Sakio Bika to Carl Froch: “Fight me and try to unify the division”

 
SAKIO Bika wants to unify the super middleweight division, so naturally the winner of yesterday’s unified WBA/IBF title clash between Carl Froch and George Groves was always going to be on his radar.

 
The Sydney-based Cameroonian flew to England to be ringside at the highly-anticipated clash, which took place in front of 80,000 spectators at the countries national stadium, Wembley stadium. The heated contest ended in the eight when Froch (33-2, 24 KOs) scored a spectacular one-punch knockout to retain his titles.

 
Bika, 35, waited for Froch to make an appearance at the post-fight press conference, before congratulating the champion and respectfully placing his WBC belt next to Froch’s WBA and IBF titles and respectfully challenged Froch – who is desperate for a fight in Las Vegas – before ending his illustrious career.

 
“The win over Groves was maybe the best performance of Carl Froch’s career. I thought he was winning the fight when the knockout came from that big right hand.” said Bika, who holds the WBC super middleweight title. “I want to congratulate Froch and give him the opportunity to realise his dream of a big fight in Las Vegas. If he has the balls he should fight me for the three belts and we can see who is the true champion in the division.”

 
“The atmosphere at Wembley in front of 80,000 people was amazing. It would be great to fight in front of that sort of crowd, but Froch said after the fight that he wants to go to Vegas and have a big fight before he retires,” he continued.

 
“So I say come and fight me and try to unify the division and see who is the best super middleweight. If he has the balls, he should do it.”

 
Stylistically, a fight between Bika and Froch would be entertaining as neither are technical and offer one way of fighting – going forward. Bika (32-5-3, 21 KOs) is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, who have an excellent relationship with Froch’s promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Sport.

 
Bika hasn’t lost a fight in four years and like Froch, his last loss came at the hands of divisional leader Andre Ward, who is stuck in promotional limbo as he irons out his legal issues with promoter Goosen Tutor.

 
“I came to Wembley to challenge the winner. I thought Froch would win the fight and now that he has I would love to fight him for all the belts. He and Eddie Hearn obviously have a few options but they told me straight away a unification fight with me is an option, and I want them to take the fight. Froch wants to go to America, so he should come and fight me there.

 
“I think it would be a great fight. He is a tough guy and a great fighter but I think I will beat him. I would be very confident in a fight with Carl Froch as I don’t think he’s ever faced anyone as tough as me. I think it would be a very entertaining bout for boxing fans to watch.

 
Bika also had congratulatory words for former foe and countryman Sam Soliman, who dethroned Felix Sturm on the same night in Germany to pick up the IBF middleweight title.

 
“I am so very happy for Sam. He has worked so hard and now he is a champion so that is just a great story and a great moment for his life and for boxing in Australia,” Bika continued. “He has worked hard like I did and now we are both world champions. He is my good friend and I am very happy for him.”