Carl Froch: I'm a warrior and I'm here to win

CARL Froch declared himself a "warrior" and says he only has winning on his mind as he defends his IBF super-middleweight world title on home soil tonight.

The 35-year-old takes on American Yusaf Mack at Nottingham's Capital FM Arena in a showdown being aired on Sky 3D.

During the build-up, Froch has cut a relaxed figure, but now the time for talking is over and it's time for the Cobra to fight, in what could be his final bout in his home city.

"I'm confident and relaxed. I may be a massive odds-on favourite, but he is very, very dangerous," said Froch, who is 1-50 on in places.

"Mack has not had much to say in the build-up. But he has come here to do a job.

"He wants to take my belt back to America. But he is not having it. I'm a warrior. I like to win.

"If I turn up 50 per cent fit then I'm probably going to get beat. It's as simple as that. I can't just take my foot off the gas and think 'Oh, I've got an easy fight'.

"I need to be cute, clever and box behind my jab and just find my feet for the first three or four rounds before I close the distance and start letting some artillery go."

There were boos from the crowd when Mack, the challenger, walked to the scales at the Albert Hall yesterday lunchtime.

Cries of "Who are you?" from the fans turned to gasps when the American was found to be 4oz over and had to strip naked behind a towel to make the weight.

But top trainer Robert McCracken says Froch – who came in 8oz under the 12-stone limit – cannot afford to take any liberties.

"He has to jump on Mack from the start," said McCracken.

"Carl has to match his jab and counter him with right hands, because he is up against a dangerous opponent. Have you been to Philadelphia? It's a tough place."