Boxing: Froch aiming to complete hat-trick of great wins

(PA)

Carl Froch knows that there are fights that change your life forever and tonight at the Trent FM Arena, in his hometown of Nottingham, he will walk from the shadows at the back to the bright lights aware that he needs a spectacular win.

Froch is one fight away from completing arguably the finest consecutive hat-trick of wins by a British world champion, and he is just as close to becoming a victim of his own pride because he has insisted on real fights and no phoney defences.

Tonight's fight, which will not start until 2am, is Froch's first in the unique and inspiring Super Six tournament, which brings together five rival promoters and six quality fighters for a guaranteed total of 12 bouts during the next 18 months.

Froch, who is unbeaten in 25 fights, is the tournament's slight betting favourite, but in fight one of a possible five he has to beat Andre Dirrell, who is also unbeaten as a pro and won a bronze medal at the Athens Olympics after competing in 236 unpaid fights.

Last December Froch won the WBC title on points after a fantastic 12-round brawl with unbeaten Canadian Jean Pascal. Since that night, Pascal has won the WBC light-heavyweight title, become close friends with Froch and he will be ringside.

In April Froch accepted a lunatic assignment and defended against former undisputed middleweight champion Jermain Taylor in America. The fight ended with just 14 seconds left on clock when Froch, who was trailing on two of the three scorecards, knocked out Taylor. Now for Dirrell, to complete the trio of wins.

Dirrell has not yet been at this level during a slow and safe career, but there is nothing to suggest that he will fail to adjust when Froch puts him under pressure. All fighters have that one fight, that one night, when they prove that they are special, and there are rumours of big bets and some bold claims on Dirrell's behalf.

However, Froch has not just matured overnight and neither does he look vulnerable or lazy in his approach. Froch is very, very good and Dirrell will lose for the first time, most probably on points.