Undefeated Super Middleweight—“The Cobra” Fears No One

Emerging boxing star Carl “The Cobra” Froch made all the right moves in 2009. The man from Nottingham, England came to America in April and knocked out Jermain Taylor in dramatic fashion—in the 12th round of a close fight—to defend his WBC Super Middleweight title for the first time. Then in November, the 32-year-old Froch outpointed unbeaten American southpaw Andre Dirrell in his opening bout of the prestigious SHOWTIME Super Six Tournament.

Standing supreme with a record of 26-0 with 20 knockouts, Froch has some more feats to accomplish before he retires from prizefighting by the age of 35 or 36. Presently getting ready for an upcoming showdown with former WBA Super Middleweight champ Mikkel Kessler in March or April, Froch took time out to welcome MOVES MAGAZINE for an intimate photo shoot with his girlfriend Rachael Cordingly, and this captivating indepth interview where he discusses his unique career, inspirations, life outside the ring, and much, much more…

What is your first memory of boxing?

“My first amateur fight probably, in Nottingham. Or hitting a punching bag in my dad’s garage.”

How old were you when you started boxing?

“I was eight or nine. My older brother Lee boxed as an amateur. I had about 45 fights as a schoolboy then took a few years off to focus on school. I got back into boxing again when I was 18.”

How would you describe your boxing style?

“I can box, move, jab but I’m a fighter first and foremost. I could box more and make my career a lot easier —but that’s not what I’m about. I like to get stuck in. I like to fight.”

What kind of leisure activities do you enjoy outside of boxing?

“I like tennis. I play a lot of tennis. But since my ACL reconstruction in my right leg I have to be careful, there’s a lot of stopping and starting. But I really enjoy a game of snooker. I really do. A good friend of mine—Michael Holt—was in the world championship. He’s from Nottingham. I’ve practiced with him on Sundays. He’s doing very well at the minute. So I’m improving my game. Also, I play a bit of guitar and I like to do a few Johnny Cash numbers. I’m a big Johnny Cash fan. Johnny Cash is the man.”

What is your inspiration as a boxer ?

“I want recognition from the top fighters in the world. The top Americans.”

Who is your favorite all-time fighter ?

“Roy Jones Jr. He was fantastic to watch.”

Switching gears to the SHOWTIME Super Six Tournament , do you think Mikk l Kessler might be damaged goods after his loss to Andre Ward ?

“No, he didn’t take that many blows, of course not. He had a few injuries with cuts around his eyes from head butts. But he wasn’t really an aging fighter. He didn’t really take a sustained beating for 12 rounds. He was unfortunate to get the cuts with the way in which Ward was fighting—diving in with his head. The referee out there allowed him to get away with it as well. Which was a shame.”

Who do you favor in the Arthur Abraham – Andre Dirrell matchup ?

“Well, I hope Abraham knocks him out. And if he catched him, he will knock him out. But I know how hard it is to chase someone like Dirrell and catch him. Because I went 12 rounds trying to catch him. And it’s difficult against someone who is so negative—to catch him. Whether or not Abraham could do what I couldn’t do—who knows. That remains to be seen. So Abraham could knock him out—or lose on points, unfortunately. But I think Abraham knocks him out.”

What are your impressions of Ward ? Is he similar to Dirrell?

“They’ve got similarities, in terms of they both are more boxer/movers. But Ward’s not as negative as Dirrell. Nowhere near as negative.”

How do you see your chances vs. Ward ? How wi ll you win ?

“Against Ward, I’ll just do what I do best. And that’s close the range. That’s the difference between Ward and Dirrell—Dirrell runs a lot more than Ward. Ward will, at times, stand up and fight. He just seems to hold a lot and he just seems to lead with his head. I’ve got the experience with plenty of fights where people have tried to hold. I don’t let them get away with that.”

Who has been the most impressive in the Super Six tournament so far ? And who is the favorite to win now ?

