No show for Froch from Brit tv companies beyond belief

Telegraph - Gareth A Davies8th April, 2009

Promoter Mick Hennessy is disgruntled. And rightly so.

As yet, there is still no deal for a British TV broadcaster to air the defence of the WBC super-middleweight title by his charge, Carl Froch, on April 25, against Jermain Taylor.

Thus far, only BBC Radio 5 Live have realised the significance of the fight and will be broadcasting the fight live from the MGM Grand Theater at Foxwoods in Connecticut.

What reason is there in Setanta calling itself 'the home of boxing', if it makes such a crass call ?

For that matter, Sky Box Office could be fighting for Froch, no doubt, a few months down the line, if the landscape changes. ITV, too, could yet be in the frame.

Sky Box Office have Hatton v Manny Pacquiao on May 2; Setanta will air David Haye v Wladimir Klitschko on June 20, but whither a deal for Froch ?

The Showtime TV network will also air the fight across the U.S. but Britain's only current World Champion says that TV's decision makers could be regretting their stance after the fight.

"It's beyond belief," Hennessy, who is in discussions with all broadcasters, told me this morning. "When you look at some of the shows which are being aired, and compare them to this contest - a genuine world title fight, with a rising British

star, it makes a mockery of it."

Froch is equally surprised. Though it won't make him train any less fiercely. "This is a massive fight although British TV doesn't seem to think so. Unless something can be agreed shortly before the fight it's going to mean fight fans missing out on seeing one of British boxing's greatest ever nights and that would be a real shame."

"The irony is that I could have stayed at home in Nottingham, had a nice easy, first defence and that would have been shown on British TV. That would be the easy option though and I didn't come all this way to become World Champion and then con the fans."

"When you first put on a pair of gloves as a kid you don't dream about making routine defences, you dream about putting it all on the line and fighting the best in the world and that's exactly what I'm doing now."

"It will be British TV's loss if this fight isn't shown because they will miss out on some British sporting history in the making with me going over to the U.S., taking Taylor into the trenches and finish him in style."

Froch believes that Showtime could be in for a disappointing night too. "They're going to see a great fight between two fighters at the top of their game but for them it's going to be the wrong result. Naturally they're excited about having a marquee name like Taylor fighting on Showtime for the first time.

"I saw a feature they did on the fight at the weekend and they introduced Taylor as one of the greatest fighters of his generation. It might be his place but it's going to be my time and my generation on April 25th."

Froch insists that he will not be leaving his belt in the U.S. "This is my chance to prove that not only am I the nest super middleweight in the World but one of the best fighters out there pound for pound. It's a massive stage for me to make a real statement and I'm not going to disappoint anyone.

"Taylor says he wouldn't know me if I walked into his gym but trust me if he even saw me in the gym he wouldn't go ahead with the fight because I'm on fire right now. By the time I'm finished with him on April 25th, Jermain Taylor will know exactly who I am and what I'm all about."

Unless the broadcasters make their decision soon, British fans will be listening to the next stage in the fighting career of Carl Froch. They might talk budget cuts, the recession hitting, but as an investment, Froch would clearly prove an asset.

There could be some red faces on April 26.

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