Carl Froch and Joe Calzaghe is close to the top of the list of Great British fights that failed to materialise.
The Welshman – who retired undefeated in 2008 – held the WBC, WBA and WBO super-middleweight titles in 2007, and Froch was looking for his first world honours after a stint as British champ.
Calzaghe would move up to light-heavyweight to finish his career off with wins over Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Jr, whilst Froch fought and beat Jean Pascal for the WBC belt around the same time.
Promoter Frank Warren has accused ‘The Cobra’ of ducking Calzaghe, but the Nottingham man strongly disputes this and talk of a fight – an exhibition now – still lingers to this day.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Froch said he was open to it.
“There was something on social media that said Joe Calzaghe wouldn’t rule out a fight with me … He did say he’d fight me. Would I have an exhibition with him? Yeah I think I would.
Because he’s as old if not older than me and we both know the game, I think we both know how to look after each other in the ring. Probably 16 ounce gloves because I don’t want this nose getting smashed. Calzaghe can fight.”
As for how it might play out, Froch believes the championship mentality would take over for both men.
“It wouldn’t be licensed by the British Boxing Board of Control [but] listen, I don’t know how long it’d be an exhibition for.
He’d hit me, I’d hit him back, hang on a minute, we’re both retired champions, Hall of Famers, we’re both gonna want to win aren’t we? … It would probably be massive. It’d be an exhibition but I think it would be a full on exhibition.”
‘The Cobra’ then admitted that he is unlikely to return due to niggling injuries.