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Carl Froch back in training ahead of 2016 comeback, but he is 'too big' for middleweight Gennady Golovkin

Froch retired earlier from the sport earlier this year after illustrious 12-year professional career

James Orr
Monday 09 November 2015 11:26 GMT
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Carl Froch is targeting a return to the ring next year
Carl Froch is targeting a return to the ring next year

Carl Froch has revealed that he is training five days a week and is ready to make his ring comeback next year, but maintains it would only be for a big fight in Las Vegas or Wembley Stadium, and it won’t be against Gennady Golovkin, as he is “too big” for the middleweight.

The 38-year-old hung up his gloves earlier this year in June, and says that retirement has given his body a chance to heal after a celebrated 12-year professional career, and now he feels “physically recovered and fresh” to enter the ring again, two years after his devastating knock-out win over George Groves in front of 80,000 fans at Wembley – in what was the biggest post-war attendance for a British fight.

One opponent that it will not be against, however, is the unbeaten Golovkin, as the Kazah fights at middleweight, and Froch says he may return at light-heavyweight, one weight higher than the super-middleweight division he won four world titles at during his career.

“If I’m going to fight, it’s going to be next year, but it would take a lot to get me back in the ring,” Froch told the Independent. “It would have to be really good opportunity for me and something I really fancied.

“I’m happily retired but if the right fight comes along, while I’m still physically capable of fighting [I'd consider it].

“Six months ago I’d have said: ‘I don’t want to box again, I don’t want to train, I haven’t got the desire. But I think I can do it once more, I’m training a lot more.

“If a big fight came up in Las Vegas or something in England, maybe Wembley Stadium again."

Recently, Froch’s promoter Eddie Hearn said he has asked him about Golovkin after his systematic dismantling of David Lemieux, but Froch claims that was merely an enquiry.

“I was talking to Eddie and I asked him about the Golovkin fight because he was out there [in New York watching the Lemieux win in October]. I’m just interested as boxing fan more than anything. Eddie Hearn knows a lot because he’s obviously been in the sport for a long time.

“So he thought to himself: ‘Froch is asking about Golovkin so does that mean he wants to fight again.’

“But I don’t think it’ll be Golovkin because he’s a middleweight (11 st 6 limit) and I can’t do super-middleweight [12 st limit] anymore. I’d have to fight at light heavy.

“I can’t go below 12 stone.

“I’m too big and too strong for Golovkin,” he laughs.

Before his possible comeback, Froch faces a totally different battle, as part of his role as Ambassador for Party Poker. Players can qualify for next month's tournament at partypoker.com, in which the top 99 sports will be entered to play against Froch on 13 December.


 Carl Froch is enjoying his role as an Ambassador for Party Poker

"Mentally I've been preparing for this tournament just the same as any of my world title fights," Froch said. "I intend to win and as the Ambassador I don't want to let the side down."

Knock out four-time World Champion and partypoker Ambassador Carl Froch to win a slice of $100,000 at www.partypoker.com the people's poker site.

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