Carl Froch states his case at Madison Square Garden press event, with next opponent Kessler over his left shoulder.
Status: WBC Super Middleweight champion. Has a record of 26-0 (20 KO’s).
Ht: 6-1 Wt: 168
DOB: July 2, 1977 In: Nottingham, England
Inspiration: “I want recognition from the top fighters in the world. The top Americans.”
Childhood Heroes: “No, not really. I used to watch a lot of Naseem Hamed for entertainment value. He was exciting.”
Nickname: Cobra.
Favorite Movies: “I think Casino with Robert DeNiro. Goodfellas. Like a lot of gangster films.”
Last Book Read: “Steel Me, Christopher Reeve.”
Musical Tastes: “A bit of R&B and hip-hop. I listen to all sorts. I was brought up on Motown and soul as a kid. Because my dad used to play that all the time. Eminem, Dr. Dre, Biggie Smalls, gym music. It’s good to train to that stuff. Johnny Cash is the man. I play a bit of guitar and I do a few Johnny Cash numbers myself. Big Johnny Cash fan. Country music. I’m really, really into all of that.”
First Job: “I did finance courses in college, so I had an office job, answering the phone and using the computer.”
Current Car: “Mercedes.”
Favorite Meal: “I like eating so much, you know, I do like Chinese.”
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Vanilla.”
Pre-Fight Meal: “Complex carbohydrates. Whole grain wheat free pasta.”
Greatest Sports Moment: “Was lifting the WBC title against Jean Pascal in my hometown Nottingham (December 2008).”
Most Painful Moment: “Was actually when I lost in the Olympic qualifying tournament. I was trying to qualify for the Sydney Olympics (2000). I lost a decision but it was a political decision to a Romanian in Liverpool. I basically got ripped off on the scoring system. There were a lot of politics involved back then when England was trying to qualify. It was painful to not qualify for the Sydney Olympics when I knew I was good enough to go there and win a medal.”
Pre-Fight Feeling: “That’s quite an in-depth answer. I’m thinking about winning. There’s plenty of emotions that go on when you’re fighting. It’s very…it’s a deep question. That you need a long time to answer. I’m going to bring a book out. You’ll have to buy that and read that [smiles]. I’ll talk about it in there.”
Funny Memory: “I used to be a fan of Prince Naseem Hamed, an exciting fighter who provided entertainment value. And I got carried away one amateur fight – I vaulted the top rope (as Hamed used to do), flipped over the top rope – that went okay. Then during the fight I was throwing a silly uppercut from the canvas, and bobbing and weaving with my hands down. I threw a shot and I missed and I fell over. But I got up and won the fight. But that was quite fun and embarrassing. All my friends were laughing.”
Last Vacation: “Cyprus.”
Favorite Boxers To Watch: “Roy Jones Jr. was fantastic. All the best fighters really. Floyd Mayweather is just a great technician – offensively and defensively. Manny Pacquiao is so fast and explosive. I watched a lot of Miguel Cotto’s career. I enjoy watching him. David Haye – I like watching his fights because sometimes he’s a little bit of a kamikaze. There’s a lot of method to his madness, the way he fights. But David Haye is exciting to watch and I’m looking forward to see him fight the Klitschkos. He’s definitely got a chance there, a good chance.”
People Qualities Most Admired: “I like people to be honest. Quite humorous, quite comical. Can take a joke. I like people to be – not ridiculously but generous, generous with their time, if roundabout. To be open with their feelings. I like people who are straight talking.”
Topics: Biggie Smalls, Carl Froch, Cash Fan, Childhood Heroes, Christopher Reeve, Gangster Films, Grain Wheat, Greatest Sports, Gym Music, Jean Pascal, Madison Square Garden, Middleweight Champion, Office Job, Painful Moment, Robert Deniro, Sports Moment, Super Middleweight, Sydney Olympics 2000, Wbc Title, Wheat Free Pasta
Carl Froch states his case at Madison Square Garden press event, with next opponent Kessler over his left shoulder. | 