Carl Froch has reacted to his thrilling victory over Mikkel Kessler by demanding Andre Ward travels to the UK for their boxing rematch as he plots revenge for the second defeat on his record.
Only Kessler and Ward have mastered Froch and on Saturday night the 35-year-old from Nottingham took the first step on his “road to redemption” by retaining his IBF super-middleweight title against the man who dethroned him in 2010.
A savage 12-round collision fought before an electric 19,000 capacity crowd at the 02 Arena saw Froch secure a 118-110, 116-112, 115-113 decision.
With Kessler accounted for, Froch has turned his attention to unbeaten WBA ‘super’ champion Ward, the man who outclassed him in Atlantic City in December 2011.
“If I could avenge the Andre Ward loss…could you imagine that?” said Froch, who banked his 31st win. “The only two people to have beaten me are Kessler and Ward, so to beat them is the stuff dreams are made of. Beating Kessler is the first step on the road to redemption.
“I have two belts (IBF and the lesser WBA belt that Kessler held), so what choice does he have but to come to the UK? Why would I go to America to fight him?
“I boxed him in the US, so the next one has to be in the UK. Let’s get him out of America.”
Ward appears open to a first fight outside the United States or Caribbean, declaring during his stint as an HBO analyst that it would have to be staged at Wembley.
“Andre has absolutely no options. Tell me another fight out there for him at super-middleweight,” promoter Eddie Hearn said.
“That’s why he was at the 02 he wants the fight with Froch. That’s a massive fight.
“We’re sitting here with two belts and Carl has just catapulted himself to huge new levels in terms of sporting prestige in Great Britain, so we’ll take our time. If Andre wants the fight, then it will have to be where we want it.”
Inevitably after such a gripping contest, attention also turned to the potential for a decider against Kessler.
Both men emptied the tanks, delivering and taking blows throughout, but Froch was the dominant force and he was close to stopping the teak-tough 34-year-old Dane in the final round.
The first fight, which Kessler edged on points, was also compelling but while there would be the appetite among boxing fans for a third meeting, Froch suspects it is unlikely.
“I would like to do it again. In terms of styles we make for an entertaining fight, but I’m not sure if he’d like to do it again,” he said.