CARL FROCH TIPS FOUR FOR GLORY

Daily Express Niall Hickman5th January, 2010

World champion Carl Froch has enjoyed a vintage year by retaining his ­unbeaten record and is ­convinced there are plenty of up-and-coming fighters ready to enter the global scene in 2010.

Cobra Froch has tipped a quartet of boxers for ring glory next year, all of whom he claims can follow him and rule the world.

Nottingham's Froch, the WBC super-middleweight champion, successfully defended his title twice, against Jermain Taylor in America and Andre Dirrell in front of his own adoring fans.

The Taylor fight in particular has gone down in boxing folklore as one of the great ring clashes, as Froch came from behind to spark out the American with just 14 seconds left in the last round.

He followed that up with a points win over Dirrell in Nottingham to begin his 'Super Six World Series', a tournament where the best six 12-stone fighters in the world box each other.

Froch's first tip for world glory is British and Commonwealth middleweight champion Darren Barker, who finished off 2009 with a one-sided win over Danny Butler last month and has racked up 21 straight wins as a professional.

Froch said: "I know how good Darren is because I have sparred with him countless times. He is so skilful. Darren never wastes a shot and is extremely accurate.

"I can't see anyone domestically getting close to him and it's only a matter of time before he moves up to world level. He is an absolute banker for stepping up in class."

Froch said: "As well as Darren there is John O'Donnell, who has come on in leaps and bounds lately. John is still very young and people have to remember that. He used to lack a bit of power but he is developing that very well by sitting down on his shots a bit more. He will be a serious force in the game in a few years and John is just getting better and better.

"I have been equally impressed with Kell Brook. I sparred a couple of rounds with Kell in Nottingham last year, so I can say first hand this lad is good, very good. Kell has got great timing, heavy hands and never wastes energy. He has got fantastic reflexes as well.

"I would love to see him and John O'Donnell fight, just not now. I think they both can continue to work their way up and maybe meet at a much higher level for either a European or a world title."

Brook only boxed twice in 2009 but is set to face former world title contender Michael Jennings in a British welterweight contest in February - a clash which promises to be a belter.

As for 24-year-old O'Donnell, he destroyed Tom Glover in six rounds in September and has won seven straight fights since losing in a shock reverse in Las Vegas to Christian Solano two years ago.

Froch's four is completed by heavyweight Tyson Fury, who has only fought once - a routine win over Tomas Mrazek - since his controversial points victory over John McDermott in a bruising battle for the English title in September.

Despite the closeness of that McDermott clash, Fury has won all nine of his fights so far and the Manchester giant - he is 6ft 7ins - has been tipped for stardom since turning pro 12 months ago.

Froch said: "Tyson has got bags of talent. He needs to settle down a little in the ring and not get over-ambitious and over-excited, but he has all the natural talent to go all the way."

Froch, who takes on Danish hardman Mikkel Kessler in the second of his 'Super Six' fights in April, admits other boxers have also caught his eye.

He said: "I've heard lots of good things about Nathan Cleverly and his fight against Danny McIntosh was superb. He has obviously got something going for him. And then there are the Olympians, all of whom could make it."

Froch will start training for the Kessler showdown in the new year and cannot wait to get back into the ring. He said: "I'm getting a bit twitchy because the Dirrell fight was several months ago and I just love being a boxer.

"I cannot wait to face Kessler. He is a fantastic person, someone I really like but, when we meet, it will be just business. I have to win to prove I'm the best super-middleweight out there."