Time for talking is over - Froch/Dodson preview by Tom Podmore Nov 23rd 2006

The time for talking is over as Nottingham super middleweight Carl Froch defends his British title against former champion Tony Dodson in one of the most eagerly awaited domestic dust-ups of the year. Hennessy Sports promote at Nottingham Arena and Sky Sports televise live. Mick Hennessy is expecting a 6,000 strong crowd at the Arena, and Froch and his family have sold over 1,500 tickets. Dodson has also promised to bring an army of his own from Liverpool. We will know once and for all who is the best fighter on the domestic scene (Calzaghe obviously number one) after this potential cracker. If Froch makes a successful defence of his British crown he'll win the coveted Lonsdale belt outright – an ambition of his when he was growing up. Dodson, if he wins, would only have to make two defences of the title to win it outright if he wins (as he has already held the title before). The two hard-hitting fighters have swapped barbs for over two-years now and after all the talk: who is going to back up their words with their powerful fists? The bookies lean towards Froch, but I feel it's fairly evenly poised. No doubt the East Midlander would disagree with that statement, but this figures to be the hardest test of his four-year professional career. He is fighting a man who truly hates him and wants to literally knock him cold. Froch, as ever, dismisses ‘Doddo's' chances: “You're in deep water,” Froch promised Dodson at a recent press conference. “That's my title and I'm winning it outright. It's staying on my mantelpiece. I'm the champion and you can't do anything about that. You're getting knocked out.” Liverpudlian Dodson, still only 26, is fit, healthy and, more importantly, hungry. He has never forgiven Froch for the comments made when he had to pull out of several mooted clashes with him in 2003 and 2004. He wants to make Froch pay. We'll see if he can back up his boasts on Friday night (24th November). “I'm scared of no man. Bring on Froch. I really want to destroy this man,” said the pumped up Dodson. Christened ‘The Cobra' by Mick Hennessy's PR machine from the inception of his pro career, Carl was touted as a future world champion after an amateur tenure that culminated in a bronze at the world seniors (he was the first ever Englishman to medal at that tournament). He had also ruled the domestic amateur scene for many years – winning the ABA's amongst other titles. ‘Doddo' cannot boast an un-paid career of that calibre, at least not at senior level. However, as a junior he was a seven-time national champion and won Junior Olympic gold. So he can box as well as fight. Froch turned pro at 24 and was immediately given television coverage on the BBC, where millions of viewers got a glimpse of his skills and power. Mick Hennessy could see the potential in a handsome, hard-hitting and personable boxer. Froch, in turn, repaid the faith with victories. Tony turned pro at 18 and learnt professional boxing the hard way: on the undercards around the north of England, racking up wins against older, more experienced men. He wasn't given the exposure like Froch but this, he believes, has made him a more battle-hardened pro. Indeed, the Liverpudlian was already Central Area champion by the time the Nottingham man had turned professional, and had racked up 12 wins. Froch started his career against the usual suspects but was beating them far more handily than anyone else had previously. And he stole a march on Dodson in 2003 by beating tough Brummie Varuzhan Davtyan in five, who had beaten Tony on points a year earlier. Dodson has since avenged that loss on two separate occasions, including a stoppage. ‘The Warrior' has always hinted he can mix it with the best, and an early career draw with the top-class Elvis Michailenko accentuated that point. He also battered Scott Dann's conqueror Jon Penn to defeat in two-rounds. Froch, who is fast-handed and powerful, had insisted he wanted to go the traditional way to world title glory. Midland Area, English, British, Commonwealth, European followed by a big-three world title. Although he never challenged for the Midland title, Carl has won the English, British and Commonwealth titles. He wants to European title after Dodson. However, anyone who counts Dodson out of this contest is foolish. Tony is a fighter's fighter, a man who puts 110% into every attack and wants to punish his opponent. Froch has indicated he'll be prepared to trade with him. This could mean fireworks. Froch, a Nottingham Forest fanatic, has promised everyone a dazzling performance and has warned his fellow Englishman that he will emerge victorious. “I'm going to make a promise to my fans this time: I'm going to do a good job and knock him spark out. I don't usually say that, I don't usually threaten people with knockouts, but I'm definitely going to do a number on him. It's going to be one to watch.” With three losses and one draw on his 24-fight log (20 wins, 12 stoppages), Tony has been labeled as a shopworn fighter after years of punishing battles. However, the former undefeated British champion's