After one of the most exciting fights in many years, fans have started calling for yet another rematch, this time between Andre Ward and Carl Froch.
However, for one of the biggest super-middleweight fights ever to take place, Andre Ward says it has to take place in America or Wembley in London.
Froch has come off one of the biggest wins of his career against Mikkel Kessler to become the unified Super-middleweight champion of the world, and immediately called for a Ward rematch in the UK. Ward was present for the fight at the 02, doing some television work for HBO, and told reporters:
“His record is 4-2 on the road and he is undefeated here, so I know why he wants to fight me here.
“If (Froch’s promoter) Eddie Hearn and Carl Froch really want the fight, they can call my manger and let’s talk about it.
“The UK is not out of the question so pick your phone up and let’s talk about it if you’re serious.”
“We would have to take it to Wembley,” he added.
It is a fight that would generate massive interest, but I have reservations about it’s ability to sell Wembley Stadium. Froch is the man with the belts and the name in the UK, whilst Ward is only really known in the States, so it would take a lot for promoter Eddie Hearn to market the bout at one of the world’s biggest stadiums.
The burning question for fight fans if the fight were to be made in the UK is can Froch win?
He was outclassed the last time they fought, but Ward has been very inactive since, granted injuries have played a role in that. Froch has continued to fight in huge world title fights, and I believe he has improved since his defeat to Ward back in 2011.
Andre does not have the power to trouble Froch, and I truly believe if Froch was to catch Ward with some of the shots he caught Mikkel with last Saturday, he would stop the former WBC champion.
What Ward does bring to the table is a very slick fighting style, with a good defence and fast hands, which could frustrate Froch and force the WBA and IBF champ into mistakes. But in front of a partisan Wembley crowd, Froch would be spurred on.
The harsh truth is that Froch couldn’t outbox Ward, but he can rough him up. With Ward fighting once since the Froch bout, Ward’s inactivity could play right into the hands of the Cobra.
IF the fight is made in the UK, and it is a big if, I think Froch could pull it out of the bag. Granted Ward is mega talented, but he lacks the heart that he would need to win in the UK. Froch shocked everyone by beating the relatively untested Lucian Bute in Nottingham, and although Ward is much better than Bute, Froch can give the number one rated Super-middleweight all sorts of problems.
If the Ward-Froch bout cannot be made, as I don’t believe Froch will fight Ward in the USA again, Froch still has plenty of options on the table for the future. He will make a soft defence in Nottingham in September or October, and will look for a mega clash with George Groves sometime next year.
