• Fight Insight: Carl Froch v Andre Ward

Forgotten Froch takes aim at greatness

WBC super-middleweight champion Carl Froch will attempt to win the WBA belt from Andre Ward © Getty Images

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• Profile: Carl Froch

Carl Froch offers an engaging story to highlight how he always knew he'd face Andre Ward in the final of the Super Six. When the tournament was announced, he walked away from the press conference with a glove signed by all the participants - apart from WBA king Ward. Froch had one thing on his mind: to be crowned the undisputed king of the super-middleweight division, a coronation that would be sealed by getting a humiliated Ward to finally carve his name onto the mitt.

In many ways, the two finalists embody a tournament that promised so much, but which has ultimately dragged on for too long, endlessly delayed by injuries and withdrawals. Even the final is taking place two months later than was initially scheduled, after Ward picked up a cut in sparring.

There's the sense of a long, hard slog coming to an end, which carries on the understated tradition of WBC champion Froch's career. Here is a warrior who has struggled to gain recognition, despite a terrific CV: his last six fights, four of them away from home, have been world-title contests against top-level opponents.

Saturday night on the Atlantic City Boardwalk could be a turning point in Froch's career, however. Following Khan's shock defeat to Lamont Peterson last weekend, he now stands as Britain's most experienced world champion - and has the chance to cement his legacy.

To do so, he will have to overcome Ward, who also burns with the rage of the undervalued. The accusation that has dogged him throughout the Super Six is that the organisers, Showtime, have made his passage to the final as smooth as possible: the former Olympic champion has fought in his birthplace - California - for the entire tournament, which seems to be the headline news, overshadowing the fact he has strolled past all his opponents so far - including Mikkel Kessler, who beat Froch in 2010. He calls himself the 'Son of God', and has apparently been treated accordingly.

Froch's legacy could hinge on his performance against Ward © Getty Images

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Ward is a huge talent, but hasn't been willing to play the promotional game in the build-up to the fight, preferring instead to cut a surly, brooding figure not given to churning out media-friendly soundbites. "I'm always like this," he said. "You never hear any trash talking from me, I'm certainly not into that gangster stuff."

And so, for all his technical excellence, he can be an awkward, jarring presence - and as such is not feted in a manner that fits his talent.

This war between two overlooked fighters could end up in controversy's grip if the pre-bout verbals are to be believed. Froch has clearly learned the lessons of Khan v Peterson, opting to draw attention to Ward's use of the head - an accusation which will surely play on the referee's mind. Froch will be wary of suffering the same fate as Mikkel Kessler, who was stopped in his tracks after being cut by Ward's butts. The God-fearing WBA champion is no stranger to the dark arts.

Froch will know that Ward does not have the power to knock him out, yet he shouldn't let himself get drawn into a close-range blood-and-thunder battle, because Ward has the advantages in both speed and reflexes. He can let his hands go and dart out of trouble all night; whether he has the chin to withstand Froch's power is up for debate, but he'll be willing to take the risk if it gives him a chance to get close and outwork him on the inside: if it plays out that way, Ward will sail to a wide points decision.

If Froch can control the distance well and utilise his boxing brain - the one he displayed against Arthur Abraham last November - to control distance behind the jab, he could use his sharp timing to walk a flustered Ward into a big shot in the later rounds, forcing a late stoppage. That looks to be his best chance of silencing the American crowd; it's very hard to see Froch, who is plodding in comparison to his opponent, being busy enough to get a points decision, particularly away from home.

The Brit saw this as his date with destiny right from the start of the Super Six, and one signature punch with his own glove is his best chance.

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