losses came when he was inexperienced. The ninth round loss against Albert Rybacki, who was 11-0 going in and still unbeaten to this day, in 2002 still bugs him. “I was very tired by the ninth round and I hold my hands up and say I was a bit immature in the way I handled getting put down for the first time. Instead of using my boxing brain and staying away after the knockdown, my pride set in and started having a war with him when I didn't have to. There was only nine seconds to go on the clock in the penultimate round, though, I should have been allowed to continue. “I was five rounds up, and there was no way he was going to win. If the referee had just let me go on I was still punching back. I was the champion, and I should have been given the benefit of doubt.” Trained by former excellent pro Rob McCracken, Froch has yet to experience the bitter taste of defeat as a professional. Entering this contest with an unblemished 19-0 (15) record, he has beaten some tidy men along the way. Dodson, trained by Gerry Storey, has looked better than ever since he returned from his injury hell – which kept him out of the ring from 2003-2005. He has picked up the English title along the way with a fifth-round stoppage over the sturdy Jamie Hearn. Tony been training in Belfast, as he usually does, for this contest and will need to peak at the right time if he is to reign as British champion once more. He won the British title in 2003 with an 11th round stoppage over the unbeaten Alan Foster. However, he never got to defend the title due to a horrendous series of events: a car crash then injury. Froch's record is littered with top class names defeated well: Charles Adamu, Damon Hague, Henry Porras, Matthew Barney, Ruben Groenewald, Dale Westerman and Brian Magee – that makes for very impressive reading. Froch, 29, eased through the preliminary ranks and won the Commonwealth title with a 12-round decision over the Ghanaian, Charles Adamu, who was a tough, organised operator with an Olympic pedigree. You can't argue with those wins and the respected Brian Magee, himself touted as a future world champion, was brutally knocked out with a Froch uppercut in the penultimate session of their British and Commonwealth title fight in May. Oscar De La Hoya has claimed that Carl will become a world champion in the next year; high praise indeed, from a man who's been there and done it all. The scapper from Liverpool's standout win was in his home city in 2002. Stepping in at the last minute to fight the highly rated Brian Barbosa, who had been turned down by hot prospect Brian Magee, Tony beat out an eight-round points win, a win that finally moved Dodson into the big-time. Froch, as you would guess, is a masterful boxer. But aside from that he's tall for the weight and has got a good range of weapons to call upon. A hard puncher, whose hands are exceptionally fast, he also shows good reflexes: an all-round fighter with an iron-jaw. Froch was born with a gift – long arms. The way he strikes with the jab, as it whips up from the waist through an unsuspected guard to the face, has earned him the nickname of ‘The Cobra'. He is an expert at knowing when to raise the pace. He has good ring intelligence to go with his reach. Granted, he does have a big punch, he has said as much himself: “A lot of the fighters that I box, when they're coming forward, may think they're putting me on the back foot, but I've only got to hit them with a decent uppercut or a straight right hand and they soon slow down and back off. It's good to be accurate, my timing is very good, I've got good power, and I'm a good judge of distance.” Trouble with Froch? That left hand! It's carried far too low. Although he insists its not a problem and feels more comfortable with his chin buried in his shoulder. Dodson is also a man who has more in his locker than just punching. Whilst he likes to get down in the trenches and have a tear up, he is equally adept at applying educated pressure. In other words he is a box-fighter. He explains himself: “I've never been outclassed by anyone. I have never been put down with a shot to the head, either. I love to fight and get down in a toe-to-toe battle- it's not only exciting for the fans, but for myself. “I don't think people realise what big heart and pride I have; it takes me a long way. I'm not just a fighter I can box, too. “I am a very skilled operator when I want to be. I've been working on that a lot in the gym; I am molding myself into a classy box-fighter. “I will bring out both sides of my game on the 24th.” Who wins? Both men are more than capable of winning, however, Froch has mixed at a higher level than Dodson and last time out knocked out Brian Magee. Can Dodson do any better than Magee? Maybe, but will his anger get the better of him and lose his real focus? I think Froch is a future world championship material, whereas I think Dodson is a domestic level fighter. That may be the difference. I think Froch will win, with a mid-to late round stoppage, however, don't sell Dodson short. This is a good operator, capable of upsetting the odds.

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