Ward vs. Froch: 5 Keys to a Carl Froch Victory

Will ProtheroeContributor IIIDecember 16, 2011

Ward vs. Froch: 5 Keys to a Carl Froch Victory

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    Carl Froch has been on one of the toughest runs of fights in recent times. He will try to round off this run by beating Andre Ward in the final of The Super Six Boxing Classic. Froch is seen as the underdog by many, so what must he do to take the crown?

    Froch has employed various tactics in his recent run of fights. Against Jean Pascal, he had to overcome a perforated eardrum and a cracked rib, both of which he sustained in sparring. In a classic fight, he out-slugged his opponent before hitting home his advantage by fighting behind a good jab. However, he was hit far too much.

    In his next fight with Jermain Taylor, Froch again showed that he possessed the will of a warrior. After starting slowly and being knocked down, Froch did exactly what he had to in Round 12. A huge right sent Taylor to the floor. A huge barrage followed, leaving the referee with no option but to stop the fight with just 14 seconds remaining.

    The victory did not cover up the fact that Froch was vulnerable to right hands and his jab had deserted him.

    Froch again looked shaky in his first Super Six bout against Andre Dirrell. Once more, he managed to come out of the fight with a victory, but didn't look great doing it. He had trouble spotting Dirrell's counter-punches, but turned it into a brawl, which didn't suit Dirrell, and he won the fight.

    The favourite before the Super Six started was undoubtedly Mikkel Kessler. In a thrilling, disputed fight, Froch again had trouble with Kessler throwing the right hand. In the last round, both men looked ready to drop but Kessler hung on for the win.

    On the basis of the Dirrell and Kessler fights, Froch would not be seen as a huge threat to the unbeaten Andre Ward. However, in his next fight against Arthur Abraham, Froch changed his style and boxed smartly.

    He employed the jab cleverly throughout, breaking through the high rise guard of the Armenian at will. Froch varied his attack well, hitting Abraham with mean body shots and taking the wind out of him.

    His last fight against Glen Johnson was another in which the Nottingham fighter did not look his best but ended up the victor. He started off slowly yet again, but threw the more telling blows and won the decision.

    Froch goes into the Ward fight as the underdog, but this is a position that he is used to. Can he get the result or will Ward win the Super Six? Comment below.

Use the Jab Smartly

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    Froch cannot win if he fights like he did against Jermain Taylor. He has started slowly in many of his recent fights, but he can avoid that by fighting smartly behind the jab.

    Against both Pascal and Abraham, Froch showed that when he wants to, he has a solid jab and can make it hard for his opponents to get to him.

    This won't be easy against Ward, who is elusive at the best of times. He will be hard to keep at bay, but with a performance like the Abraham one, it is possible for Froch.

Turn It into a Brawl

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    There may come a point in the fight at which Ward starts to assert his dominance. If this happens, Froch needs to turn this from a fight into a brawl.

    Ward has said that European fighters can struggle when attacked to the body.

    Froch can turn this around.

    It is true that he favours punching the head, but he has the ability to attack to the body when he wants to. This could take Ward out of his comfort zone and allow Froch to turn it into a brawl.

    Froch has the power to end the night with one punch, and if Ward is in unfamiliar territory, then there will be more opportunities to end the fight early.

Utilise the Uppercut

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    Andre Ward is known for coming in with his head. This led to the end of his fight with Mikkel Kessler, as the Dane could not continue. I am not implying that Ward is a dirty fighter—this is just how some people fight.

    Froch can use this to his advantage.

    In the Abraham fight, Froch hurt the Armenian with some big uppercuts in the early rounds. With Ward likely to be leaning in head-first, Froch can hit some big shots. If the right one lands, Froch could end the night as Super Six champion.

Keep the Left Hand Up

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    Something Froch has struggled with throughout his career is spotting the right hand. If he allows this to happen against Ward, he could be in for a long night.

    Froch fights with his left hand dangerously low, inviting the right to be thrown. By keeping his left raised while going in, he may be able to nullify this advantage for Ward. It may go against the grain, but Ward will be prepared and Froch needs to be as well.

Keep Andre Ward Moving

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    Even if Ward establishes a big lead early on, all is not lost for Froch. The Cobra has the power to finish the fight with one punch. In the late rounds, it is important that Ward is not comfortable.

    If Ward settles into a pace that suits him, Froch could end up chasing shadows. If Froch fights like he did against Abraham, Ward will not be afforded the chance to settle.

    A tired Ward in the championship rounds will put Froch in the hunt.

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