25.08.08 Sore over Olympics

I've got to admit, I envy the lads in the Olympic games in China at the moment. What an experience. I would have loved to have gone to the Olympics before I went professional, but it is the pinnacle of the sport. But I was robbed in the Olympic qualifier.

Mind you, I'm not sure I'd have coped with that scoring system. It was bad enough in my day...but it's even worse now.

In the news it said that Ricky Hatton had parted with Billy Graham after all those years and Ricky said that he just couldn't train properly with Billy anymore due to Billy's bad joints and arthritice. Apparently his hands were that bad he had to take injections to numb the pain. As much as Ricky loved Billy it would seem that it was the best move for him to bring someone else in. Maybe Billy wanted to carry on but it took others around him to realise he couldn't do it anymore.

Sadly there are a few others in boxing who also need to turn it in. Roy Jones was an unbelievable talent in his 1990's heyday, but as much as i admire what he has done over the years the stark reality is that he's been smoked in three of his last six fights !  I find it a bit disapointing that Calzaghe has decided to fight Jones after declaring in his autobiography that he would prove nothing by being the third person to knock Jones out.

As much as he says it will earn him good money I can't help but feel he wants to protect his unbeaten record more than challenge himself against a hungry fighter like Pavlik or yours truly. Eubank gave Joe his chance but it seems he is reluctant to pass the torch and would rather keep his '0' intact.

Eddie Futch once said that "In Britain they don't build fighters.... they build records" and it would seem that's the case with Joe. Personally the likes of Taylor and especially Pavlik, are dream fights for me and I would have no problem taking them on at the drop of a hat as I know I have the tools to take care of them both. Pavlik has blazed his way through the best at his weight and as a former Middleweight myself as an amateur, i think it would be a mouth watering tear up for the fans.

Speaking of people protecting their records, I hear Denis Inkin has suddenly recovered from his Froch-induced yellow fever. He is fighting his stablemate Karoly Balzsay in a WBO eliminator fight. My mum is called Carol too and I bet she'd smoke the pair of those clowns. I still hope that Inkin finds a way to win and then at some point I get to bounce him off the canvas on behalf of all my loyal fans who waited twice for him to turn up. Somehow I don't think he will though.

It's a shame Inkin is not as brave as some of my current Nottingham sparring partners who have taken a few Froch lumps lately. I have started back in the Liberty gym at Snienton market over the last few weeks and started hitting the bags. After only a couple of sessions I have been taking the spars apart and am looking forward to a good training camp in Nottingham for my next fight against Jean Pascal. My knee is absolutely fine and am only about 5 pounds off my fighting weight.

When the hard work is done I will throw open the doors and all you fans can come and see me spit some Cobra venom in an open workout! 

Speak Soon,

Carl