“Well, you can say the best win was Ward against Kessler. But I don’t think the best Kessler turned up for the races. I think he got a bad cut. I think the most impressive win was myself and the favorite to win is myself. But I’m sure other people will disagree.”

Do you sti ll hunger to face Joe Calzaghe ?

“No, not really. I saw him the other day. And he looks like a fat, old man. So there’s not much sense to fight Calzaghe.”

Does your girlfriend ever provide ad vice on your boxing strategies ?

“No, Rachael never gives me any boxing tips. I listen to my trainer. If I’m taking boxing advice from Rachael, it’s a bad day [smiles].” Two huge wins over Jermain Taylor and then Dirrell.

Two huge wins over Jermain Taylor and then Dirrell. How did they impact your celebrity profile in the United Kingdom ?

“Yes, it’s brilliant. Beating Taylor (12th round KO), defending champion, and coming back to England, it’s been massive. And that’s the reason we sold out the Trent FM Arena with 9,000 fans at 3 o’clock in the morning. Not many people can do that. It’s unfortunate the way in which the fight unfolded—because of Dirrell’s negativity— but I’m a superstar now in my hometown. It’s brilliant. Covers on Boxing News, Boxing Monthly, a fitness magazine, and there’s bits and bobs going locally. I’m working close with a local council and I’m doing a lot of TV bits, Anne Robinson, The Question of Sport.”

Your a top fighter , persuasive speaker . Do you think acting could be in your future ? You resemble James Bond in the photo shoot .

“Thank you. Yes, it would be nice to go into something like that after my boxing career. So something like that would be considered. We’re actually putting a pilot together —a boxing film in Nottingham. We’re putting a pilot together now. If we get any investors, we’ll then get a script. See how that goes.”

Have you ever had a funny memory in your boxing carer ?

“I used to be a fan of Prince Naseem Hamed, an exciting fighter who provided entertainment value. And I got carried away one amateur fight—I vaulted the top rope (as Hamed used to do), flipped over the top rope—that went okay. Then during the fight I was throwing a silly uppercut from the canvas, and bobbing and weaving with my hands down. I threw a shot and I missed and I fell over. But I got up and won the fight. But that was quite fun and embarrassing. All my friends were laughing.”

What ’s been your greatest moment in boxing?

“Was lifting the WBC title against Jean Pascal in my hometown Nottingham (December 2008). It wasn’t massively recognized because Pascal was unknown. But to come through a fight like that was an unbelievable feat, if not a recognized one.”

Your most painful moment ?

“Was actually when I lost in the Olympic qualifying tournament. I was trying to qualify for the Sydney Olympics (2000). I lost a decision but it was a political decision to a Romanian in Liverpool. I basically got ripped off on the scoring system. There were a lot of politics involved back then when England was trying to qualify. It was painful to not qualify for the Sydney Olympics when I knew I was good enough to go there and win a medal.”

Of all your matches , in which one did you fee l you were at your absolute best ? Which do you consider to be your finest , sharpest performance ?

“I’ve got to revert back to the world title fight (vs. Pascal) because it was such a hard fought contest (won on a unanimous decision). I’ve since been sparring with Jean Pascal (who has subsequently won the WBC Light Heavyweight title). And he’s fast and he’s strong and he’s tough. And he was unbeaten. And he was very good as an amateur. That’s my best performance against a top level fighter, a top operator. When I won the British title by knocking out a guy named Damon Hague—lovely bloke—but it went a round. So you don’t take a great deal from that.”

What is the best fight you have watched ?

“Naseem Hamed stopping Jose Badillo. A masterclass. A skillful fight.”

How would you describe your prefight feeling/mindset ?

“That’s quite an in-depth answer. I’m thinking about winning. There’s plenty of emotions that go on when you’re fighting. It’s very…it’s a deep question. That you need a long time to answer. I’m going to bring a book out. You’ll have to buy that and read that [smiles]. I’ll talk about it in there.”

