Carl Froch Launches Scathing Attack Against Anthony Joshua
Former super middleweight champion Carl Froch and heavyweight Anthony Joshua were embroiled in a public dispute in 2024, with Froch criticizing Joshua’s career and sharing private messages he said he had received. The exchange drew wider attention as Joshua prepared for Daniel Dubois. That fight has since taken place: Dubois stopped Joshua in the fifth round at Wembley on September 21, 2024, retaining the IBF heavyweight title.
The Origins of the Feud
The dispute grew out of Froch’s public criticism of Joshua’s career and legacy. Joshua is a two-time heavyweight world champion and Olympic gold medalist. Froch, a former super middleweight champion, questioned how Joshua’s achievements should be viewed, and the disagreement became a personal public exchange between the two British boxers.
A Public Spat Turns Personal
In 2024, Joshua reportedly referred to Froch with an insult during an interview. Froch then discussed and published excerpts of private WhatsApp messages on his podcast, “Froch on Fighting.” The messages and the surrounding dispute were reported by several outlets; the private exchange itself has not been independently verified here, so the claims about what each man sent are attributed to Froch and those reports.
Froch’s Scathing Critique
Froch also criticized Joshua’s performances, including his 2019 loss to Andy Ruiz Jr. In comments reported at the time, Froch said Joshua had “spat his gumshield out” and appeared to look for help from his corner and the crowd. That was Froch’s characterization of the stoppage, not a neutral account of the fight.
The Challenge
Froch challenged Joshua to meet face-to-face and accused him of sending abusive messages and deleting them. Froch described the alleged messages as “schoolboy stuff” and “pathetic,” and said he was willing to resolve the dispute in person. These allegations were reported as Froch’s account of their exchange.
The Road Ahead
When this story was published, Joshua was preparing to face Daniel Dubois at Wembley on September 21, 2024. Dubois won by fifth-round knockout, dropping Joshua in the opening round and again before the stoppage, and retained the IBF heavyweight title. Froch, who retired from boxing in 2015, continued his work as a boxing commentator and podcast host.
Industry Reaction
Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn defended Joshua’s record and contributions to boxing, while other figures criticized Froch for making private messages public. The dispute drew attention partly because it mixed a sporting debate about Joshua’s career with personal allegations that remain attributed to the people involved.
The public exchange did not change the result of Joshua’s bout with Dubois: Dubois won decisively at Wembley. The Froch–Joshua disagreement remained a separate personal dispute, with the public reporting centered on Froch’s comments and the messages he chose to share.
Sources:
[1] Sportskeeda: Froch challenges Joshua to meet
[2] Marca: Froch’s criticism and the Joshua dispute
[3] AS: Froch shares messages in the dispute
[4] YouTube: Froch discusses Joshua exchange
[5] Boxing Forum 24: Froch–Joshua discussion
[6] YouTube: Froch’s comments on Joshua
[7] Reuters: Dubois stops Joshua and retains IBF title
Sources
Tags: Boxing
