By STEVE LILLIS, News of the World
GUTTED Carl Froch insisted he was robbed of his world title after a nightmare defeat at the hands of Mikkel Kessler here in Denmark.
The Nottingham super-middleweight lost for the first time in his professional career as Kessler won a unanimous points decision infront of his home fans.
And Froch, reeling from the 117-111, 116-112, 115-113 verdict, fumed: "I feel terrible. I've lost my belt and I'm absolutely gutted.
"If that fight was in my home town the decision might have gone my way."
Froch paid the price for fighting through the pain barrier, losing his WBC belt after a brutal scrap.
Nottingham's bulldog warrior refused to pull out of the fight despite a damaged left ear that needed hospital treatment on Tuesday and a sore jaw.
It was Froch's first defeat in 27 fights and he must beat Arthur Abraham in his next fight to qualify for the semi-finals of the Super Six World Boxing Classic - the tournament to discover the best 12-stone slugger in the world.
Kessler fought as though his life depended on it in Herning while Froch punched himself to a standstill in the sensational 12 round shoot-out.
The final three minutes were the most exciting seen in a ring for many years with both men cut above the left eye and exchanging X-rated punches.
Both were wobbled in that round and ringside opinion was divided at the final bell.
Froch, roundly booed by the partisan crowd after accusing the judges of bias, added: "It was a toe-to-toe battle and you've got to give Mikkel Kessler the credit he deserves.
"He's a proud warrior - and the Danish fans have been brilliant.
"I'll get another chance and I'll be back. I'm looking forward to having two weeks' rest and then getting straight back in the gym."
Froch might have lost the battle, but you just know he won't give up until he gets the chance of revenge and he surely deserves a rematch after boxing injured.
And even Kessler conceded: "It was a hard fight and it was a great performance by Carl Froch.
"He showed he was not scared of the big crowd here. It was just my day."
Few British fans made the trip given the difficulty getting to Billund, but Froch was unnerved as he marched to the ring looking confident licking his lips in anticipation as he stood on the ring apron.
It was the challenger who made the better start scoring with the jab, forcing Froch to blink and move out of range.
Froch did have some success with right hands, but his great rival stood his ground well and the fight was already having the makings of a tough fight.
Kessler, 31, was again looking more comfortable in round two even though Froch smiled at the bell as if to say 'You can't hurt me.'
It was developing into the brutal encounter expected and Froch was in no mood to surrender his title.
Kessler hit the deck in round five from a short round, but Canadian referee Michael Griffin didn't take up a count, claiming it was a slip.
He was hurt before the bell, but came with his own heavy artillery in round six. It was t type of battle that shortens careers, but one fan never forget.
When Kessler suffered a points loss against Joe Calzaghe in November 2007 he faded badly in the second half of their 12 round battle.
He was a man possessed this time and ploughed forward landing freely through Froch's defence and reflexes.
Fighting instinct got him Froch through round eight when a concussive right hand buckled his knees and spewed blood from his nose.
It seemed to spark Froch to life in the last quarter of the fight and he chewed into Kessler's lead, but there wasn't enough time.
He was left to think if only and had there been another round he might well have toppled the Dane.
Source: newsoftheworld.co.uk
No comments:
Post a Comment