Your unbeaten as a professional. When is the last time you actually lost a boxing match ?

“In the semifinals of the world amateur championship against the Russian world champion (Andrey Gagayev) on points in 2001.”

Who are some of today’s boxers that you enjoy to watch ?

“All the best fighters really. Floyd Mayweather is just a great technician—offensively and defensively. Manny Pacquiao is so fast and explosive. I watched a lot of Miguel Cotto’s career. I enjoy watching him. David Haye—I like watching his fights because sometimes he’s a little bit of a kamikaze. There’s a lot of method to his madness, the way he fights. But David Haye is exciting to watch and I’m looking forward to see him fight the Klitschkos. He’s definitely got a chance there, a good chance.”

And last , Mann y Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather , who do you see as the superior fighter ? Who will prevail?

“I think Floyd Mayweather beats Pacquiao. He’s too technically proficient. His defense is too good. I can’t see Pacquiao doing anything with him. Basically because Mayweather’s defense is too good. His offense is good as well. He’ll frustrate Pacquiao, then he’ll break him down. Then he’ll beat him, he’ll either outpoint him or he’ll stop him. In my opinion.”

Perspective on Carl Froch:

His trainer Robert McCracken : “Carl can fight. He’s highly regarded back home. I first heard of him 11 years ago. I first met him 10 years ago. He’s a special fighter. He’s very confident, has natural ability, timing and heavy-handedness. He’s a very hard puncher. With his reach, his arms are very long. He’s physically very strong. So he’s kind of got everything you need in a fighter. He’s also kind of unorthodox which also makes it more difficult for the opponent. Carl’s 100% professional. He’s diligent in everything he does. He’s very level-headed and listens to the right advice. He’ll keep a cool head on fight night. He’s a very formidable fighter and the best super middleweight in the world.”

Boxing News Editor Tris Dixon :

“Froch is a man’s man and a fighter’s fighter. He ducks no one, fears no one and wants to be recognized as the best fighter in his division. He is a big-punching hard man, has a terrific chin and one can only anticipate the fireworks when he steps in with fighters who think the same, like Mikkel Kessler and Arthur Abraham. He was a 2001 World amateur bronze medallist and was convinced he would have medalled had he been in the Sydney Olympics of 2000. His popularity is a strange beast in this country. A hero in Nottingham, he’s been in numerous exciting fights yet has failed to nail down a TV deal over here. He is no underachiever but he is under-appreciated. I have worked with Carl numerous times and he is gracious with his time. Just last week we slotted in an hour-long interview and he had a number of professional commitments to meet and still had to buy his Christmas tree. He’s a pro who’s doing things the right way but has yet to crossover into the mainstream which is too bad, because he merits his place alongside stars from other sports. He does not crave the publicity but he deserves to be recognised for his achievements.”

The old adage ‘a picture’s worth a thousand words’ in this case is an understatement. Meet John Neyrot, artist, photographer and famed body painter. His canvas, more than inspiring, beautifully sculpted naked women who at the end of his masterpiece become human murals of some of the most aesthetic pleasing art to the human eye. Beginning his creative journey at a young age doodling and drawing on his notebooks, Neyrot’s hobby became his bread and butter when he realized his passion and talent for photography could sustain him financially.

Present day, Neyrot’s seductive style has made him one of the most sought after image makers in the country. Merging his love of painting with photography has given this modern day Picasso the freedom to create a visual narrative through the women he shoots. Lending his craft to iconic clients such as Hugh Hefner’s infamous Playboy Mansion, glamour magazines throughout the world and creating collections of images in an assortment of sultry calendars amid the most beautiful women and obscure locations around the globe, Neyrot is defining art through his work.

