FROCH TRIUMPHS ON SPLIT DECISION
CARL FROCH clung on to his WBC super-middleweight title early this morning controversially outpointing Andre Dirrell.
The split decision win at Nottingham's Trent FM Arena also got him off to a winning start in the Super Six World Boxing Classic, but he was far from impressive.
Judge Alejandro Rochim made the American a 114-113 winner, but Belgian Daniel van de Wiele and Italian Massimo Barvecchio gave it to Froch 115-112.
Froch said afterwards: "A win's a win, he [Dirrell] can't expect to come to Nottingham and beat me by running and holding and complaining."
The American looked good for a draw and his camp felt they were cheated by a hometown verdict.
Froch unbeaten in 26 fights faces Mikkel Kessler in Copenhagen next spring in the Super Six and on this performance there is little for the Dane to be worried about.
Speaking after the fight, Froch told BBC's Radio 5 Live: "I'm a little bit dissatisfied but I can only beat what's in front of me.
"Andre Dirrell is very fast, very skilful, very slick; if you couple that together with negativity, which is what he brought tonight, you're going to get a bit of a dud fight.
"We never really stood and had a trade and got going with anything tonight."
He added: "I disagree with the spilt decision, but that's professional boxing, it's subjective scoring."
Boos
Dirrell, 26, was greeted by a chorus of boos by the sell-out 8,000 crowd who had waited patiently for the fight to start.
Froch who had arrived at the venue in a white limo was greeted by roars that nearly blew the roof off the arena even though it was past 2.30am.
I disagree with the spilt decision, but that's professional boxing, it's subjective scoring
The American who only made the 12 stone weight limit at the second attempt looked a bundle of nerves despite being fired up by his corner men carrying stars and stripes flags.
But he felt his way through the opening two rounds when both men pawed away without doing any damage to the other.
Both men promised war, but in the early exchanges there would have been harder blows thrown in a kindergarten punch up.
Thankfully the pace picked up in the third, but it was the challenger who doing the more eye-catching work and teasing the Englishman by poking out his tongue.
Froch, 32, ploughed forward in one dimensional fashion, but was getting nowhere as the underdog increasingly grew in confidence.
The partisan crowd started booing, feeling that switch hitter Dirrell wasn't making a fight, despite his dominance.
Froch who was making the second defence of the title was out of range and out of sorts and in the fifth round showed increasing frustration when he wrestled Dirrell to the canvas
It was ugly, messy and scrappy but at least the Nottingham man showed signs of improvement in round six.
Dirrell soon started to show chinks in his armour, whinging to Panamanian referee Hector Afu about Froch hitting to the back of the head.
It was poor fight and the live TV viewers in America would have found it a telly turn off.
If Froch wasn't delivering the spectacle he promised, but by the end of round he appeared to have pulled back Dirrell's early lead.
And in round ten he got another boost when the referee deducted a point from Dirrell for holding, but he was looking ragged and tired.
Arthur Abraham who Froch is due to face next summer in the tournament started his campaign with a chilling KO of Jermain Taylor six seconds from the end of their 12 rounder in Berlin.
Taylor must hate the final round having been stopped 14 seconds from the final bell when he lost to Froch in April.
This article has 18 comments
l saw the re-run of this fight on ITV, l must say l was most shocked that the judges award froch the victory, lm not sure what fight they were watching but there is absolutley no way he won that fight, dirrell was a credit to boxing, ok, for most of the time he did not stand & trade with Froch but then why should he & even when he did, he gave as good as he got & definately landed far more clean shots than Froch, l could not believe froch won l was laughing throughout the fight at the way Dirrell was 'picking off Froch with clever shots & ducking & diving to avoid being hiot himself, while making Froch look silly & ordinary. What an injustice, for me & anyone who knows boxing, Dirrell ,clearly won that fight by at least 2 - 3 rounds!! Pathetic decision, should not be allowed. Froch can count himself extremly lucky & he will get found out when he fights Kessler & Abraham
By gary remekie. Posted October 25 2009 at 6:16 PM.
I never want to see Andre Dirrell fight again.
That was'nt boxing, it was the 100m dash, with a lot of ducking below the waist, holding and moaning thrown in for good effect.
Terrible opponent. He was rattled before the fight even started, and it showed in the ring.
I've heard it mentioned that they are thinking about replacing Jermain Taylor in the Super Six. If anything they should be replacing Dirrell, he clearly is not a man ready for this level yet.
Maybe in a few years time when he's grown a pair.
By The STig. Posted October 19 2009 at 8:50 PM.
froch is a lucky man twiceover one having that bird waiting for him and two getting that decision , boxing is the art of hitting and not being hit which is what dirrell was practicing ,
he is one paced , and over reliant on his chin , i don't think he realise 's how many fans he loses by remarking he would have beaten benn and eubank , eubank would have taken him apart then knocked him out , if he thinks kessler will be an easy night he is vastly mistaken , terrible coverage , terrible fight
By simon day . Posted October 19 2009 at 5:54 PM.
