Carl Froch battles Glen Johnson in Super Six fight

Associated Press

NEW YORK

His promoter calls him one of the best fighters to emerge from Britain.

If Carl Froch wants to live up to such a billing, he’ll have to beat 42-year-old Glen Johnson in the semifinals of the Super Six World Boxing Classic tonight in Atlantic City, N.J.

The boastful Froch holds the WBC version of the super middleweight title, which he earned by dominating Arthur Abraham last November. The victory pushed him forward in the modified round-robin tournament that consists of the best 168-pound boxers in the world.

The winner tonight gets a shot at Andre Ward in the finals.

“A lot of you don’t know, but in the U.K., Carl is, in my opinion, the greatest fighter to come out of that country,” said Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Sport, who recently signed a five-fight promotional deal with the 33-year-old titleholder.

“For what he’s achieved, the platform this Super Six has given him to fight the very best fighters in the world, he’s done it all,” Hearn said.

Froch won a close decision over recent light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal before the start of the Super Six tournament. He then knocked out Jermain Taylor and won a close decision over previously unbeaten Andre Dirrell in the opening stages.

His only career loss came against Mikkel Kessler, a former champion in his own right.