CARL Froch says another 'David Beckham' will soon be retiring.
The former England captain has already hung up his football boots – and the Cobra is confident he will end the career of Mikkel Kessler, the 'Becks' of boxing, by beating him in their big super-middleweight unification fight at a sold-out O2 Arena in London in seven days.
Nottingham's world champion Froch was training at Phoenix ABC this week and told the Post: "He's (Kessler) said if he loses to me he will retire so, yeah, I am looking to retire him, definitely."
IBF champion Froch is looking in great shape ahead of the fight and says he will be 100 per cent ready to avenge the controversial points defeat to WBA champ Kessler of three years ago in Denmark.
"I'm in good shape and I'm sharp, but I don't feel like I'm quite there yet," he said.
"It's amazing what the last week will do.
"I'll have a bit of rest, sharpen up, do some sprinting, some fast pad work and then I'll be ready.
"I'll be ten per cent sharper than I am now.
"I'll be full of energy after the weigh-in because I can load up on my carbohydrates and then I'm looking forward to doing the job.
"This is the sort of time now where you start getting agitated and you want to get the fight done and dusted.
"It's a week now and it's time to get in there and do the business.
"Mentally I'm in the right place to fight, that's for sure.
"I'll be like a lightning bolt ready to explode come fight night.
"I'll be charged, I will feel great."
Froch says he weighs in at 170lbs right now.
And he believes his fights against top-class opponents, like Arthur Abraham, Andre Ward and Lucian Bute, since losing to Kessler will give him the edge ahead of facing the Dane, who has fought weaker men.
"I've had five quality fights since the first match with Kessler at a top level, which is important," he said.
"I've boxed world level fighters and I've been very successful so, yeah, I'm in a better place than what he is going into this that's for sure."
Meanwhile, the experts are tipping Froch to beat Kessler.
"He's at home and you have to say he is the favourite," said former world champion Joe Calzaghe, who beat Kessler in 2007.
"The momentum is with Carl Froch. He's busy, he's fighting, if anything he's improving.
"To be honest, I don't think Kessler is the fighter he was when I beat him. He's a bit slower and he's been inactive. Don't write Kessler off though, he can still punch."
Calzaghe was part of a roundtable panel comprising of Chris Eubank, Steve Collins, Roy Jones Jnr and Richie Woodhall, for Sky Sports' 'The Gloves Are Off' show.
Chris Eubank also feels Froch will have the edge. He said: "He can beat Kessler and I think he has the resolve and the desire to give his life in the ring and I think that is important."
The WBA have appointed their officials for the show – Carlos Sucre, Jean Toupin and Mariana Borissova.
