2013: The Year of the Rematch

Last weekend saw a successful defence of the IBF crown by Carl Froch who stopped Yusaf Mack in just three rounds in Nottingham


The Cobra who demolished former champion Lucian Bute earlier this year was at his vicious best, throwing quick and spiteful punches but varying his shots and working the body superbly. Before the fight Mack had said for Froch to stop him he would have to knock him out cold and while he didn't go that far, he left Mack gasping from breath in the middle of the ring after a superb straight right to the rib cage of the American.

This has led to obvious questions of where does Froch go next? If promoter Eddie Hearn is to be believed then 2013 will be the year of the rematches. If Bute decides he wants a rematch then Froch is contracted to fight him. Matchroom and Froch are apparently in talks with Mikkel Kessler who has said he is happy to travel to Nottingham, and then the obvious one Andre Ward.

The biggest fight out there for Carl is a rematch with Kessler. It is the easiest fight to sell, and would certainly be watched by many throughout Europe and possible America. After the first fight Froch felt hard done by and although the fight was by no means a robbery, you can see arguments for both fighters winning. Froch said that part of the reason for his poor performance was the Volcano eruption that had disrupted his travel and therefore preparations in Denmark.