Grand visit of Carl Froch to Wolverhampton
One of the most successful world boxing champions of the modern era will take centre stage in Wolverhampton next Thursday.
The now-retired Carl Froch will be the focus of 'A Christmas Evening With' show at Grand Station on Sun Street,
Promotional company Showfighter have already brought former world titlists Joe Calzaghe, Frank Bruno, Tim Witherspoon and Tony Tucker to the venue this year.
Now comes Froch, the most recent to hang up his gloves in July 2015 after playing his part in the biggest British boxing contest since World War Two.
His May 2014 swansong saw him knock out George Groves in the eighth round with a hammer of a right hand, as 80,000 spectators looked on at Wembley Stadium.
He called time having relinquished two world titles, the WBA and IBF super middleweight belts, and joined Sky Sports to become a full-time boxing pundit.
Now aged 39, 'the Cobra' has resisted recent calls to come out of retirement and fight Kell Brook's conqueror Gennady Golovkin.
The engaged father-of-two from Nottingham and ardent Forest football fan first took up the sport aged 10 and had 96 amateur bouts, winning 88 of them.
He claimed two senior ABA titles and became the first Brit to medal at the World Amateur Championships, with bronze in 2001, before turning pro at 24.
He raced to 24 wins from 24, with 20 stoppages, and obtained English, British and Commonwealth honours in swift order.
His world title shot came on home turf at the end of 2008, where he outpointed Jean Pascal unanimously to claim the vacant WBC strap on an emotional night at the Nottingham Arena.
He would hang on to the crown for two successful defences, climbing off the floor to halt Jermain Taylor in the 12th of a fight where he was behind on the cards.
He then entered the 'Super Six' competition, a brainchild of American television company Showtime, which would see the winner walk off with both the WBC and WBA world titles.
Froch joined Andre Dirrell, Mikkel Kessler, Arthur Abraham, Andre Ward and Taylor, first defeating Dirrell on a split decision.
He would suffer his first pro defeat in outing 27 unanimously but controversially against Kessler, who picked up his WBC crown.
But it was again vacated, due to Kessler's withdrawal with an eye injury, with Froch given a lifeline to take on feared puncher Arthur Abraham.
The Englishman negated his power and instead handed Abraham a boxing lesson unanimously to reclaim the big green belt.
He made another defence and beat Glen Johnson on a split in the Super Six semi-finals, setting up the final against Andre Ward.
Pound-for-pound great Ward, who is still unbeaten today, handed him a unanimous setback to win the tournament and take his belt again.
Froch subsequently switched management from Mick Hennessy to Eddie Hearn and remained in the world title picture.
A devastating display saw him rip the IBF belt from the unbeaten Lucian Bute in just five rounds, retaining in three against Yusaf Mack.
He exacted sweet revenge on Kessler unanimously in May 2013, taking the Dane's WBA status in the process to become a double world champion for the first time.
IBF mandatory challenger Groves opposed him that November and decked him in the first, only for Froch to battle back and stop him during round nine.
Their second encounter was an out-and-out grudge match, where Groves was silenced once and for all by knockout.
Froch teased matches with Groves' bogeyman James DeGale and Julio Cesar Chavez Jnr in the following months before calling time.
Tickets to see him are still available, starting at £25 for entry only. Silver passes, costing £50, offer a five-course Christmas meal. Gold is £75, with priority seating.
VIP tables of £10 are available for £1,500 which include a meet and greet and photograph with Froch, along with a drinks package including two bottles of spirits.
Fundraising on the night will benefit multiple sclerosis sufferer Sanj Mand, 46, who needs stem cell treatment in Mexico.
Carvers Building Supplies, on Little Lane in Wolverhampton, are sponsoring the event. Other entertainment on the night will come from the Flares Band.
For more information, call 01902 213 155 or go to www.showfighter.co.uk/events. The venue can be contacted on 01902 454 550.
