Carl Froch reached out to Anthony Joshua after Joshua's recent knockout loss to Daniel Dubois in their IBF heavyweight title fight. Froch's concern for Joshua's well-being comes as a surprise, given their heated exchange just ...
In July, the two boxers had a tense interaction on WhatsApp. Froch criticized Joshua for leaving his former trainer Rob McCracken and called him a "plastic gangster." Joshua fired back, calling Froch a "pr***" in an interview and even sent him a video counting money, challenging Froch to "get on my level."
Despite this bad blood, Froch put their differences aside after Joshua's fifth-round knockout loss to Dubois. This defeat crushed Joshua's hopes of becoming a three-time world heavyweight champion.
On his YouTube channel, Froch explained why he contacted Joshua after the fight:
"After the fight, I'm the guy that's gone to him, messaged him, had a conversation with him, asked him if he's ok. I'm more concerned about his health than how much money he's earning. I'm not the promoter taking the dough off the fighter, I'm the guy that's worried."
Froch's empathy stems from his own experiences in the ring. He understands the physical and emotional toll of a tough loss:
"I understand boxing, I've been punched in the face, I know what it's like to wake up in the morning after a loss when you're confused. I know how that feels, I reached out to Anthony Joshua, we had a convo, he called me a mentor which was nice. We've got a profound respect for each other, we're both warriors."
Joshua's response to Froch's outreach was positive. He called Froch a mentor, suggesting a shift in their relationship from rivals to mutual respect between experienced boxers.
Looking ahead, Joshua plans to jump straight back into the ring. He wants an immediate rematch with Dubois to avenge his loss and regain the IBF world title. Joshua first won this title from Charles Martin in 2016, and he's eager to reclaim it.
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The dramatic change in Froch and Joshua's relationship shows how quickly things can shift in the world of boxing. From trading insults to offering support, their story reminds us of the respect that often underlies even the fiercest rivalries in combat sports.