Amazingly one of his most memorable shoots to date was commemorating The 2008 Colts Cheerleaders Calendar after their team victory in the XLIII Super Bowl. A tribute to the armed services, Neyrot captured portraits in military bases around the country. While most would expect envy to come from his presence amidst a sea of gorgeous women, men reveled at the shiny, perfectly positioned Lombardi Trophy that graced the pages. Neyrot reminisces, “I have to say, although initially I didn’t fully understand the magnitude of holding this trophy in my hands, by the end of the shoot I was quite excited.”

Perhaps his success is directly tied to his humble disposition and gratuitous demeanor. While comfort and trust are essential in photographing the perfect picture, in body painting it’s crucial. As Neyrot works his paints about a woman’s most intimate areas he is overwhelmed with a deep-rooted sense of respect. “When I meet the woman I’m working with, I understand the work they put into looking just right. I feel honored that a woman feels comfortable enough to disrobe in front of me, allowing me the freedom to create. I really value and respect their trust in my craft,” Neyrot gently explains.

A culmination of life-long talent, John Neyrot has created a business that is most men’s pleasure. Exhilarating to say the least, his soothing approach and eye for beauty has placed him as a forefather in this new trend in pop culture art.

Walter Iooss never thought he would be a professional photographer. As a teenager, it was just a hobby. But then at age 18, he got his first assignment for Sports Illustrated.

Michael Jordan Lisel, IL – 1987

No one captured Michael Jordan’s personality, his joy for the game, or his most personal moments, the way Walter Iooss has. For this photograph, Walter trekked to Jordan’s basketball camp for kids in Lisel, Illinois. He had one side of a parking lot painted red and another side blue, not knowing which uniform Jordan would wear to the shoot. When Jordan arrived, Iooss perched himself above the rim in a cherry-picker and had an hour to capture Jordan with the proper light and shadow. In later years, Jordan would never do an hour-long shoot. “When he played those two seasons for the Wizards,” says Iooss, “he never posed for a single photographer.”

He was to photograph and octogenarian sailor in Connecticut, who had built a boat with no plans and sailed it to Florida and back. Similarly with no plans, Iooss built an unparalleled photographic collection that has captured virtually every icon of professional sport: Ali, Jordan, Pele, Koufax, Gretzky, Unitas, Arnie and Tiger among hundreds of others. He has also photographed the most beautiful women on the planet for the world famous Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. “If you’ve got the best looking women on the planet and the best locations, it isn’t that hard,” Iooss says. Turning the pages of Iooss’ book, Athlete, is like taking a visual tour through the last fifty years of American sports history. From Kyle Rote to Brett Favre, from Wilt to LeBron, Iooss’ camera has focused on the icons of every major sport under the brightest lights looking for the story not yet told. This feature is just a small representation on the colossal body of artwork that Iooss has created and continues to expand every day.

Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier Philadelphia, PA – 2003

“Originally, this shoot was to be for a story about rivalries – Evert vs. Navratilova, Nicklaus vs. Palmer. They couldn’t get enough people to pose for the story. The magazine wanted them smiling for the photo, they want everything happy. And in color. By the end of the shoot, they were playing around for the camera. I had brought a 20×24 Polaroid camera and shot mostly color, but for the last few images, I switched to sepia film. I told them, ‘Just stare into the camera. No smiles.’ And I was able to capture the photo I was looking for—two warriors who left their lives in the ring. They ended up liking this photo the most. I think they liked it because it showed them as they really were.”

Tiger Woods Orlando, FL – 2002

Iooss captures golf ’s greatest talent showing a little of his personality, something he rarely does during shoots. “Tiger has been schooled by Michael Jordan,” Iooss says. “He doesn’t get photographed a lot and when he does it’s all business. It’s unlikely you would ever see poses like this again.”

Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus Ligonier, PA – 1965

“Arnold Palmer is definitely in my top five athletes to photograph,” says Iooss. “It was a rush to follow Palmer around when the gallery was watching. He had a charisma like no other. Tiger is great, but in his day, Arnold would definitely have given him a run for his money.” Here, Iooss captures a light-hearted moment in the Palmer/Nicklaus rivalry during the 1965 PGA championship at the Laurel Valley Golf Club.

