Carl Froch Exclusive Interview with NewBettingSites.uk

They call me the Roy Keane of boxing but a fight between us ‘wouldn't last long’, Dana White ‘makes Eddie Hearn quit’ in exhibition fight, Conor Benn got the hump because I called him a ‘novice.

Speaking to NewBettingSites.uk, boxing legend Carl Froch says a Roy Keane exhibition would not last long, explains why Dana White would make Eddie Hearn quit in the boxing ring, and reveals why Conor Benn is refusing his interview requests.

The Heavyweight Landscape

• The Decline of AJ: Froch suggests Anthony Joshua is "not the force he was" and believes rising star Moses Itauma would likely beat the former champ today.

• Wilder vs. Chisora: Deontay Wilder is described as a "spent force" who can no longer generate power, with Froch predicting Derek Chisora could even stop him.

• Dubois' Dominance: Predicts Daniel Dubois will knock out Fabio Wardley, citing Dubois' world-level experience and recent performance against AJ.

• AJ vs. Fury: Claims the "Battle of Britain" has officially lost its edge, comparing it to a late-career Mayweather-Pacquiao that has missed its window.

Promoter Feuds & Power Plays

• White vs. Hearn: Betting on Dana White to "make Eddie Hearn quit" in a hypothetical boxing match, noting White looks significantly better on the pads.

• The Aspinall Signing: Labels Eddie Hearn’s signing of UFC star Tom Aspinall a strategic "power play" in his ongoing friction with Dana White.

• The "Business" of Boxing: Dismisses Hearn’s frustration over Conor Benn’s management changes, stating, "It’s business... you take the money every time."

Personal Grudges & Call-Outs

• The "Novice" Tag: Reveals that Conor Benn is refusing interviews after Froch called him a "novice"—a label Froch stands by until Benn is tested at world level.

• The Roy Keane Comparison: Embraces the "Roy Keane of boxing" moniker but warns a charity fight between the two "wouldn't last long" due to the talent gap.

• The Fury Family: Blasts John Fury’s professional career as "absolutely useless" and suggests a prime John Fury would have been an even match for Jake Paul.

Cultural Commentary

• The Jake Paul Problem: Expresses total "lack of interest" in Paul’s boxing career and scoffs at Donald Trump’s suggestion that the YouTuber has a future in politics.

• Masculinity & The Manosphere: Offers a nuanced take on Netflix's recent coverage, condemning the disrespect toward women while defending the traditional "provider" role of masculine men.

For the full transcript, read below.

Jake Paul has been everywhere lately. Who should he take on next?

Who should Jake Paul fight next? Maybe a fight against someone like Ngannou, who is not a professional boxer, could generate interest. However, even after AJ splattered him, I still think Ngannou would be too much for him. I'm not interested in Jake Paul fighting him. I have no interest in watching Jake Paul fight anybody who has been splattered by AJ. He shouldn't be in a professional boxing ring with world champions or anyone who's mixed at world level.

When he stepped up for the first time against a British-level, at best, professional fighter, he got beaten against Tommy Fury. That tells you all you need to know about where he's at. Then he was stupid enough to jump in with AJ. AJ didn't even get out of first gear, and he splattered him. He didn't splatter him quick enough for me, but I have no interest in watching Jake Paul fight anymore. We've seen everything we need to see. It's crap.

Donald Trump says Jake Paul would make a great member of the government. What's your reaction to that?

What qualifications has he got to get into politics and actually do something positive for America, or any country by that means? I think his demographic is a young audience, so he's got a lot of people listening to him. From that point of view, there's an angle there for a younger demographic to be voting Republican, if he's pro-Trump. But, I wouldn't have Jake Paul anywhere near a boxing ring, or anywhere near politics.

Roy Keane vs. Carl Froch for charity?

I like Roy Keane. I love his quotes, his delivery, and the way he is honest, and straight to the point. He's not worried about upsetting people, and the truth matters to him more than people-pleasing. I'm very similar, so much so that I get called the Roy Keane of boxing, and I take it as a compliment. I have no intentions or aspirations, nor would I take any pleasure, in punching him right in the face in a charity match. I wouldn't want to hit him. Firstly, it wouldn't be fair. In the same way, it wouldn't be fair if I was having a game of one-touch football, or whatever, one-on-one. It wouldn't be fair because he is still an amateur. You don't need to be getting in the ring with me. This is no disrespect to Roy Keane; I'm sure he could have a little roll around and stand his ground. But maybe, maybe not, who knows? The way the world is now, would that sell? I've got too much respect for him to want to get in the ring, but if it ever happened, it won't last long, would it?

