Two-time and reigning WBC Super Middleweight champion Carl Froch is new to Icons, and on current form he will live long in the memory of boxing fans. The Nottingham-born 34-year-old boasts a formidable record of just one defeat in 28 fights.
Froch began boxing at the age of nine, and at 6'1 he is a tall and rangy fighter. In a professional career that dates back to 2002, he has fought off some stellar opposition on his way to the top.
In 2004 Froch won the vacant British and Commonwealth Super Middleweight titles, and he has defended them against the likes of Brian Magee and Damon Hague, earning him a Lonsdale Belt in the process.
It wasn't until 2008, however, that he secured the world title for the first time. On 6th December of that year, Froch fought Canadian Jean Pascal. In a fight that lasted the full 12 rounds, Froch emerged victorious to claim the World Super Middlewight title. After the fight it was revealed that he had suffered a perforated eardrum and a cracked rib in the final sparring session before the fight had even begun, making his triumph all the more impressive.
Froch retained the title against American fighters Jermain Taylor and Andre Dirrell in the year that followed. Against Taylor Froch survived a third round knockout and powered back to produce a stunning knockout of his own with just 14 seconds remaining in the 12th round. His fight against Dirrell was the start of the Super Six World Boxing Classic super middleweight tournament, a competition he agreed to partake in 2009.
The first defeat of his professional career was just around the corner however, and on 24th April 2010, Froch relinquished his title to Danish fighter Mikkel Kessler. It was a close contest, but ultimately Kessler won by unanimous decision. Froch claimed afterwards that the outcome might have been different had the fight taken place in his home town of Nottingham.
The following November Froch reclaimed the WBC World Super Middleweight title against former middleweight champion Arthur Abraham. The German Abraham entered the fight as the bookies favourite but Froch produced the best performance of his career to claim a unanimous points victory. Froch followed up that excellent showing to see off Jamaican fighter Glen Johnson.
The lifelong Nottingham Forest supporter and season-ticket holder is a hero in his hometown, but as reigning WBC World Super Middleweight champion, he has his admirers all over the world.