Froch moving on from Inkin blow
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Carl Froch admitted to setantasports.com to being devasted by Denis Inkin’s withdrawal from their May 10 WBC world title eliminator, but vowed to give Nottingham a night to remember whoever he steps in the ring against.
Initially Froch was set to fight Inkin on March 28, but the Russian fighter withdrew citing a virus, before a slipped disc ruled him out of the rearranged date.
Froch admits to being affected by the decision, but vowed to keep mentally strong in the run-up to his bout.
“Its devasting to be honest,” Froch told setantasports.com. “You’re in the gym training, doing all the things you need to do.
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“You’ve got this one man in your mind, you’re focused on his style, on his type of fight and then you get told its off, its mentally dejecting but you’ve just got to get on with it.
“I’ve been back in the gym for five hard weeks and had my mind focused on May 10 with Denis Inkin who’s a tough fighter, unbeaten in 32.
“It was a genuine world title eliminator fight - they don’t get much bigger than that. And to get the news that he’s pulled out again.
“I sort of saw it coming but it shocked me as well. Even though I thought there was a chance he’d pull out, I didn’t think he would.
“I’m keeping my frame of mind strong that I’m definitely fighting on this date though.
“Loads of fans have bought tickets. We’re doing well with the football as with the football as well we’re nearly automatically promoted with Nottingham Forest. This fight would put the icing on the cake.”
There has been much speculation about who will replace Inkin, with Alejandro Berria and Jean-Paul Mendy both believed to be possible opponents, but Froch is unconcerned who he faces, so long as his terrestially televised bout goes ahead.
“There’s a couple of names flying around,” Froch added. “Berria was asked to take the fight last time he pulled out, so he’s been on standby but he seems to have gone on a disappearing act since he’s been offered the fight
There’s somebody else on the pipeline, but I don’t really want to talk. Hopefully we’ll get it confirmed.
It appears be definitely going ahead. If it doesn’t go ahead I’ll probably have to take a couple of weeks off and have a cry and then move on!”