New date for Froch v Kessler bout
Date published :
12 Feb 2010 - 18:39:16
Carl Froch's WBC super-middleweight defence against Mikkel Kessler has been moved to a week later and now will take place on 24 April in Herning, Denmark.The bout, which was scheduled for 17 April, forms part of the second round of the Super Six Classic tournament.
"I am upset for my fans with the change of date but this has been unpreventable due to scheduling issues," said Froch.
"I hope that my fans will understand this change and will still come in their thousands to support me."
He added: "I am looking to be the first fighter to take Mikkel Kessler out before the final bell.
"I have gone to Jermain Taylor's backyard and defended my belt and I am more than happy to do the same with Kessler. As the champion I will prove that I can fight and beat the best anywhere."
Froch's camp had wanted the fight to take place in Kessler's home city of Copenhagen, the Danish capital.
Will the venue damage Froch's chances against Kessler? Staging the fight in Copenhagen would have made travelling easier for Froch's fans - Herning, with a population of 45,000, lies 150 miles to the west and does not have an international airport.
It will be the 32-year-old's third defence of the world title he claimed by beating Canadian Jean Pascal in December 2008.
However, it will not be the first time Froch has defended his title outside the United Kingdom.
Last April, Froch staged an extraordinary comeback to beat Taylor in Connecticut, before outpointing Andre Dirrell in Nottingham last October.
The Dirrell encounter was Froch's first fight in the Super Six super-middleweight tournament, masterminded by American television network Showtime.
Last November, Kessler was beaten by Andre Ward and in the process lost his WBA belt.
