Carl Froch: Keep the fighting in the ring

The four-time world super middleweight champion will be on hand tonight working as a full-time Sky Sports pundit for the Box Office show at the Manchester Arena,

The 39-year-old was in Wolverhampton on Thursday night as the after-dinner speaker for Showfighter's Christmas Party at the Grand Station, on Sun Street.

Anthony Joshua is top of the bill defending his IBF world heavyweight title against Eric Molina, a meeting with a relatively trouble-free build up.

The same cannot be said of the grudge match in the same division on the under-card between Dereck Chisora and Dillian Whyte.

Chisora launched a table at Whyte during a press conference on Wednesday, causing the British Boxing Board of Control to take action.

The incentive of the British title has been removed from their contest and Chisora has been fined £30,000 – but it will still go ahead.

It comes a week after another David Haye hurled a punch at Tony Bellew as the two violently locked horns, ahead of their showdown at the 02 Arena in London on March 4.

Froch drew pay-per-view status for rematches against Mikkel Kessler and George Groves, the latter his swansong and a bitter war settled in front of 80,000 people at Wembley Stadium.

'The Cobra' can see how the hype attracts numbers, but believes the end game should speak for itself rather than letting animosity go too far beforehand.

He said: "The biggest platform now is Sky Sports Box Office and that's why Joshua is making millions. I helped establish that.

"My second fight with Kessler brought pay-per-view back and my rematch with Groves was massive, as the biggest British fight post-war.

"It was all about giving people who subscribe their money's worth and them buying into it, but some of it is all getting a bit pantomime.

"The things I've seen lately remind me of WWE wrestling and I don't think you really need that, the fight should sell itself.

"But it's one of those things, everyone want to see whether Haye will knock Bellew out on the back of that and what happens tonight between Chisora and Whyte."

Haye and Bellew will take centre stage when they go toe-to-toe, again on Box Office, with the out-of-retirement former WBA heavyweight champion taking on a 'Bomber' coming up from cruiser.

'The Hayemaker' is the favourite to take out the reigning WBC titlist at the lower weight, with Froch of the opinion it all depends on which Haye turns up.

He said: "The old Haye beats Bellew, but that depends on whether he's the terrific puncher with the speed he had of old. He's a real exciting addition back to the heavyweight division.

"Bellew can bang himself, I've sparred with him, and if Haye doesn't bring his top game then it might be a bit closer than you think. He might just pull it off."

Froch starred on Sky Sports after joining up with Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing in 2011, ending a long association with Mick Hennessey.

Hennessey's jewel in the crown of today is still Tyson Fury, who famously upset Wladimir Klitchsko to take his four world titles in November 2015.

Fury has since been stripped of those IBF, IBO, WBO and WBA 'super' belts without ever defending them, due to personal issues and amid allegations of drug abuse.

Froch said: "Mick is an under-rated promoter, he's a real grafter and he's still got Tyson with him, who is mentally broken down and is having some problems, but I think we'll see him back again."