Champion Froch set to meet Taylor
Sunday, 14 December 2008
Carl Froch looks set to meet American Jermain Taylor in the first defence of his WBC super-middleweight crown.
Mick Hennessy, Froch's promoter, told the BBC he has spoken to the Taylor camp about a contest in either the United Kingdom or the United States.
"It's a fight that me and Carl have always wanted," said Hennessy.
"I was pleased to get a call off Taylor's promoter, Lou DiBella. He said to me he just wanted to go on record that he is ready to make the fight."
Froch (31) became world champion by outpointing Canadian Jean Pascal in a thrilling fight in Nottingham Saturday.
"I've had my heart set on Jermain Taylor because he beat Jeff Lacy and I just assumed that was going to be the natural progression for the first defence," Froch, who has 24 wins from 24 fights, told Radio 5 Live.
Taylor (30) is a former undisputed middleweight champion and has two victories over Bernard Hopkins to his name.
Nicknamed "Bad Intentions", he has lost two of his last three contests - both defeats coming against Kelly Pavlik - but he outpointed Lacy in his last fight in an eliminator for the WBC super-middleweight belt.
Hennessy added: "We are not averse going to the US but it's got be on the right terms. Carl's the champion now and a champion-challenger split is 70-30. We are in control of the situation. If it makes sense going to the US, we'll go there."
Froch has talked of fighting Joe Calzaghe, but the unbeaten Welshman, who once held the belt that now belongs to Froch, looks as though he will carry out his threat to retire in the new year.
The 36-year-old, who has won all of his 46 fights, also insists he will not take on Froch if he decides to continue his career.
"He has nothing to offer me," Calzaghe told Radio 5 Live. "I would knock the guy out, so why would I fight him? It doesn't mean anything.
"He wants a pay day and I'm not going to give him one because I don't like the guy.
Mick Hennessy, Froch's promoter, told the BBC he has spoken to the Taylor camp about a contest in either the United Kingdom or the United States.
"It's a fight that me and Carl have always wanted," said Hennessy.
"I was pleased to get a call off Taylor's promoter, Lou DiBella. He said to me he just wanted to go on record that he is ready to make the fight."
Froch (31) became world champion by outpointing Canadian Jean Pascal in a thrilling fight in Nottingham Saturday.
"I've had my heart set on Jermain Taylor because he beat Jeff Lacy and I just assumed that was going to be the natural progression for the first defence," Froch, who has 24 wins from 24 fights, told Radio 5 Live.
Taylor (30) is a former undisputed middleweight champion and has two victories over Bernard Hopkins to his name.
Nicknamed "Bad Intentions", he has lost two of his last three contests - both defeats coming against Kelly Pavlik - but he outpointed Lacy in his last fight in an eliminator for the WBC super-middleweight belt.
Hennessy added: "We are not averse going to the US but it's got be on the right terms. Carl's the champion now and a champion-challenger split is 70-30. We are in control of the situation. If it makes sense going to the US, we'll go there."
Froch has talked of fighting Joe Calzaghe, but the unbeaten Welshman, who once held the belt that now belongs to Froch, looks as though he will carry out his threat to retire in the new year.
The 36-year-old, who has won all of his 46 fights, also insists he will not take on Froch if he decides to continue his career.
"He has nothing to offer me," Calzaghe told Radio 5 Live. "I would knock the guy out, so why would I fight him? It doesn't mean anything.
"He wants a pay day and I'm not going to give him one because I don't like the guy.