Dwight Clark and Everson Walls San Francisco, CA – 1982

“People have called me a lucky photographer. In some cases that’s true, I’ve definitely been lucky. But I love watching football, and I especially love to watch receivers. I try to follow their patterns and tendencies. Chance favors the prepared man.” Here, Dwight Clark makes one of the most famous catches in NFL history in 1982, propelling the San Francisco 49ers into the Super Bowl.

Swimsuits

Iooss started working on the world famous SI Swimsuit issue in 1972. “At the time, I was about 29 years old, sexy girls, exotic locations—it was a dream job.” Having photographed some of the most beautiful women in the world has taken Iooss to locations such as Vietnam, South Africa, Brazil, and too many Caribbean islands to mention.

Kobe Bryant Los Angeles, CA – 2000

“Kobe said, I’m not going to look at the camera for this shoot,” said Iooss. “I wanted him to wear his nicest Italian clothes and drive around in his beautiful sports car, but he insisted on wearing his track suit. That’s the kid in him, always testing people.” Here, Iooss captures one of the few times Kobe looks at the lens.

Steffi Graf Cabo San Lucas, Mexico – 1997

Steffi actually approached the magazine wanting to do the shoot. Midway through the afternoon, her agent called me and asked me not to take any profile shots of her, because she was self-conscious of her nose. From that moment on, her nose was like a weather vane. Everywhere my camera moved, her nose followed it. She didn’t like the photos, but just about everyone else did.”

Yogi Berra and Whitey Ford Tampa, FL – 2001

“Going to Spring Training was always like going back in time. When you went in the 60’s, it was like watching baseball in the 1940’s. When you went in the 80’s, it was like watching in the 60’s. The fans were so close to the players. Everyone was much more laid back. Guys in the media wouldn’t even cover most of the games, so I would be at a batting cage with maybe two other photographers. Those days are long gone.”

Kyle Rote Bronx, NY – 1962

Iooss started toying with photography as a teenage hobby. He started attending NFL games with a camera. He was able to capture this compelling portrait of New York Giants running back, Kyle Rote. “I got a sideline pass for the day,” Iooss remembers. “My dad was a musician and he worked with WNEW. It’s amazing, you could spend so much time preparing for a photograph, and then something that you take in 30 seconds as an 18-year-old holds up well over time.”

Johnny Unitas Timonium, MD – 2001

“At the time, Unitas was one of my last living heroes,” Iooss says. He wanted to photograph Unitas badly for Sports Illustrated. “When the magazine was doing a story on former NFL players who were suffering from injuries and what little help they were getting from the league, they finally sent me. Here was the man with the golden arm and he couldn’t even lift that arm to drink a cup of coffee…when I was done, I welled up in the car. To see my idol living on hard times, it was an emotional day for me.

Wilt Chamberlain Boston, MA – 1966

“In those days, the strobe lights would be in the mezzanine. People would be smoking, so there would be this haze. And you can sit right up on the baseline. You could even put your camera on the court if the play wasn’t coming your way. Now the strobes are up in the ceiling. What makes photographs like this are the backgrounds. You just don’t have those opportunities anymore. Especially when you’re three or four feet behind the baseline.”

Boys Playing Stickball Havana, Cuba – 1999

“Cuba was a gold mine for photographers. The only sport I still play is golf. And in that moment when you bring the club back before it strikes the ball, there’s nothing else going on in the world. Just that. In the same way, when that ball is being pitched and the boy is about to hit it, there’s nothing going on in the world. It’s that childhood purity of sport that makes it so special.”

