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Page last updated at 18:07 GMT, Friday, 26 November 2010

BBC man Robin Chipperfield on Froch-watch

SUPER SIX WORLD BOXING CLASSIC - WBC super-middleweight title
Venue: Helsinki, Finland Date: 27 November
Coverage: Live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live from 2230 GMT, and live on Primetime pay-per-view television.

Arthur Abraham (left) and Carl Froch
Arthur Abraham (left) and Carl Froch get serious at the weigh-in

By Robin Chipperfield
BBC Radio Nottingham

Amidst the champagne bottles on the walls and glitzy disco balls that hung from the ceiling, Carl Froch and Arthur Abraham looked comfortable and confident as they stood on the scales at the weigh-in.

Those scales were perched on the stage of "Tiger," a nightclub in the centre of Helsinki - a slightly odd venue for such an occasion. Peering through the natural darkness that exists in such places, Froch looked content from the moment he arrived at the venue.

Often in these circumstances, boxers strut around, have a gathering of people around them and walk into a room as if they own it. Neither Abraham nor Froch went through the act.

Both made low-key entrances - I'd have barely noticed the Nottingham man as he walked past me without the cheery greeting as he went to sit on a sofa. As I looked up, I expected it to be a friendly journalist I'd spoken to on previous trips. Instead, it was Froch and his girlfriend, Rachael Cordingley - who'd arrived earlier in the afternoon.

He took his seat at the back of the room, in a very warm jacket - a must for a trip outside of the Helsinki hotel. Most of the gathering press failed to notice his arrival. And when he entered the stage, there was little of the usual vociferous support - just a small yell of support from Rachael.

Abraham, too, looked a confident man. Although I did notice a moment as he got on the scales, when he peered down to double-check he'd made the weight. He too, was comfortably inside the 12-stone limit.

Carl Froch
Froch enjoys the pre-fight weigh-in

So both men will now presumably be tucking into the pasta, and taking on board as much nutrition as they can ahead of the fight. Though I'm beginning to think the contest is as much about mental strength as physical ability.

It was fascinating to hear the former world champion Richie Woodhall explain how he thought that Carl was in outstanding shape, and mentally how he was right for this fight.

Woodhall, who's here to commentate on the fight for BBC Radio Five Live, has spent some time with Carl and trainer Robert McCracken in the past few months at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield. He seems to strongly fancy Froch to win.

Robin Chipperfield is in Helsinki covering Froch's fight for BBC Radio Nottingham.



see also
BBC man on Froch-watch
25 Nov 10 |  Boxing
Masterful Froch reclaims WBC belt
27 Nov 10 |  Boxing
I'll end Froch's career - Abraham
22 Nov 10 |  Boxing
Froch fit for Helsinki title tilt
18 Nov 10 |  Boxing
Froch-Abraham bout for WBC title
06 Oct 10 |  Boxing
Froch gets new date for Abraham
24 Sep 10 |  Boxing
Froch set for new world title bid
01 Sep 10 |  Boxing
Froch rules out fight in Germany
28 May 10 |  Boxing


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