Leigh Wood lost in his WBA featherweight title to Mauricio Lara via corner stoppage in the seventh.
Wood, fighting in his home town of Nottingham, was up on all scorecards at the time that the towel came in.
Froch is no stranger to a big win in the city, having beaten Lucian Bute for the IBF Super Middleweight world title in 2012.
Wood made the count but was on extremely shaky legs, and his trainer, Ben Davison, threw in the towel. Naturally, that act is now the talking point in the aftermath, with many commending the corner’s tough decision-making whilst others have branded it as early.
Froch, as per Pro Boxing Fans, can see both sides.
“Lara’s [hook] had a lot more meat on it than Wood’s – and it flattened Wood, he banged his head, he was gone. The stoppage … I thought it was a bit moody the towel coming in with six, seven seconds left to go. I just thought that was a bit hasty from Ben Davison. I don’t agree with that decision.
But that decision I don’t agree with might’ve just saved Leigh Wood’s life, because he was gone. And I don’t think it would’ve made any difference if he didn’t stop it and he let Leigh Wood carry on, I think Leigh was getting beat because, unfortunately, he was gone.”
‘The Cobra’ went on to decide that he would’ve liked to have seen Wood with a chance to see out the final seconds of the round so that trainer and fighter could assess the damage during the minute’s break.
“Saying that, he got dropped by Conlan and he got up and he survived twelve rounds, so it wouldn’t be fair to way he’s gone, gone. But that just looked heavier. Caught flush on the chin, then he banged his head, and the ref let him stand up and give him the benefit of the doubt, and he was all over the shop.
But there was such a small amount of time left in that round, just let the f***ing bell go. Let him hold on and just have a minute with him in the corner. Give him a chance to recover. But it’s split second decisions in top level sport.”
With Lara now WBA world champion in the featherweight ranks, Wood has a rematch clause that’s his to activate should he want another shot at the seemingly fearless Mexican.