Itauma vs. Franklin?

Itauma versus Franklin is a good step up for Itauma, and I think he gets the job done easily, probably stopping Franklin inside six rounds. Franklin has been relatively inactive for a couple of years and is average at best. I personally feel that Itauma is pretty special and very talented. He punches hard, is quick, and will overwhelm Jermaine Franklin pretty quickly. I think this will be an easy job for him.

Is Itauma ready for AJ?

Out of any of the heavyweight ex-champs I think AJ would be Itauma’s best pick to look good against, because I think AJ's not the force he was. Psychologically and mentally he is not there anymore. He’s been banjoed a few times. I don't think his heart's in the fight game anymore. So, it's a bad fight for AJ, yeah, and I think that Itauma probably beats him.

Dubois vs. Wardley

Daniel Dubois wins the fight by a knockout. I wouldn't be surprised if Wardley, who's got a big punch, who's never been beaten, wins, but I just think that the power and the experience at world level of Dubois will be too much. Look what he did to AJ. And he's been in there with Usyk as well, so he's learned a lot from those fights. I feel like Fabio Wardley doesn't belong in the ring at that level, but he's proved us wrong time and time again.

Wilder vs. Chisora?

Worst-case scenario, Chisora wins it on points. I can also see how he stops Wilder. Just based on, I've seen, Wilder against Zhang, and against Parker, he looks finished. Looks like he's a spent force. But it's an exciting fight, and it's a good fight for Chisora, because Deontay Wilder's Deontay Wilder. He's got a great reputation. He's got a massive punch, and they always tell you that's the last thing to go, but he can't shape up properly now. He's awkward on his feet. He doesn't generate power anymore for me. He's not a big puncher anymore. Because he shouldn't be fighting, he’s had a spiritual awakening and then getting in there and carrying on fighting, it's not ideal. Deontay Wilder doesn't look like he can take any pressure at all.

Fury vs. Makhmudov?

It's a potential bad fight for Fury, if Fury's not taking it seriously, but from what I've seen and heard of him, and he's not in bad shape, he's not gone massive, he's not gone up to 25 stone. I think he wins, I just hope he's got the fitness and the engine to do the 12 rounds, because Makhmudov is quite fit and strong for 12 rounds. But he's shown vulnerabilities around the body, and he's not of that level. But we don't know what we're gonna get with Tyson Fury. I feel like anything can happen.

Dana White’s comments on Eddie Hearn?

In the context of Conor Benn signing with Matchroom Boxing and Zuffa Boxing, then I suppose you could give some credence to the comment of Dana calling Eddie a 'pussy' because it's like, "Come on, mate, it's f***ing business. Get over it." He took the money. You took the money when DAZN came with the money. You left Sky. You take the money every time. Every single f***ing time. And that's all Conor Benn's done. Conor Benn took the money. And you might have thought he was your mate, but he's done you before you probably do him, because at some stage of Conor Benn's career, if he gets beaten by Ryan Garcia, or he's not quite cut out for world level, you've had what you needed out of him.

Eddie Hearn vs. Dana White?

I've seen Eddie Hearn shape up on the pads, and I've seen him beating the office boy [Frank Smith] on Youtube. I've also seen Dana White on the pads, he looks like he's got hands, got good balance, he can throw a double jab, he can throw a right hand, he can shape up. I've never seen Eddie's shape look well, but I've seen Dana White shape up quite well. So, smart money's on Dana White. I think he makes Eddie quit.

Do you think Eddie Hearn would have had any interest in Tom Aspinall's profile and commercial income prior to this battle with Dana White?

