Eddie Hearn not sold on Hopkins vs Froch idea

Bernard Hopkins has made clear that he'd love to make a fight with Carl Froch, should Froch beat Mikkel Kessler on May 25, but Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn doesn't sound entirely keen on the idea, especially at a catchweight north of 168 pounds.

"It's flattering. Hopkins understands the value of a fight with Froch, but I don't think Carl needs to fight at catch-weight. Nathan Cleverly has already called him out but Carl walks around just above 12 stone [168-pounds] and he'd be at a big disadvantage. I wouldn't say it's a fight I wouldn't make but it's not one that immediately jumps out at me. We'll see how Carl gets on against Kessler and we'll see which big fights appeal."

The one thing this statement doesn't take into account -- because it doesn't sound good for this perspective -- is that Hopkins, 48, is not a big light heavyweight by any stretch of the imagination. The two are both 6'1" with a 75" reach, and Bernard spent the vast majority of his Hall of Fame-bound career as a middleweight. He's never been big at 175. He has done well there simply because he's better than other fighters.

It is also worth noting, I think, that Froch's long-time press rival Joe Calzaghe happily went up to 175 pounds and went overseas to fight Hopkins in 2008. Hopkins has said that he would go to the UK to fight Froch.

Of course, this could simply just be a way to deflect talk of Hopkins-Froch for the time being, so that the focus is on the Kessler fight, as it should be.