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Calzaghe too old and fat to return to ring - Froch

Carl Froch won his first bout in the Super Six series © Getty Images

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Joe Calzaghe is desperate for publicity and too out-of-shape to contemplate a return to boxing, according to WBC super-middleweight champion Carl Froch.

The two have become embroiled in a war of words over the past few months, carrying on a rivalry that began when Calzaghe was still active in the ring.

As his standing in the super-middleweight division began to rise, Froch made no secret of his desire for a bout between the two - a contest that never materialised after Calzaghe took the decision to move up compete at light-heavyweight in 2008.

"He took the easy option," Froch told the Guardian. "He's out the circle and looking in, thinking, 'I'm not part of this any more.' Calzaghe is desperate for good publicity and that's why he wants some new profile on the back of me. It's cringeworthy. Even if he wanted to come out of retirement he's too old and fat now."

On Saturday night in Denmark, Froch defends his WBC strap against Mikkel Kessler - who lost on points to Calzaghe in 2007 - as part of the Super Six competition that will crown a unified super-middleweight champion. Froch won his first match-up of the series, against Andre Dirrell, on a unanimous points decision in October.

Despite the disruption to air travel this week, Froch remains "99%" certain that the Kessler bout will take place in Denmark - and he knows he will face an arduous test against a fighter who has nothing to lose. "This is his last chance [he lost to Andre Ward in his first bout of the Super Six series] so I'm getting the last burst of the very best Kessler," Froch said.

"I'm fighting him in his backyard and most people regard me as the underdog. I relish that. He'll come hard for five or six rounds and have a real go. I'll have a go right back."

Froch faced a struggle to secure a TV deal for the fight, prompting him to bemoan his lowly stature in British boxing. "It's annoying that Amir Khan and David Haye are world champions and they get shown on [pay-per-view television] and I'm not," he said.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.