantastic

But he was in the Nottingham fighter's corner to cheer on Britain's new boxing superstar.

And now Froch, who extended his unbeaten record to 24 fights, wants to emulate Calzaghe and unify the title.

He added: "I have a fantastic team working for me - now we want to go on and take over the world. I am elated to win it in front of my hometown fans.

FROCH AND ROLL - Carl Froch (left) goes on the attack against Jean Pascal

"All credit to Pascal. He came here undefeated and he came to win.

"I caught him cold in the early couple of rounds but I knew I had to stay cool and not blow a gasket.

"I knew I got him with a couple of cracking shots because I hurt my hand on his head - but he still came back at me.

Reigns

"I never had the WBC title in my sights when I first started out, I wanted to take it one step at a time and win the British, then Commonwealth titles, which I did.

"Now I want to go all the way."

The 31-year-old became Britain's latest super-middleweight world champion after the reigns of Calzaghe, Robin Reid, Glenn Catley, Richie Woodhall, Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank.

Calzaghe, 36, is now considering hanging up his gloves - and Froch showed he is a classy heir to the throne by setting up a money-spinning first defence against Yank Jermain Taylor, the former undisputed world middleweight champion, at New York's Madison Square Gardens next summer.

Froch, nicknamed The Cobra, was just too venomous for Pascal and ended the unbeaten record of the classy Canadian.

Classic

Pascal admitted: "I was very strong and I felt the fight was close but the best guy won."

The fight was so ferocious it was a miracle neither boxer visited the canvas.

Froch landed the more powerful blows and Pascal was on shaky legs at the end of a classic.

Pascal, 26, failed to control Froch in the first - and the Nottingham star finished the round by wobbling him with a right uppercut followed by a clubbing right. Both boxers exchanged heavy blows in the fourth when Froch twice had to take two thudding rights to the head.

The Brit worked behind his jab more in the fifth, preferring not to get drawn into a brawl - but he was still caught by a flurry of shots just before the bell.

Temple

Froch was content to contain Pascal with a spearing jab from the sixth.

After Froch suffered a cut eye in the ninth he rocked Pascal with a right to the temple but was also caught himself on the counter.

Too often Froch was caught as he was unloading a combination and both fighters looked capable of landing the KO blow.

But Pascal was on shaky legs in the ninth after being caught by a brilliant one-two from Froch, who commanded the later rounds.

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