Carl Froch believes he is in the shape of his life as the countdown to his blockbuster rematch with Mikkel Kessler at the O2 in London live on Sky Sports Box Office on May 25 in ‘Warriors’ Call’ in association with Betfair draws ever closer. Photos by Laurence Lustig.

There’s less than five weeks until Froch gets the chance to exact revenge on the Dane and tucked behind closed doors in Nottingham, Froch was in a bullish mood following a gruelling 15 round training session with trainer Robert McCracken MBE.

“I am exactly where I want to be with May 25 beginning to come into view,” said Froch. “I am getting that tingle in my hands and down my spine now, I know that feeling well and it means that I’m ready to fight.

“It is such a huge occasion for me but it’s nights like this where I thrive and stand up to be counted. I feel like everything is clicking in training and sparring has been fantastic, I couldn’t ask to be in a better place than I am right now.”

“He’s very, very sharp,” added McCracken. “To be in the shape he is in five weeks out is a very good sign. He’s in superb condition, he always is – and there’s a hunger in his eyes that I can remember before all his big wins, like Lucian Bute, Andre Dirrell and Jermain Taylor, with the same spitefulness in his pad work before them too. I’m very confident he’s going to do the business.”

Froch and Kessler top an epic bill in London with the light heavyweight rematch between Tony Bellew and Isaac Chilemba, while British super middleweight star George Groves continues his charge towards a World title in a fight against an opponent to be named by Groves on Sky Sports News at 4.30pm.