Carl Froch looks to restore British boxing pride in Atlantic City
Published:Carl Froch will go into his Saturday night clash with Andre Ward knowing he is in for the fight of his life.
The Nottingham-born brawler, 5/2 to win the fight outright, has lost just once in his career and racked up an impressive 20 knockouts from 28 professional bouts.
He will be desperate to achieve another knockout here, bearing in mind the controversy that surrounded Amir Khan’s recent points defeat on American soil, and he is 7/1 to win by this method.
His opponent in Atlantic City represents the toughest challenge of Froch’s career to date though.
American Andre Ward is undefeated professionally, scoring 13 knockout wins from 24 fights.
These statistics justify his 1/3 price to further enhance his record on Saturday outright, whilst Ward is 8/1 to win via knockout or TKO.
It’s 25/1 for a draw, but that outcome is difficult to envisage.
There has been no shortage of anger and controversy from British fans bemused at the manner of Amir Khan’s surprise loss to Lamont Peterson at the weekend, and Froch will be desperate to avoid a repeat of a fight in which Khan claimed he faced two men, his opponent and the referee.
The dirty tactics employed by Ward in his early career have cleared up to an extent, but he still maintains a tendency to use the head in close, and there will be hope that a blind eye is not turned to such underhand methods.
With each fighter employing vastly different styles, it should make for an interesting clash at Boardwalk Hall.
Ward’s superior boxing talents, along with his speed and will to utilise combinations, will be countered by the sheer heart and never-say-die attitude of the strong-chinned Froch.
With the fight expected to go the distance, Ward could be looked upon favourably for the nature of his display, and so Froch’s brawling style could make a knockout victory for the Englishman a necessity.
