Carl Froch‘s famously granite chin got him through plenty of tough moments in some of his biggest fights.
Arguably his most famous yet controversial win came against George Groves to retain his super-middleweight titles back in November 2013 at Manchester Arena. Froch rather underestimated his British opponent and was put down hard in the first round by a big right hand.
He then spent the next few rounds recovering his senses while taking plenty more big shots before then imposing himself on Groves in the 9th and forcing what many saw as an early stoppage by referee Howard Foster.
The rematch the following May ended much more conclusively in the eighth round with Froch landing the best right hand of his career to leave Groves unable to beat the count.
He also came through a hellacious fight with Jermain Taylor which saw him survive the first knockdown of his career in the third round and come back and win by KO with just 14 seconds of the 12th and final round remaining, while his battles with Mikkel Kessler also required plenty of mental and physical toughness.
However, when asked by The Ring Magazine about the best puncher he ever faced, it was Robin Reid whom he fought for the British title that got the nod.
“[Reid] hurt me the most with a single shot. I can’t say George Groves because he caught me square on in the first fight, when I left my feet behind me. That was a heavy knockdown made worse by my balance being off.
Also, after his fast start dwindled, I came on strong, so I can’t say Groves. I remember Reid hitting me and saying, ‘F—ing hell, that hurt.’ Jermain Taylor had me down, but that was more of a sharp shot.
Robin Reid could really bang, and in my opinion he deserved the win over Joe Calzaghe in their fight. That said, Calzaghe had to be tough to walk through the right hands he took from Reid.”
Olympic Bronze Medalist Reid held the WBC Super-Middleweight World Title from 1996 to 97, making three defences before coming up short against Thulani Malinga. He met Froch in 2007 in a crossroads bout for the British title with ‘The Cobra’ surviving the power to force a corner retirement.
Reid hung up the gloves five years later with a record of 42 wins from 51 fights, 29 of those coming by way of knockout.