“The Mercury Girl” Making Her Mark In Hollywood

You might have seen her on Maxim’s list of Hot 100 Women or possibly in FHM, perhaps you recognize her face from the Lincoln Mercury commercials; regardless of where, Jill Wagner standing at 5’ 8” is hard to forget! A North Cacalacky native, Jill graduated Sigma Cum Laude in Business from North Carolina State, which means, yes gentlemen she is more than just a pretty face. Packing her bags and heading to Los Angeles on gut feeling, Jill quickly made her mark in Hollywood. Initially signing with friend and modeling agent Alex Fox from CSD, Jill realized the modeling world was not for her. Going on calls, walking into a room full of hundreds of women that looked just like her, seemed pointless. Luckily it only lasted a short while, after landing a job on MTV’s hit television series Punk’d, as the shows first female regular sketch performer, Jill began her acting career. Her charm and incredible sense of humor kept opportunity knocking, and soon guest star roles on series such as Monk on USA, Quintuplets on Fox, and a recurring role on Dr. Vegas for CBS began to open up.

Although Wagner was making steady strides forward checks were not steadily rolling in. As thoughts of returning to North Carolina began to cloud her head, a call from her manager sealed her stay in LA. On her way to the airport Al Hassas, current manager urged her to go on an open call for Lincoln Mercury who was on the search for a spokeswoman. “Typically I wouldn’t go on an open call, they just seemed like a waste of time, but since it was on the way to the airport I decided to stop. I was a little concerned because Al told me they were looking for a bilingual spokeswoman, which I am not! His advice? ‘Fake it!’” Wagner giggles. Needless to say she went in there, all American and nailed it. There were a series of cuts, from 100’s to 50 to 10 to Jill Wagner as the final pick for Lincoln Mercury’s 2005 Spokeswoman, which she continues to hold as of today. Jill comments, “It’s a good thing it came through, with only $150.00 in my bank account I was ready to go home.”

Taking her first stab in a lead role, Jill embarked on a new challenge in acting. Transforming herself into Krista Starr in Blade: The Series, she played the role of a woman trying to find her brother’s killer and in her quest was infected with vampire blood. Wagner confesses it was “the toughest role” she’s had to play thus far. “I say this because it was the first time I had to carry a series.” Although it only aired for one season, Jill was on the rise, even winning Spike TV’s 2006 honor of “Woman of Action.”

Fast forward two years and Jill Wagner has now become a household name. A feature film with a starring role in the science fiction thriller Splinter, released this past Halloween and currently out on DVD, and perhaps even more exciting is her co-hosting position on the ABC primetime competition reality series Wipeout, proclaimed this summer’s biggest splash! Her play by play commentary along with her contagious laugh has definitely played a significant role in the show’s success.

If you missed out while you were barbequing, no need to fret. Jill, along with special guest Michael Irvin, will co-host a special themed Super Bowl edition that will air during half-time and a post Super Bowl full episode in which cheerleaders will compete against male couch potato sport fans; primetime exposure showcasing Jill’s likeability.

Making all the right moves, Jill Wagner is rapidly becoming a household name and America’s next sweetheart.

MSG’s Ring Card Girls – Always Get A Nice Reaction From The Fans

WORDS BY mike schoepski photos BY george kalinsky

Madison Square Garden, known as the “Mecca of Boxing” has been staging world-class fights for over 100 years! The greatest fighters in the world – Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Sugar Ray Robinson, Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran, Joe Louis, Evander Holyfield, Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis, and the current heavyweight champ Wladimir Klitschko – have all plied their trade inside The Garden’s famous ropes…

Ring Card Girls have become an important part of the tradition. For every boxing match inside MSG, Ring Card Girls enter the ring in between rounds to alert fans as to what round is coming up – and they always draw a nice response from the crowd.

Regarding Ford models serving as ring card girls, this was the first time msg had asked professional models to serve as Ring Card Girls. For both fights that they served this duty, designer Nicole Young put together the outfits – from head to toe. She designed costumes that would be sexy, but also easy to maneuver getting in and out of the ring. Look for more of the same with future fights at The Garden…