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Froch targets 'legend' status against Ward

Carl Froch was unable to stop Glen Johnson in his last fight - a source of annoyance for the Brit © Getty Images

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Carl Froch has been told by trainer Robert McCracken that his fight against Andre Ward will define whether or not he is considered a legend in future.

WBC super-middleweight champion Froch will attempt to unify the division by beating WBA king Ward in the final of the Super Six tournament on October 29 in New Jersey.

He begins the fight as a slight underdog against the former Olympic champion, who is yet to taste defeat in 24 pro bouts, and who boasts a victory over Mikkel Kessler, the only man to get the better of Froch.

Ward is known as a very slick, technically-accomplished operator, leading most commentators to speculate he will claim a points decision over Froch. But Ward, who has a KO rate of 54%, is unlikely to possess the power to become the first man to stop Froch, and that gives the Englishman plenty of time to earn a KO of his own.

"A perfect fight for me is to outbox my opponent and catch up with him late in the fight, round nine, ten, 11, then get a stoppage to excite the fans," Froch told Sky Sports News. "That's what I like doing. I've been disappointed in my last fights, not because I've not been in great fights, but because I've not got a stoppage.

"I'm confident against Ward that when I connect with a hurtful shot on the jaw section of the cranium, I'll do some serious damage."

McCracken, who is coaching the Great Britain team at London 2012, added: "This is the fight in his career where he can become a real, true legend. Not many people have that chance, so when they do they want to grab it with both hands."

If Froch beats Ward, he wants to have a homecoming clash at Nottingham Forest's City Ground next year. Kessler, George Groves, James DeGale, Sergio Martinez and even Joe Calzaghe have been mooted as potential opponents.

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