Danny Flexen

THIS is as close to a 50-50 fight as you will see made at world level. Froch is naturally bigger, hits harder and has the better recent form. Taylor is marginally taller, rangier, faster and has fought at a higher level. Both were superb amateurs and both are brimming with confidence.

It takes a high level of self-assurance to make your first defence against a marquee fighter in their own country. Froch has a self-confidence bordering on arrogance but, as we saw in his title-winning effort against Jean Pascal, he is also able to dig deep when necessary.

Taylor's character is not so certain. For me, he could have beaten Kelly

Pavlik in both of their fights. The first time, Taylor let the Youngstown

man off the hook. The second time, Taylor had the better of the early

rounds, his skill and speed giving Pavlik nightmares. But when Pavlik

stepped up the pressure, Taylor became subdued and coasted through the rest

of the fight. As Pavlik's limitations have since been exposed by Bernard

Hopkins, this defeat speaks volumes about Taylor's attitude. He appears to

be an on-top fighter.

If Taylor has rediscovered the ambition he possessed before he first fought

Hopkins, then he can win ¬ he appears to be the more technically gifted of

the two. But if it goes 12 rounds ¬ with Froch's granite chin, Taylor is

unlikely to stop him ¬ and it gets hard in there ¬ as I suspect it will ¬

can Taylor stick with The Cobra? I say no and go for Froch to win a close

decision.

Tris Dixon

Well, it comes as no surprise to see American writers admitting they have NEVER seen Froch and, as a consequence, are picking ‘their’ man.

How may self-respecting fight writer cannot have seen Froch-Pascal is simply mind-boggling, but that’s another story.

Taylor has a lot of physical advantages over Froch, such as being more athletic. But Froch has a mindset that is rare even in boxing. His focus and determination is something else. His appetite for success and a tough fight is hard to feed.

But, and I know a lot of people are talking about it, his defence was too open against Pascal and a sharpshooter like Taylor can make him pay. Does Taylor have the power to stop Froch? I don’t think so, he hasn’t halted anyone in four years (although he had Pavlik in dreadful trouble in their first fight). But just because he might not be able to hurt Froch it does not mean he will not be able to outscore him.

It’s hard to go against Froch, even though Taylor is a slight favourite with some bookies. The Englishmna has always show he can figure out a way to win and that is something that could make him as special as we are told he is.

Froch can do it on points.

Is it a certain pick? Nothing like.