Chris Eubank vs Carl Froch: Who would have won a fantasy fight?

The fantasy matchmaker: Every Friday, The Independent’s boxing team debate who would win a dream fight between two legends of the sport. This week: Eubank vs Froch

Who would win in a fantasy fight between Eubank and Froch?

For this week’s fantasy matchmaker, we are pitting two British boxing legends together: Chris Eubank and Carl Froch.

Both enjoyed storied careers, collecting various world titles before retiring with enviable professional records.

Eubank claimed the WBO middleweight title by beating fierce rival Nigel Benn in a sensational contest, going on to defend his belt against Michael Watson before stepping up to super-middleweight for the rematch. He would win that contest – albeit in tragic fashion – before defending the belt a phenomenal fourteen times. Undefeated in his first ten years as a professional, he retired in 1998 after unsuccessfully challenging Carl Thompson for his WBO cruiserweight title.

Froch meanwhile held multiple super-middleweight world championships, including the WBC title twice between 2008 and 2011, the IBF from 2012 to 2015, and the WBA from 2013 to 2015. A perennial pound-for-pound contender, he famously upset the previously undefeated Andre Dirrell in 2009, before avenging his first career defeat to the fearsome Mikkel Kessler and twice beating adversary George Groves, the second time in front of 80,000 fans at Wembley.

So, with the scene set, here’s who our writers think would win.

Luke Brown: Eubank by decision

This contest pits the best ever version of Eubank against the best ever version of Froch. So the Eubank I am envisaging in this fantasy fight is the one who beat Nigel Benn in 1990 to win the WBO middleweight title, in one of the greatest domestic fights in British boxing history.

Both were technically brilliant. As world champions for so many years, they had to be. But for all their ability, it was for their formidable durability in the ring that they were best known. For that reason I’m not sure this would make for a particularly entertaining fight. Instead it would be gritty and gruelling and most likely would not take long to descend into a stomach-turning battle of the granite chins.

So neither man would be knocked out. And neither would flag as the fight ticked into the championship rounds. But I think Eubank – such a composed counter-puncher, just re-watch that win over Benn – possessed the superior footwork and he would edge any contest fought at range, particularly if able to set the tempo of the fight. That would result in Froch attempting to lure Eubank into a battle at close-quarters, but Eubank was always at his best when an opponent marched towards him. It only presented him with the opportunity to prove his bravery. So it would be close, but I think Eubank would endure.

Jack de Menezes: Froch by decision

This week it’s the immovable object versus the immovable object as two of the best chins in the history of sport come up against each other in a bout that would certainly not fail to live up to the billing. Eubank’s bravery in the ring is rivalled by few, though Froch would undeniably be one of those men, having shied away from no one during his illustrious career.

In what would be a punch-laden super-middleweight bout, the smart money would be on Froch. Eubank was dominant at 165lbs, but as he stepped up to take on the heavier talents of Nigel Benn and Steve Collins it exposed a weakness that would ultimately prove his undoing against Froch – whose large size and power advantage would be able to break down the smaller Eubank.

Froch may not be squeaky clean in the ring himself, but then we’ve never seen what it takes to knock the Nottingham fighter out, and for that he gets the nod in this fantasy matchmaker bout.

Jack Rathborn: Eubank by decision

This would be a war, no doubt, with both men possessing granite chins and enviable conditioning. I think Eubank's suddenness might be enough to edge this fiercely fought contest with a couple more eye-catching shots.

It would be the sort of fight to make viewers wince in the second half as the punishment dished out piled up throughout 12 gruelling rounds at 168 pounds. Froch has the length and that jab early would be an issue and likely bank an early lead, but Eubank's ability to work off that uppercut and put crisper shots together might just get to Froch and break up his tight guard.

Froch later in fights would become looser and take greater risks, which I think Eubank would capitalise on to snatch some crucial late rounds. I can't conceive of either man staying down in this fight though, with both proving in their outstanding careers they possessed resilience to get up and break the will of their opponents. Eubank, just, by split decision.

Tom Kershaw: Eubank by decision

It would certainly be a war of attrition, with neither fighter willing to sacrifice pride and both wielding workhorse-like durability. Yet, it might not be the exciting, gung-ho shoot-out many expect.

Macho auras aside, Eubank was a sharper, cleaner puncher with a lower output. He would look to pick gaps in Froch's often vulnerable defence, land the more decisive shots and rack up points on the scorecards. Froch is the scrappier and more industrial of the pair, who would attempt to close the distance, impose his size advantage and ultimately overwhelm his opponent.

Perhaps, that might be enough to eventually grind Eubank down. After all, when Senior stepped up in weight towards the latter end of his career, the transition was far from smooth, even if age too played a factor. However, in a fight fought on will and adrenaline, Eubank's superior quality should just manage to shine through in a fight destined to go the full 12 rounds.

Our writers have it 3-1 to Eubank. But what do they know!? Let us know what you think: