Analysing a Potential Catchweight Fight Between Carl Froch and Gennady Golovkin
It only takes one spark to start a fire, but it needed just one tweet to stoke up talk of a superfight between Gennady Golovkin and Carl Froch.
Tom Loeffler—Golovkin's manager—used Twitter to suggest he was in Monaco, Monte Carlo, at the weekend to discuss a lucrative deal with Eddie Hearn, who promoted Froch during his career.
However, it seems the post was all part of a cunning plan.
Hearn explained to Chris McKenna of the Daily Star how GGG's team hope to dangle a carrot big enough to tempt the currently retired Froch to make a sensational comeback.
"I know exactly what Loeffler is trying to do and that is entice him out," Hearn said. "I will say this: That would have been one of the great, great fights, and it might still be."
Oh Eddie, you big tease.
Froch, who was last seen in a ring beating domestic rival George Groves in May 2014, addressed speculation over his future in an interview with George Gigney of Boxing News.
"Gennady Golovkin is a small middleweight, I’m a big super-middleweight. The fight was maybe talked about a year after I retired and it was never going to happen. Golovkin cannot win a fight against me, he’s not big enough. You can’t talk about Golovkin in the same breath as me," he told Gigney.
The Cobra is clearly not short on confidence, but could he really take care of the one of the most feared boxers in the world right now?
It still seems unlikely we'll ever find out, but that hasn't stopped Bleacher Report from imagining what might happen should the pair ever go toe-to-toe.
Gennady Golovkin: Strengths and Weaknesses
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Golovkin has built a fearsome reputation as a power puncher.
However, as Gordon Marino noted for HBO Boxing, it's not just about having heavy hands, as "the secret of his preternatural punching prowess is grounded in his supreme technique and impeccable balance."
GGG is an expert at cutting off angles and trapping opponents. When he has them cornered, he will get within range—without getting too close to smother himself—and unleash power shots to both head and body.
No one has managed to go the distance with the feared Kazakh since 2008—and back then he was fighting in eight-round contests, too.
Yet his ability to win inside the distance doesn't mean he cuts corners with his conditioning.
Dan Rafael of ESPN reported that, despite a potential fight against Danny Jacobs in December falling through (at least for now), Golovkin has been in training since late October. There is simply no rest for the wicked.
But, while he boasts a 36-0 (33 KOs) record as a pro, there are still chinks in Golovkin's armour.
His aggressive approach leads to the possibility of launching counter measures. The problem is, however, trying to box on the retreat plays right into Golovkin's plan.
Fighting fire with fire might well be the only way for a middleweight to make hay against the 34-year-old, albeit such a plan would need to come with a health warning.
Yet a bout against Froch wouldn't take place at the 160-pound limit. Would Golovkin be so explosive against a bigger man at a higher weight? It would be fascinating to find out.
Gennady Golovkin: Last Outing
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With Saul Alvarez opting to drop back down to super welterweight to fight WBO champion Liam Smith in September, Golovkin needed an opponent for autumn.
For so long it seemed Chris Eubank Jr. would be in the opposite corner. However, the Englishman's reluctance to sign on the dotted line allowed compatriot Kell Brook to nick in and bag the fight instead.
In accepting the deal on offer, IBF welterweight champion Brook agreed to jump up two weight divisions to take on the holder of the IBF, WBA super and WBC belts at 160 pounds.
For a brief period at the end of Round 2, The Special One's success in attack suggested he could cope with the move up.
However, while the partisan crowd inside the O2 Arena in London got a little excited about the prospect of a stunning home victory, Golovkin was never in serious trouble.
By the middle of Round 5, Brook was getting badly beaten up. With the challenger dealing with a broken eye socket and coming under heavy fire, trainer Dominic Ingle threw in the towel.
Hearn revealed afterwards via Twitter that Golovkin wasn't ahead on any of the three judges' scorecards at the time of the stoppage.
Yet the officials were never needed to decide the outcome of the contest. Just like fellow Brits Martin Murray and Matthew Macklin, Brook succumbed to the sheer force of nature that is GGG.
Gennady Golovkin: Why Would He Take the Fight?
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Considering the trail of destruction through the middleweight division, you can understand why Golovkin's team are struggling to find willing opponents.
Brook was a rarity in that he was willing to step up to the plate, despite the 13-pound jump in weight.
The WBA has ordered Golovkin to defend his super title against their regular champion Jacobs, but that fight has yet to be confirmed.
A December date had to be scrapped due to a lack of time. However, Loeffler told iFL TV that talks continue between the two camps.
"We’re just working out the details with Al Haymon and we’re trying to make a deal that is fair to both guys. As soon as we finalise everything we hope to have an announcement," he said (h/t Edward Chaykovsky of BoxingScene.com).
Canelo is the fight for GGG, but it still seems no nearer to becoming a reality. We wait—in hope rather than expectation—of a deal being done before it's too late.
So, if the mountain will not come to Muhammad, then Muhammad must go to the mountain.
Golovkin and his team appear to believe they can tempt Froch to lace up the gloves again. Trainer Abel Sanchez told Phil D Jay of World Boxing News how The Cobra had retired "too young."
"Froch is still huge in the UK, and his losses are not the retiring type. Let’s see if Tom (Loeffler) and Eddie (Hearn) can come up with something that works for both," he said.
