Carl Froch grounded by volcano
He’s dispatched the likes of Jermaine Taylor and Andre Dirrell but it looks like Carl Froch has finally met his match.
The WBC super-middleweight champion is having some problems getting over to Denmark to face Mikkel Kessler in the latest outing of the Super Six world boxing classic. Its unlikely Froch would have been aware of mount Eyjafjallajökull prior to last week’s explosions, but it is not a name he will forget, or pronounce, in a hurry. Like many other people around northern Europe he has had his plans derailed by volcanic ash.
With Denmark and Britain two of the country’s most engulfed in fumes from the eruption, it would seem Froch is fresh out of luck if he was planning to hop on the next Heathrow to Copenhagen connection.
He is known as “The Cobra” and it looks like that name could be a self-fulfilling prophecy as Froch is going to arrive at slithering pace given his options. The mooted possibilities are taking the ferry then driving, the Eurostar or arrive by speed-boat, zipping on to the coast James Bond-style. None of these options are that rapid unfortunately.
What he is actually going to do is charter a light aircraft to fly under the smog cloud. It will then land in Germany where he will be picked up by a limo and shuttled the two-and-a-half hours to the small town of Hering. While all the plebs such as his promoters take the Eurostar then drive. I’m sure Froch will be thinking of them while he snuggles up to his model girlfriend Rachel Cordingley aboard his first-class six-seater luxury plane.
All this travel chaos is the last possible thing that the Nottingham-born pugulist needs ahead of the fight. All boxers have different ways they like to prepare, most top-class fighters like to get to a fight early, get a feel for the place, polish off their training and work on a few things. They aren’t desperado’s strolling in to town taking the money and leaving; boxing is a refined science and most pugilists require a settling in period. Certainly none of them want to arrive after spending half a day cramped on to various modes of transport, no matter how splendid the vehicles are.
On top of this, Froch’s loyal tribe of fans aren’t going to be able to join him. The MCH Messecenter Hering is going to feel like a very lonely place for The Cobra on Saturday. A lack of fans can make a huge difference in boxing and British fans can be truly inspiring on their day. British Boxing has always had a great following, particularly abroad; Ricky Hatton in Las Vegas had an army with him, while late last year David Haye had a little slice of the UK over in Nuremberg when he took on Nicolay Valuev. When battling against the odds in a foreign land you need to summon something from the depths and a patriotic following can give that extra 10 per cent.
Also throughout history boxing has been notorious for the “home-town” decision. Judges are scoring by their own interpretations but always seem to favour the local boys, anything you can do to influence them is a bonus. If the crowd are making more noise for a particular boxer it can help sway a judge, against a fighter of Kessler’s stature, you will take any advantage you can get.
For now though Froch’s biggest challenge is getting all the way to Denmark smoothly and as quickly as possible. He might be champion of the world but unfortunately he’s not champion of the skies.
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