CARL FROCH IS PROPERTY TYCOON

The News of the World - Steve Lillis19th April, 2009

CARL FROCH is cashing in on his world title glory by expanding his vast property empire.

Stablemates have nicknamed the Nottingham's WBC super-middleweight champion 'Rigsby' and 'Van Hoogstraten' after he ploughed ring earnings into a string of houses.

Froch, 31, makes the first defence of his title against Jermain Taylor at Foxwoods, Connecticut, on Saturday and will invest his £250,000 purse into more property.

He laughs off comparisons with the star of cult sitcom Rising Damp and notorious property tycoon Nicholas Van Hoogstraten.

Froch, unbeaten in 24 professional fights, said: "My property portfolio is expanding and going very strong.

"I am not stupid with my money. I am earning decent money every time I box so why squander it on a fast car and a watch full of diamond baguettes?"

Sleep

Froch captured the title vacated by Joe Calzaghe's when he outpointed Canadian Jean Pascal six months ago.

Now 'The Cobra' hopes to persuade the undefeated Welshman to come out of retirement. Promoter Mick Hennessy has guaranteed Calzaghe £5million to face Froch at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

Froch said: "When Calzaghe vacated the WBC belt I lost sleep over that. I wanted to fight him to prove I could knock him out in style and beat the supposed best super-middleweight in the world easily. He is not even in my video library as a top fighter."

Ex-middleweight champ Taylor, 30, has beaten Bernard Hopkins twice and has just two losses in 31 fights, both to fellow- American Kelly Pavlik.

WATCH live streaming video of the Carl Froch-JermainTaylor fight here at notw.co.uk/sport on Saturday night

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