Froch sold out Wembley in his final outing, against Groves. A clash with GGG would surely tempt another 80,000 to turn up to watch in the English capital.
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Carl Froch: Strengths and Weaknesses
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Froch was a teak-tough warrior who never backed down from a challenge.
The Nottingham-born boxer—trained by Robert McCracken—was solid technically and always in outstanding physical condition.
His stamina saved the day against Jermain Taylor in 2009, as he spectacularly stopped the American in Round 12 to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
Despite not entering the paid ranks until the age of 24, Froch packed a hell of a lot into his 12-year career.
His only defeats in 35 fights (33-2, 24 KOs) came against Mikkel Kessler and Andre Ward—and he avenged the loss against the former by winning their much-anticipated rematch in 2013.
However, Froch will always be best remembered for his two fights against Groves.
The Cobra's desire to be aggressive from the outset saw him caught by a right hand in Round 1 of the first episode. He recovered from the early knockdown to win, but he had to take plenty of shots in the process.
Ward, though, proved to be his kryptonite. In the final of the Super Six tournament in December 2011, the American outboxed his opponent to win by unanimous decision.
"I was surprised at how slow Froch was. We were able to beat him to the punch," Ward said, per Ben Dirs of BBC Sport. "You don't get points for leaving the chin open. You can't fight like that and expect not to get hit."
Leave that chin open against Golovkin and you better hope it's really made of granite.
Then, of course, there's the matter of ring rust—Froch hasn't fought since May 31, 2014.
Carl Froch: Last Outing
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After a disputed finish to their first fight in 2013, a rematch between Froch and Groves made sense from both a boxing and business perspective.
Disgruntled by the timing of referee Howard Foster's stoppage in Manchester, England, Saint George pushed hard for another opportunity to dethrone the IBF and WBA champion.
He eventually got his wish in May 2014—with Wembley packed out for the much-anticipated showdown.
If there was any doubt about the previous result, however, Froch made sure no one would question the finish second time around.
A huge right hand levelled Groves in Round 8. For a final act in the Froch story, it was pretty damned impressive.
At the time, though, it appeared he'd box on. There was talk of a final fling against Mexican Jesus Chavez Jr. in Las Vegas, although that fight never materialised.
Froch instead announced his retirement in July 2015, opting to cross to the other side of the ropes and start a media career with Sky Sports: "I'm incredibly proud of what I have achieved in boxing but now is the right moment to hang up my gloves. I have nothing left to prove and my legacy speaks for itself."
Despite rumours of a potential return since, the 39-year-old has not made a comeback...yet.
Carl Froch: Why Would He Take the Fight?
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It would need to be something big to tempt Froch back—but it won't get much bigger than facing Golovkin.
A stadium bout against one of the most popular boxers around right now has to appeal to the fighter within Froch, who has not let himself go since hanging up the gloves.
There's also another major bonus in taking on GGG: Money.
As Kevin Mitchell pointed out in the Guardian, "Carl loves a quid." If the two meetings with Groves gave him enough in the bank to provide for his family's future, Golovkin is a golden ticket ready to be punched.
Yet this has to be about more than just the size of the number on the cheque.
Froch is heading towards his 40th birthday. He may be able to get himself in excellent physical shape again, but it's been two-and-a-half years since he fought anyone.
Mitchell added: "Fighters become so used to soaking up blows, in sparring as well as a fight, that they become complacent. It takes only one punch, however, to remind them why it is such a hazardous undertaking."
Comebacks don't always work out—just ask Ricky Hatton.
Often the best way to preserve your legacy is to let it grow over time, rather than try to add to it. It is rare for boxers to go out on a high, yet that's exactly what Froch managed to achieve against Groves.
Froch vs. Golovkin: A Prediction
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Time and weight are the two keys to predicting the outcome.
According to McKenna's article in the Daily Star, Hearn said: "Carl text me and said 'what weight would Golovkin fight me at?' and I said '172lb' and Loeffler said '170'."
The higher the number, the greater Froch's chance of success. While he'd have less to lose, Golovkin—who hardly piles on the pounds in between bouts—would have more to gain.
But while Froch believes he can handle the Kazakh at any number, what about overcoming Father Time?
If he was still active now, Froch would be fancied to win a catchweight contest above the super-middleweight limit.
Golovkin has fought seven times since the Englishman last stepped between the ropes. His list of victims in that stretch includes: Daniel Geale, Willie Monroe Jr., David Lemieux and, of course, Brook.
However, his CV lacks a name of real gravitas. Yes, he has dealt comfortably with a lot of very good fighters, but he wishes to knock off (or knock out) a modern legend, whether it be in his current weight class or higher up.
Moving out of his middleweight comfort zone to fight a renowned warrior like Froch would tick that box.
While some would point to his opponent's recent inactivity as a reason for discrediting any victory, Golovkin knows that, at 34, he needs to be involved in big fights. He cannot wait forever for Canelo to be ready.
Taking everything into consideration, it's hard to pick against GGG. He's the younger of the two and his chin has held up so far.
You'd expect a frenetic pace to proceedings too, and considering his inactivity of late, Froch would surely struggle to keep up as each round ticked by.
There is one certainty; it would be must-see viewing for any boxing fan.
Who do you believe would win the fight? Have your say via the comments section.
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