29.02.08 High Stakes Poster Released

'High Stakes' fight poster released !

26.02.08 Tenerife camp for Carl

The Cobra flew out today with his team including Robert McCracken to run the mountains of Tenerife in preparation with his showdown against unbeaten puncher Denis Inkin.

Froch promises to be in the shape of his life for the fight which will be aired live on ITV and on tape-delay in the States on Showtime.

17.02.08 Showtime to air Froch fight stateside

Unbeaten Nottingham super-middleweight Carl Froch has landed a deal with US pay-per-view channel Showtime which he hopes will finally help him land the marquee fights he craves.

Froch's WBC title eliminator against Denis Inkin in his home city on March 29 will be broadcast live on ITV1 in Britain, as well as prime-time on a tape delay basis across America.

It is a major coup for Froch, who will become the mandatory contender for Joe Calzaghe's title if he can overcome the big-punching Inkin - although Calzaghe is moving up to light-heavyweight to face Bernard Hopkins in April.

Froch said: "I'd prefer to fight Joe but if he's not up for it and steps down then I should be made champion. Then with this kind of exposure I will be able to go after the really big fights.

"I won't duck anyone and I'd love to fight Kelly Pavlik, who beat Jermain Taylor again last night. There is nobody else around who can give Pavlik as tough a fight as I can.

"I've been trying to get this exposure for so long and I'm absolutely delighted that I'm being showcased on both sides of the Atlantic. To get this kind of exposure worldwide is unbeatable."

Calzaghe is unlikely to voluntarily vacate his WBC title prior to Froch's match against Inkin, with the likelihood that Froch will be declared champion retrospectively should he beat Inkin and the Welshman commit to 175lbs.

Alternatively Froch could consider the appetising prospect of a future fight against one of former Calzaghe victims Mikkel Kessler or Jeff Lacy.

Froch's promoter Mick Hennessy said: "This is a major statement from broadcasters on both sides of the Atlantic which confirm that Carl Froch is one of the marquee fighters of world boxing today."

Meanwhile Hennessy has confirmed Junior Witter's WBC light-welterweight title defence against Demetrius Hopkins, tentatively scheduled for March 22 in Palm Springs, is in doubt.

Hopkins' manager Cameron Duncan missed the weekend deadline to confirm the fight with promoters Golden Boy. However Hennessy is still hopeful an alternative opponent can be found for the same date and venue.

10.02.08 ITV to broadcast March 29th

ITV and Hennessy Sports can today (08.02.08) announce that boxing’s WBC super-middleweight world title final eliminator between Carl Froch and Russia’s Denis Inkin will be broadcast live on ITV1 on Saturday March 29th from the Nottingham Arena.

British champion and WBC number one challenger, Froch is undefeated in 22 fights and has won 18 by way of knockout. WBC international champion, Inkin is also undefeated in 32 fights and has won 24 by knockout.

The winner of the contest will be mandatory challenger to Joe Calzaghe for the WBC world super-middleweight crown.

Carl Froch said: “I’m really excited that this fight is going out on prime time ITV1.”

“This is the toughest fight of my life: I have a lot of respect for Denis Inkin as he beat me as an amateur in an England v Russia international in 1999. His record speaks for itself and we are the number one and two in our division, so it’s a shoot out for the chance to become the next WBC champion on the world.”

Mark Sharman, ITV Director of News and Sport said: “I’m delighted that we have secured live coverage of this exciting world title final eliminator for ITV1. Carl Froch has the potential to become a great world champion and one of the biggest names in the sport. I’m very pleased we can broadcast this crucial fight to a wide audience on terrestrial television.”

Mick Hennessy said: “I am extremely proud to be putting this fantastic boxing event together in front of Carl’s excellent home town support”.

“This is not only a special night for British sport, it’s also a very special night for Nottingham which has never had a genuine elite world Champion. The WBC is the organisation that has awarded belts to fighting greats like Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard and Marvin Hagler – now Nottingham is on the verge of having its very own WBC champion”.

The fight will be broadcast on ITV1, live from the Nottingham Arena, with further fights from the under-card broadcast on ITV4. Coverage will also be simulcast on ITV.com

07.02.08 Sparring

Froch has been sparring succesfully this week against the likes of Anthony Small and Darren Barker ahead of his fight with unbeaten highly-ranked Denis Inkin at the Nottingham Arena in March.

Speculation still surrounds the dates but it's emerging to be likely to happen towards the end of March, perhaps the 29th.