Carl Froch‘s feud with long-time rival Joe Calzaghe continues.
These two fighters are two of the best super middleweights to ever come from the UK.
Calzaghe was undefeated in 46 fights and held his world title for more than a decade whilst making a record 20 defences. He also moved up to light heavyweight in his last two bouts, defeating Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Jr.
Froch stayed at super-middleweight for all of his career and won several world title fights, including a historic knockout of George Groves in his final contest at Wembley Stadium in 2014.
Although the two never fought, the theoretical outcome has been discussed many times.
Speaking on Sporting Talk, Froch responded to claims that he would have been ‘smashed’ by Calzaghe, and although he then gave him plenty of credit, he also named two men who he thinks beat the Welshman.
“The only guy who’s beaten me [Andre Ward] and that was on points, two of the rounds were 115-114, he beat me by one round, a guy who was Olympic Gold medalist, never lost a fight since he was 12, retried undefeated. First bout Hall of Fame I’m sure.
“So to say that Calzaghe would have smashed me after he got smashed by Robin Reid, got flattened by Kabary Salem, beat a guy called Tucker Pudwill – this guy couldn’t even fight and he fought him. But I’m not giving Calzaghe stick, he’s had a great career, unbeaten in his pro career, he’s had a couple tight fights but most people like Floyd Mayweather had a couple of tight fights but got the nod. But he wouldn’t have smashed me would he. ‘The Cobra’ don’t get smashed.
“Calzaghe might give me a tough fight and a hard night’s work but he might have ended up getting smashed himself and walking onto one. Cause a 42 year old Roy Jones Jr nearly did it to him. I thought Bernard Hopkins smashed him and didn’t get the decision and like I said earlier Robin Reid punched his skull in for 12 rounds and Calzaghe showed how tough he was and won a decision and never rematched him, but lets not rip the a**e out of Joe Calzaghe cause I’ve nothing against him, he’s a top fighter.”
Robin Reid himself feels he beat Calzaghe that night back in 1999 when he challenged for the Welshman’s WBO world title, as does Hopkins, who knocked Calzaghe down in the first round of their 2008 bout before losing a split decision after the final bell.
Despite what an intriguing match-up it would have been, the fight between Froch and Calzaghe is forever resigned to debate and speculation.
