WBA showdown in early summer, then Golovkin next year?
Wednesday 4 March 2015 17:49, UK
Eddie Hearn says Carl Froch wants to take on Andre Ward in Nottingham and beat him before targeting Gennady Golovkin.
Following the WBA's decision to order a showdown between its two belt holders, who fought in America in 2011 with Ward winning on points, Froch stated that he would like to take on Ward in his home city of Nottingham.
Promoter Hearn admitted he wants Froch to take on middleweight king Golovkin further down the line but believes the WBA's decision to order a showdown between its two belt-holders has got the super-middleweight's "blood flowing" again.
Ward hit back on Twitter saying his rival 'will not dictating anything', but Hearn believes that assessment is completely wrong and that is why the City Ground football stadium in Nottingham is the best possible venue.
What does Ward bring at the moment? Unfortunately Carl dictates everything in this fight.
Hearn told Sky Sports: "I think Carl feels that at this point, with Ward being out for nearly two years and with the ability to bring the fight to the UK, it's a great chance to beat him – maybe the best chance he'll ever have.
"What does Ward bring at the moment? Unfortunately Carl dictates everything in this fight.
"Andre Ward is a brilliant fighter, pound-for-pound arguably the best in the world but because of his promotional disputes and inactivity, he really doesn't carry the draw in the US. At all.
"People said to me Carl is looking for his Vegas fight so why not fight Ward in Vegas? Two reasons – one it is not that big a fight in America. Two – if Carl Froch is going to beat Andre Ward, we want to have as many advantages as possible.
"Carl is very, very difficult to beat in the UK, particularly Nottingham. The atmosphere would be electric and it would be a very, very tough night for Andre Ward. So if we do get this fight in the UK, it is the place it has to be."
High-risk
Hearn also made no secret that he wants to see Froch take on Golovkin, but not yet.
Trainer Robert McCracken recently said he would be happy to put his fighter in with the unbeaten knockout specialist who currently rules the middleweight division.
Immediately after beating Britain's Martin Murray in 11 rounds in Monaco two weeks ago, the man from Kazakhstan suggested he may have to move up to super-middleweight for a fresh challenge.
And Hearn is convinced if it can be built-up a little longer, Froch may well take on man who is moving up the pound-for-pound rankings.
"Him and Rob McCracken will take that fight no problem at all – one day when that fight is dual pay-per-view, and by that I mean it is box office over in the States and over here – and the price is right," said Hearn.
"It is a high-risk fight, then I believe you will see that happening the end of the year, early next year. I am confident Carl Froch will fight him.
"When you talk about Golovkin, Carl Froch has the curiosity to fight Golovkin because no-one knows how good he really is. We know he's very good but is he exceptional? Can he handle it at 168lbs?
"Can he handle it when he's fighting someone who's got a granite chin landing shots back, and is much bigger? So that fascinates Carl, and he wants to find out the answer but the only way to find that out is in the ring."
You can hear more from Hearn, as well as the latest from Michelle Joy Phelps in the USA and interviews with Tony Thompson, Tyson Fury, Chris Eubank Jnr, Tommy Coyle and Rocky Fielding, on our Toe 2 Toe podcast
