Froch ready to face a hostile crowd

Nottingham Evening Post Ray Yoemans16th February, 2010

CARL Froch will face 10,000 hostile faces when he takes on Mikkel Kessler in the second phase of the SuperSix on April 24.

The fight in Herning, for Froch's WBC super-middleweight belt, has been put back a week due to scheduling problems.

"There will be 10,000 in Herning and I know it will be a hostile place, but I have to make sure that I take a lot of my supporters with me," said Froch.

"I just hope that not too many people have arranged to travel to the wrong place at the wrong time and I apologise for the confusion.

"I can guarantee that every British fan that makes the journey will get value, because this will be a great fight and a great British victory."

Froch says that the defeat by Andre Ward will make Kessler more determined than ever.

"Kessler is an old-school warrior and he wants to win the SuperSix and not take an early bath," said Froch.

"He has all the advantages. He's at home, the crowd will be on his side and he knows defeat means the end of his SuperSix dream.

"But I've proved I can go overseas to a fighter's backyard and pull off a big win."

If Kessler, 30, falls to Froch, this would be his third defeat in the past three years. With the division stacked with talent like Ward, Lucian Bute and Andre Dirrell, it would be difficult for Kessler to pick up a title again.

Meanwhile, Sakio Bika is disappointed he was overlooked in favour of Allan Green as the replacement for Jermain Taylor.

Bika was to have a box-off with Green, the winner getting the spot vacated by Taylor. But visa problems prevented it.

"I was the better option to replace Taylor," insisted Bika. "I've had more experience and accomplishments in the ring.

"I'm rated higher than him and I've always been willing to take on the best to prove myself."

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