Did Eddie care about Tom Aspinall before this war with Dana White? No, not at all. He's tried to make a power play here and he's thought, "What can I do?" And he's signed Tom Aspinall, who's the current heavyweight champion, and he's a proper fighter as well. But It's a good signing for Tom Aspinall to have Eddie Hearn representing him. Fantastic manager, probably can get him some commercial opportunities and make him into a star. He did that for me when I signed with Eddie. Look at what I did in my career. He's a fantastic promoter, and I think he'll be a great manager, so a good signing for Tom Aspinall, but it was definitely a power play.

Benn vs. Prograis?

Pound for pound, Regis Prograis beats Conor Benn 10 times out of 10. Pound for pound, it’s a mismatch. But Regis Prograis is in his 38th year. He’s been inactive. He's had three losses anyway, so the answer could be that Conor Benn has got him bang on at the right time. I expect him to do the job and get the stoppage within six rounds. The danger is, if it goes past six, Regis Prograis is a talented fighter. Good, skilled fighter, been in there with the best of the best. And we don't know how good Conor Benn is, because we're only judging him on a weight-drained Chris Eubank Jr, who's not world level. Chris Eubank Jr. lost to Billy Joe Saunders, lost to George Groves. He lost to Liam Smith, he got battered by Liam Smith. So this is a fighter that's shown. He's European level at best.

I called him a novice the other week, and he got pissed off. He got the hump. His lawyer sent me a message saying, “we're not inclined to do another interview with you because of your recent negative comments”. “What negative comments? I called him a novice”. If somebody's not fought for an Area, English, British, or European title, in my book, they're a novice. Because they've never been tested at world level. So it's not a criticism. Go out there and win a world title and prove me wrong. Why are you so sensitive? But he wants me to tell everyone that he's a world champ and a world-beater. He ain't. If he fights Ryan Garcia, you'll get splattered. That's my answer. He's not ready for Ryan Garcia yet.

What’s the demand for AJ-Fury?

No, it's lost its edge. Totally. With the tragedy that happened with AJ in Nigeria, losing two of his best mates, and the way Fury's looked, and the fact that they've been out of the ring for so long. I'm not interested in the fight. Of course, if it gets made, and it's on, I'm gonna watch it, because it's interesting. Because they're both two, ex-world champions from Britain, and they've got a bit of beef with each other, they've never fought. But it's Mayweather-Pacquiao, it's too late. It's not even Mayweather-Pacquiao level, is it?

Aj needs a warm-up fight before running into any big fights at the end of this year. Who do you think's a good person for AJ to come out, blast off?

Perfect warm-up for AJ?

Comeback fight for AJ after everything that’s happened? DillIan Whyte fits that bill perfectly. Did you see him in his last fight? He got outclassed. He didn't have anything left. He looked unstable, slow, and he looks like he's got no punch resistance. It's a fight that they could say, “well, the first one was pretty good” but I've got no interest in seeing it.

How good was John Fury’s career?

What level was John Fury? He had a couple of fights, didn't he? I'm not sure how many he had, but he was a journeyman. He's been brave enough to get in there and have a go. I think he got splattered. So, he's a very low-level journeyman. But still brave enough to get in there, still fought, still laced the gloves up, so he deserves credit for that. But he was absolutely fucking useless.

Who's a better professional boxer, Jake Paul or John Fury ?

Jake Paul vs. John Fury in his prime would have been an even match. Both operated at a similar level. John Fury in his day would probably beat Jake Paul because he knows how to throw a punch, but it would have been a close fight.

What’s the latest with John Fury?

John Fury has gone quiet on our fight, as he does. You don't want any of the cobra. He doesn't need me punching him around the ribs. I physically wouldn't hit him with a right hand on the chin if I boxed him. I wouldn't do it, just out of respect. I’d just jab him in the face. My jab has not even half the power on my right-hand. And I'd only work his body. I'd only hit him in the bread basket. That's all I'd need to do. So I'd jab him in the face, and work the body.

What did you think of Netflix’s Manosphere?

I can see how a lot of people get upset and offended by the way they talk about women. Having two daughters myself, I wouldn't want my daughters to be with a man who behaves and talks about women like that. However, I do like the side of it where they're strong, masculine men and they're the providers, because I feel that's what I do. I've always provided for my wife and my kids.

Whatever you take from that is, you can't be talking down about women and disrespecting them, and treating them like second-class citizens. You can't be. But I agree that men should be masculine and strong and be there to provide, because that's what happens with men anyway.