Carl Froch Admits to Training Injuries

Carl Froch has punished his body ahead of this weekend's title clash against Jermain Taylor at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut.

Undefeated WBC Super middleweight titlist Carl “The Cobra” Froch has admitted exclusively to this writer that he is entering the ring this weekend against Jermain “Bad Intentions” Taylor with minor injuries.

Froch has endured an arduous training camp in his preparations for Saturday night's showdown against former Middleweight champion Taylor. While not specific in regards to the nature of his injuries, Froch claims he pulled out all the stops to be the best he can be, but he mentions that it came at a physical price.

“For sure, I've picked up a few injuries, what I call niggles, knocks and bangs,” he said on Wednesday. “It's all part of the heavy training that I've put myself through. I've put myself through heavy sparring. I'm not going tell you all the complaints I've got...I'll get through it.”

Froch, from Nottingham, England, trained for the past three weeks in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada and his primary sparring partner was the man he fought in his last fight – Jean Pascal. Several reports (and even Froch himself) mentioned that the sparring with Pascal was heated and entertaining.

“I'm not too concerned about the injuries,” continued Froch. “I always go into the ring with a few little niggles, some cracks and some pains. This is a very, very difficult, tiring and painful business to be in. But it's what I do and it's what I like to do. ”

Most on-line sportsbooks have Froch as a slight 2-1 betting underdog to lose to his WBC title belt to Taylor, most likely by decision. Barring a weigh-in problem or other revelation in the next couple of days those odds are likely to tighten as the fight draws near.

But despite the odds against him, Froch is confident about his own chances and is eager, after all of the training, to finally get in the ring and get it over with.

“I'm looking forward to doing the business and putting my skills together,” Froch said. “Despite the niggles, I had a great training camp. I feel fit, I feel strong and I feel like I'm firing on all cylinders. I'm ready to do the business with Taylor.”


April 2009