Fixated by a redhead, Carl Froch admits he's had a few fortysomethings

Despite this being the age of the super-injunction, WBC super-middleweight champion Carl Froch has no problem revealing the name of the surprising redhead he admits he used to be 'fixated' with.

Step forward a man made famous by the relatively genteel sport of snooker, Steve 'Interesting' Davis. 

Froch remembers being inspired by 'The Nugget' as a kid growing up in Nottingham.

“I would see people on television like Steve Davis winning all of those world snooker titles and earning good prize money and enjoying what he did.

“I got into snooker. I wanted to be the next Steve Davis. All I knew is that I wanted my job to be something I loved doing. I loved sportsmen, like Steve Davis, Nick Faldo and John McEnroe. It was always one-on- one sports that had me glued to the television.

“I loved individual sportsmen, and that helped me excel in boxing. It is all down to you. You can’t blame anybody.

"They are both mano a mano (boxing and snooker). I like individual sports where you have to be mentally tough and confident. If you approach them with a negative attitude, you are going to end up in a hole you can't dig yourself out of. In that respect, snooker is a lot like boxing.

"I used to be fixated with Steve Davis and Jimmy White, then later on with Ronnie O'Sullivan," he said. "As a kid, I wondered how great it would be to do something you enjoy for a living. I never made it as a snooker player - but I ended up doing that anway as a boxer.

"I still love playing snooker and have a game whenever I can. It's my favourite way of switching off and relaxing, away from all of the pressures associated with boxing."

Everyone keeps mentioning 42 this week, given that is the age of Glen Johnson, Froch's Super Six semi-final opponent in Atlantic City this Saturday. But the 40+ figure is a psychological barrier which has already been broken by snooker-mad Froch.

"I've had a few breaks in the 40s including a 49 and a 46. I've not quite managed the half century yet - whenever I'm playing with my brother Wayne, if I get close to 50 he tries to put me off."

"If I'm playing with my mates, we'll usually play doubles and have a bet on it - £10 or £20 makes it interesting and gives a real edge to the game. When you're playing for money the game suddenly becomes harder and I find it more difficult to make decent breaks. So I'm amazed how the top players produce their best when they are competing for hundreds of thousands - but I guess that's what makes them the top players.

"I've got a pool table at home - I'd love to have a snooker table but I would need a massive extension to my house if I was going to put one in. I play a lot on the pool table and try to practise certain shots that are needed in snooker. Otherwise I go to play at a club near where I live.

"I've met a few of the players - including Tony Drago who I had a good chat with when he was waiting to play a match in the qualifiers at the English Institute of Sport - Sheffield.

"He's a great character on and the way he plays is amazing to watch - he's so fast. I've met Ronnie a few times as well because we use the same physiotherapist. He's into his running and he likes boxing so we've got a fair bit in common.

"I've never been to a big tournament - I've only been to watch qualifying matches at the EIS," he said. "I've always wanted to go to the Crucible but the World Championship has always clashed with my fights or training schedule."

Picture of Froch, left, with snooker pro Michael Holt, courtesy of World Snooker