Froch concedes dream fight in Vegas looks unlikely…
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WBA and IBF super-middleweight champion Carl Froch has revealed that a fight with James DeGale doesn’t appeal to him despite a January bout being touted.
DeGale established himself as the mandatory challenger for Froch’s IBF belt after his win over Brandon Gonzales at Wembley back in May 31, and he will face Marco Antonio Periban in Liverpool on November 22 in a bid to further prove his credentials.
However, although a dream fight in Las Vegas against Julio Cesar Chavez Junior appears unlikely after a lack of interest from US TV, Froch says that a clash with DeGale doesn’t motivate him enough to get in the gym and prepare.
He not only believes that the British public have no interest in that fight, but he fears that he would risk producing another below par performance similar to the one he produced in the first encounter with George Groves when he underestimated his opponent.
“It’s not a fight that motivates me if I’m being honest and it’s one that does not really tick boxes for fans of the sport and the general public,” said Froch, according to the Daily Mirror.
“That’s the feedback I have been getting because they are looking at him saying DeGale lost to George Groves, who then lost to Carl Froch.
“Facing James DeGale, who has not earned his stripes, is not something that will make me want to get up at 6am and start running.
“My legacy is worth much more than that because if I am not motivated for a fight, as what happened with Groves in the first meeting, then it shows.”
Froch added that if DeGale impresses against Periban and there are then calls for him to face his British rival, then he will re-think his position and could set up a meeting early next year.
If he doesn’t wish to fight DeGale, then the Nottingham-born fighter would have to vacate his IBF belt. While DeGale has goaded his rival in recent weeks by insisting that he is scared to fight him and would swerve the bout in order to maintain his legacy, the Olympic gold medallist has insisted that it is about making history and just wants a shot at a world title.
Whether or not that will be against Froch remains to be seen, but the 28-year-old will need to pass his test against Periban with flying colours before he can think about 2015.
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