Carl Froch has stirred up the boxing world by claiming his British rival Joe Calzaghe got lucky on his way to retiring unbeaten. The former super middleweight champion has taken aim at Calzaghe's perfect record, suggesting it should have a couple of blemishes.
Froch and Calzaghe never met in the ring, but their careers have been linked for years. Fans still debate who would have won if they'd fought, making it one of boxing's great 'what if' scenarios. The rivalry continues to spark discussions among boxing enthusiasts.
Calzaghe, known for his slick southpaw style and lightning-fast hands, retired undefeated after 46 fights. He picked up wins over big names like Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Jr, cementing his status as an all-time great in both super middleweight and light heavyweight divisions.
Froch, on the other hand, was a younger, more aggressive fighter with knockout power and a famously tough chin. He won multiple world titles, including the WBC belt twice, as well as the IBF and WBA straps. He's long claimed that Calzaghe moved up in weight to avoid facing him.
Speaking to Ring Magazine, Froch took aim at Calzaghe's 1999 fight with Robin Reid:
"Robin Reid could really bang, and in my opinion he deserved the win over Joe in their fight."
The fight ended in a split decision victory for Calzaghe, with two judges scoring it 116-111 in his favor and one scoring it 116-111 for Reid. The result left Reid in disbelief after what many considered a strong performance.
Froch didn't stop there. In an interview with Sporting Talk, he also questioned Calzaghe's 2008 win over Bernard Hopkins:
"I thought Bernard Hopkins smashed him and didn't get the decision. Robin Reid punched his skull in for 12 rounds and Calzaghe showed how tough he was and won a decision and never rematched him."
The Hopkins fight, which took place at light heavyweight, also ended in a split decision win for Calzaghe. Hopkins felt the result was a robbery.
Despite his criticisms, Froch made sure to give Calzaghe his due:
"Let's not rip the a**e out of Joe Calzaghe cause I've nothing against him, he's a top fighter."
Calzaghe finished his career with a victory over Roy Jones Jr in 2008 before hanging up his gloves. While Froch's comments might ruffle some feathers, they're sure to keep the debate about these two British boxing greats alive for years to come.
