McCracken confident of Froch win

CARL FROCH V JERMAIN TAYLOR
Venue: Mashantucket, Connecticut
Date: Sunday 26 April
Start: Approx. 0300 BST Coverage: Full commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live, live video at www.omnisport.tv (pay per view)

Carl Froch's trainer Rob McCracken is confident his man can defend his WBC super-middleweight title against American Jermain Taylor.

The pair meet in Connecticut on Saturday for Froch's first defence of the world title he won in December.

"Taylor's a great fighter but Carl's a bit special and that's why he's taken the fight," said McCracken.

"Carl is taking on a top fighter but I've every confidence in him because I know what he's capable of producing."

Froch, who won the title in December having beaten Canadian Jean Pascal on points after a thrilling encounter in Nottingham, fights in the United States for the second time in his 24-fight career.

He first fought in the US in 2005 knocking out Henry Porras in the eighth round. Froch holds an unbeaten 24-fight record with 19 knockouts, while Taylor, 30, has lost twice in 31 fights.

The 31-year-old Nottingham fighter is putting the finishing touches to his preparations having recently arrived in Connecticut from his two-week training camp in Canada.

606: DEBATE

Can Froch beat Taylor?

He spent his time sparring with Pascal ahead of the clash at the Foxwoods Casino, run by the Mashantucket Native Indian tribe.

"I relish going into the trenches, looking the other guy in the eye and sorting things out the old fashioned way," said Froch.

"Taylor's a great boxer but I'm a great fighter and when the going gets tough that's when he wilts and I thrive and that's going to be the difference between us."

"Pascal is very similar in build to Taylor and to be honest I only realised just how much the experience of that fight with Pascal had brought me on when I sparred him in Canada," revealed Froch.

"I was able to eliminate the little mistakes I'd made in that fight during our spars and I think Pascal could see the difference as well. I'm definitely boxing a lot better now and I think the improvements will be evident on Saturday night."

For Taylor, 30, a former undisputed middleweight king, his clash with Froch marks a chance to become a world champion once more.

Taylor first became a world champion in 2005 after beating Bernard Hopkins on points. He held on to the belts for just two years before Kelly Pavlik defeated him with a seventh-round knockout.

But he has been warned by his promoter Lou DiBella that defeat could spell the end of his 31-fight career and the last chance to fight for a world title.

My conditioning, stamina and mental preparation is on schedule. I'm peaking at just the right time

Jermain Taylor

"If Jermain lost badly I don't think he'd continue, that's my own personal guess," said DiBella.

"If he can't beat Carl I think he's going to take it as a real sign that it's time to leave."

But DiBella believes that Taylor will defeat Froch on Saturday.

"Jermain's financially set, he has money in the bank," he said.

"The reason he wanted this fight so badly was for his legacy, it was to become champion again. He feels that the WBC belt should be worn round his waist."

Taylor too is confident ahead of meeting with 'The Cobra.'

"Every fighter knows when he's ready to do battle and I'm ready," said Taylor.

"My conditioning, stamina and mental preparation is on schedule. I'm peaking at just the right time.

"When you match his skill sets with mine, I don't see how Carl Froch can win this fight. I know you hear that kind of thing a lot from fighters, but, believe me, I honestly believe it to be true in this case."