Former WBA/IBF super middleweight champion Carl “The Cobra” Froch (33-2, 24 KOs), the future Hall of Famer from Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom, respects the work of WBC flyweight champion Roman Gonzalez. “Chocolatito” tops most pound-for-pound lists, but Froch thinks WBA/WBO/IBF light heavyweight champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev (30-0-1, 26 KOs), the knockout artist from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, by way of Kopeysk, Russia, is number one proud-for-pound, and his November 19 fight with former WBA super middleweight champion Andre Ward (30-0, 15 KOs), the master boxer from Oakland, California, won’t change a thing.
“The big-punching Russian is my kind of fighter,” Froch told Sky Sports. “He has proven his credentials repeatedly and provided great entertainment in doing so. Impressive performances over fellow 175-pound champions Nathan Cleverly, Jean Pascal and Bernard Hopkins deserve merit especially when it’s been without any regard for where the bout has been held. He is far from the slickest, nor is he a multi-weight winner—but he is a highly-entertaining throwback who takes on all comers.”
Froch and Ward have history. When they fought in the Super Six Final in 2011, Ward took Froch to school. Froch is no ordinary fighter. Andre Ward made him look ordinary.
“He’s an unbeaten and decorated fighter,” said Froch. “But his slippery, point-winning style leaves many people cold. Recent years have seen him reluctant to take any risks at all and there is talk he may not fight Kovalev, which would be a shame as he really does need to fight a big name soon or he’s going to become irrelevant.”
Carl Froch’s Top Ten Pound-for-Pound
1. Sergey Kovalev
2. Roman Gonzalez
3. Andre Ward
4. Tyson Fury
5. Guillermo Rigondeaux
6. Terence Crawford
7. Canelo Alvarez
8. Gennady Golovkin
9. Carl Frampton
10. Kell Brook
This article was penned by the author who is not related to the WBA and the statements, expressions or opinions referenced herein are that of the author alone and not the WBA.
