CARL FROCH AGREES TERMS WITH MATCHROOM SPORT

Posted on | May 4, 2011 | No Comments

The Cobra eyes “dream Nottingham show” after Super Six glory

Matchroom Sport are delighted to announce that Carl ‘The Cobra’ Froch has signed a five-fight promotional deal.

The WBC Super-Middleweight champion spoke with both Barry and Eddie Hearn earlier this month and the work starts straight away with Froch heading to the States to fight Glen Johnson on June 4 in the semi-final of the Super Six in Atlantic City.

The 33 year-old Nottingham star has wowed fight fans with his stunning performances against Jean Pascal, Jermaine Taylor, Andre Dirrell and Arthur Abraham, and now he plans to become a household name after years of frustration in the shadows.

“I’m so excited to be working with Matchroom,” said Froch. “When you are fighting at your peak it’s about raising your profile and securing TV time and that’s where I am. When you sit down with Barry and Eddie, you can tell they have the power and the resources to maximise your potential so I’m really excited about the rest of my career.

“The thing that stood out was their straight-talking approach and obviously their great reputation not just in boxing but in sport. They have Darren Barker on board who is a good friend of mine and Rob McCracken told me to sit down and listen to Eddie – I listen to Rob and that made the decision simple. Eddie brings big things to the table and is able to promote me in a way that will get me the exposure that I deserve and crave – I’ve fulfilled my end of the bargain, I leave everything in the ring when I fight.

“I still have a dream to fight at the City Ground, home of Nottingham Forest – I was promised that year with Mikkel Kessler but it ended up happening in Denmark. If I’d gone into the meeting with Eddie and Barry then I believe that fight would’ve happened at the City Ground and it would’ve been a momentous occasion for myself, for the club, the city and for British boxing. But now we’ll look forward and say, why can’t it happen? When the Super Six is over and with Matchroom behind me, I know the dream can become a reality. I’m not fighting now for the riches – I’m World Champion, I’ve lost the title then won it back, I’m doing OK financially and there’s a couple of big fights out there for me and it could happen at the City Ground. Joe Calzaghe keeps being mentioned and who knows, something tells me he could come out of retirement, stranger things have happened, and what a fight that would be.”

“It is an absolute honour to be representing Carl,” said Matchroom Sport’s managing director Eddie Hearn. “When you look at what he has achieved in this sport, he already has to go down as one of the greatest fighters Britain has ever produced and it’s time he starting getting the exposure he deserves. You only have to watch his fights back to see just how exciting he is and if we are going to continue to grow this sport in this country, then the public need to see icons like Carl entertain. We are going to raise his profile through the roof in the UK and after the Super Six he will come home to the welcome he so deserves.”

The deal sees Froch complete the Super Six series – fighting Johnson and then a possible final later this year against either Andre Ward or Arthur Abraham – and then three more fights, although Froch would not rule out extending his career, saying he is “in the shape of his life”.

“If I was trying to be realistic now I’d say five more fights,” said Froch. “I’ve got this fight with Glen Johnson then the Super Six final providing I do the business against Johnson – then after that, maybe three more, but then again, maybe five more, let’s see how we go. There’s no reason why it can’t be seven actually, get the Super Six out of the way then have five proper big fights, World Championship fights here in Britain.”

Froch completes a hat-trick of formidable recent signings for Matchroom, with recently crowned European Middleweight Champion Darren Barker and Britain’s hottest young talent, Sheffield Welterweight Kell Brook. That trio was added to recent World title challenger Paul McCloskey and forthcoming European title challenger Gavin Rees, and the latest recruit has his sights set on a massive show involving the hot new stable.

“A pay-per-view event at the City Ground with me topping the bill is not just a pipedream now I’m with Matchroom – and an undercard headed by my stable-mates Darren Barker and Kell Brook who would be fighting for big titles is a real possibility,” said Froch.

Eddie Hearn added: “Darren, Kell, Paul and Gavin are on the verge of World title shots so who could rule out a super show in the near future? We have had tremendous interest from a number of fighters looking to join the Matchroom and I’m delighted with the team we have put together. We won’t rest until we get them what they deserve.”