Froch can make successful IBF title defence in six rounds

Before truly stepping up to face the top level of opposition, Carl Froch was regularly stopping opposition in the opening six rounds and so 10/11 may be suitable value that he can make a successful IBF super-middleweight title defence against Yusef Mack in the first half of the fight.

In the last three years, Froch has regularly gone toe-to-toe with the best the division has to offer, picking up impressive wins against the likes of Jean Pascal, Jermaine Taylor, Arthur Abraham and Lucien Bute in this period.

This latest victory against Bute was achieved in the fifth round, the first time in eight fights that a bout involving Froch had not gone the distance.

Prior to this when fighting at British and European level, Froch secured four straight successes in the opening six rounds and although Mack may be of a slightly higher standard, he seems to have many negatives against him here.

Firstly, this is his first ever fight outside of the US and the extra travelling compared to what he is used to is sure to have an impact.

Meanwhile, not only is Mack fighting abroad, but in Froch’s hometown of Nottingham and the atmosphere that will be present at the Capital FM Arena will surely be different to what he is used to.

Glen Johnson is the interesting guide for the fight as the Jamaican knocked out Mack in six rounds in a light-heavyweight title eliminator in 2010.

Froch then defeated Johnson by majority decision last year as part of the Super Six tournament.

Other factors against Mack are that he was stopped by Tavoris Cloud in his only previous fight for a world title and it has been five years since he last had to cut the extra weight to compete at super-middleweight.

On this occasion he was floored three times in one round on the way to defeat against Librado Andrade, who has since been beaten by Bute.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.