If Froch didn't run his mouth I wouldn't even know his name. He should of lost to Taylor and now Froch will be knocked out by Kessler then most likely retire after getting knocked out by Abraham.
By Rusty. Posted October 19 2009 at 5:05 PM.
He was outclassed, if anyone says, he deserved it because of his aggressiveness has no idea about boxing. Everyone who scored live round by round had Dirrell in front with at least 2 rounds. It´s just the proud fan base, who are willing to pay for Froch-fights to identifiy themselves with this guy - and it´s always all about money. Now i am looking for Froch to get finally knocked out of his dreamworld by Kessler and Abraham - perfect target for the power punchers, who are two classes better than this mouthful nonsens.
By James. Posted October 19 2009 at 12:26 AM.
Froch's a one dimensional fighter. Dirrell did the cleaner work and deserved the victory. Froch is limited and relies on power. He was 4 rounds behind against Taylor and Taylor gassed and he's just lost in my eyes this fight. How he believes he could live with the likes of Hagler and SRL is simply laughable.The guy is delusional
By Andrew. Posted October 18 2009 at 11:12 PM.
Shep....OneTrueSaxon is a clothing label, sponsoring Froch.
In my opinion, last night was frustrating. Dirrell just didn't do enough.
Froch has proved he has the power to mix with the big guns, but I don't think he'll have enough to beat Kessler.
I hope Froch proves me wrong. Good Luck.
The fight must be shown on Sky /Itv next timtime tho. Poor coverage from Primetime.
By MStolly. Posted October 18 2009 at 9:50 PM.
shame Froch can't keep his mouth shut. he'd have a bigger fan base if he didn't live in a dream world thinking he can knock out some of the best fighters. I'd love to see calzage knock him out.
By LISA MARTIN. Posted October 18 2009 at 9:37 PM.
carl froch is the best british boxer we have hes a boxer who rises to the ocassion you will see the better the opponent the better he gets put quality in front of him he will deliver im sure we will see this against kessler
By chris slatcher. Posted October 18 2009 at 9:20 PM.
Carl Froch showed has a granire chin and showed great heat in his victory over Jermaine Taylor, unfortuneatley he showed little else and his technique would be frowned upon even at schoolboy level! Dropping your right hand towards your feet when you throw a backhand style jab is not good! I hate to say it but unless he ups his game Abrahams and Kessler will have little trouble in out-classing him.
By richb. Posted October 18 2009 at 5:59 PM.
i didnt see the fight but by what i have seen of froch in the past kessler will eat him
By albie. Posted October 18 2009 at 4:55 PM.
what another waste of time and money! one true saxon my arse!
By shep. Posted October 18 2009 at 4:18 PM.
WELL DONE CARL- FROM ODESSA TEXAS USA - THANK YOU TO SHOWTIME - A WINNER IS A WINNER SO ALL STOP COMPLAINING, YOU ONLY GET WHAT IS PUT IN THE RING BEFORE YOU!-VICKI ,CHARLOTTE AND ISABELLA -THE HOME TOWN OF MR BUSH-
By VICKI WOOD . Posted October 18 2009 at 3:16 PM.
carl froch is the best middle weight england has in my opinion,who is under estimated by many a fighter who throws punches from all angles and has great power and heart.
By lloyd brown. Posted October 18 2009 at 2:01 PM.
I can't wait for Froch to fight Abraham and LOSE. He always runs up his mouth about Joe Calzaghe an various other boxers including legands like Eubank and Benn, when as far as i can see he's yet to prove his self. he won the W.B.C belt yes but looked average doing so, since he has defended it twice, only JUST!. He was lucky to say the least against Tayler, and very unconvincing in the early hours of this morning against Dirrell. Froch is average at best and i can't wait to see him on the floor being counted out!.
By Richard Hopkins. Posted October 18 2009 at 1:18 PM.
Based on that performance last night kessler will destroy him! good job calzaghe never jumped in the ring with him. He's a joke living in a fantasy world and is yet to prove himself, he talks the talk and thats about it
By trickster. Posted October 18 2009 at 12:49 PM.
Like the champ said "A win's a win" & Froch never once looked in trouble.
By Rich. Posted October 18 2009 at 12:45 PM.
CARL FROCH IS A CLOWN!
ITS A DISGRACE CARL FROCH IS THE W.B.C. CHUMP!
FROCH HAD HIS HANDS DOWN TO HIS TOES ALL NIGHT LONG!!
MIKKEL KESSLER WILL OUTCLASS FROCH .....THE GRASS SNAKE!
WHY IS FROCH CALLED THE COBRA???
By Steve Hughes. Posted October 18 2009 at 12:34 PM.