Exclusive Interview with Carl Froch: Yarde fears no one

British hall of famer Carl Froch retired in 2014 after a spectacular knockout of George Groves at Wembley Stadium, a punch many consider one of the greatest in British boxing history.

Here, Froch gives Sporting Post his analysis of the Canelo Alvarez vs John Ryder fight, who the Mexican should fight next and how he thinks he himself would have fared against him in his prime.

He’s also given his opinion on who British hotshot Joshua Buatsi should fight next.

Sporting Post: What did you make of the Canelo fight?

Carl Froch: I thought Canelo fought a very good world-level fighter in John Ryder, but he’s not quite a top-tier level fighter. You grade fighters on world level, British level and European level, where you’re ranked top-10 in the world. And then you think, is he good enough to step up to world level, which is about timing and who the champions are? I always thought Ryder was a world level fighter, he’s good enough to compete which he proved by going the distance.

I think Canelo is past his best, which everyone knows, but it’s just about levels basically. I think Ryder is at that level in the super-middleweight division. I don’t think he’s big enough, I think he’s a middleweight, even light-middleweight, he’s quite small.

Canelo is small as well. But Ryder really took it to him, great performance and you can’t ask for more. I’d like to see him win a world title but it’s all about timing.

But he’s earned himself money and did himself proud.

SP: Who should Canelo fight next?

It has to be Bivol but it looks like he’s swerving it. Eddie Hearn loves a rematch but has been a bit quiet around it. But Bivol is who he should fight next. Why is it not happening?

I think Bivol wins if it happens when you look at the last time they fought. Bivol was really busy, fresh, strong and powerful. He’s a natural light-heavyweight. I remember watching him in Monaco early in his career, I remember thinking wow he’s one to swerve. He’s dangerous. When the Canelo fight was made I thought, he fought Kovalev at light-heavyweight, but this fight he’s going to struggle. And he got hammered.

SP: Who should Joshua Buatsi fight next?

CF: I think Yarde vs Buatsi is pay-per-view, for me. Yarde fears no one, his stock is very high and I think he’s the real deal. I like his style, his attitude. He’s not a massive puncher but I think he’s great.

For Buatsi it should be from Beterbiev, Smith or Yarde.

I think Yarde is a tough fight for Buatsi, I’ve not seen enough of him at that level to say he beats Yarde. I think Yarde is the favourite and in my eyes he wins.

SP: If you had fought Canelo, and you were sizing him up as an opponent, how do you think you would have done against him?

CF: I’ve already sized up Canelo, I shook his hand at the press conference when he fought Billy Joe Saunders. I don’t think he’d be big enough for me. I think it would have been a similar performance to Arthur Abraham, a guy who was knocking everyone out and everyone was scared to death of him.

I got in there and fought him after Kessler, which was my world title belt, and I just pummelled him. Similar to what Bivol did to Canelo. Just outworked him, at range, right and left hooks straight to the pipe to weaken him. Then back behind the jab with long power punches. I think I’d have outworked him, mauled him, and drained him in the later rounds. Just too busy for him, his work-rate isn’t there.

As it went into rounds 10 to 12, I’d have been too busy for him. He gasses a bit down the stretch now, Canelo. He looks for breathers, his work-rate isn’t there and he wouldn’t have been big enough for me. He’s not a tall fighter.

Abraham, I always go back to him when I think of Canelo. He was strong and feared by everyone. Obviously Canelo is more talented than Abraham, but for that size, Abraham never got near me. So Canelo would have to get past my long arms. I’d back myself.

I shook his hand, small hands, he hasn’t got a big frame. Boxing has weight divisions for a reason.

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