Carl Froch reveals the prestigious title that boxers need to respect a lot more
Hall of Famer Carl Froch puts the British title on a pedestal, saying that fighters should aim to win the Lonsdale belt while doing their apprenticeship.
The 46-year-old won the British super middleweight title in emphatic fashion back in 2004, when he stopped Derby’s Damon Hague in the first round of their contest at the Nottingham Arena.
Froch then defended the trinket four times before stepping up to face Jean Pascal, who he outpointed for the WBC strap in 2008.
Speaking with Boxing Scene, he said: “I don’t think enough people appreciate what the British title does for your career in terms of experience and being in fights that really mean something.
“To win the British title, and to defend the British title outright – it’s my favourite belt in my trophy cabinet.
“I don’t think enough fighters now hold the British title in high enough regard, ‘cause that’s how you learn your trade.
“Conor Benn, for example, who’s now saying, ‘I’ll fight Terence Crawford’. He can’t be jumping in with people like Terence Crawford and expect anybody to take him seriously.”
Benn comes off two back-to-back stateside wins, with his most recent against previously untested Peter Dobson, who took him the distance with earlier last month.
He is yet to prove himself against the current crop of domestic welterweights, though.
Harry Scarff holds the British title at 147 lbs after beating Ekow Essuman via unanimous decision back in November last year.
But Benn has seemingly set his sights higher than the likes of Scarff, targeting former undisputed champion Crawford.
However, there is now a potential showdown up at middleweight set to take place between Chris Eubank Jr and Crawford, with Benn left waiting in the wings.
Regardless, Benn will need to secure his licence with the BBBofC before he can consider fighting on home soil.
It just so happens that the next British title fight is this weekend between two unbeaten super bantamweights in Birmingham, in a domestic dust-up that promoter Frank Warren has called a personal favourite that he’s really looking forward to.