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CARL FROCH has revealed the reason behind his failure to floor Mikkel Kessler in Saturday’s showpiece – a sink full of dirty dishes.

A unanimous points decision cemented the Cobra’s status as a boxing giant as the 35-year-old unified the IBF and WBA super-middleweight world titles.

More than that though Froch was able to exact revenge over one of only two men to scalp him during a five-year run of elite level fights that has seen the likes of Jermain Taylor, Lucian Bute and Arthur Abraham fail to get the better of the Nottingham man.

However, Froch has insisted the bumper crowd inside London’s 02 Arena would not have seen the 12-round war run its course had he stayed out of the kitchen earlier that day.

He said: “I’ve had a lot of nervous tension in the build-up and I think I burnt up a lot of nervous energy. I was up on my feet, up and about, doing stuff I didn’t need to be doing.

“Tidying my apartment, even though it’s not my apartment, washing pots.

“I was just stood up for three or four hours. I couldn’t sit down and settle. I came to the arena and I was thinking I should have had a sleep.

“That burnt a lot of energy up and that was the energy I needed late on to really jump on him and end the show.

“But Mikkel moved really well and was counter-punching.

“I didn’t get the grandstand finish in round 12 which I really craved because Mikkel Kessler is such a great fighter and a gallant warrior.

“That was one of my great fights. That goes up there with the Jean Pascals and the Jermain Taylors – the dramatic fights I’ve been involved in.”

Sequels rarely outperform the original but this 12-round thriller topped Kessler’s victory in their first bout three years ago in Denmark, the Englishman’s only defeat besides losing to ?American Andre Ward in 2011.

Froch’s victory, secured with judges’ scorecards that read 118-110, 116-112 and 115-113, sees him feature alongside the likes of Andy Murray, Mo Farah and Sir Bradley Wiggins as British sporting royalty.

(Image: Getty Images)

Indeed, to underline the fact, Manchester United star Wayne Rooney paid the boxer a pre-fight visit to sprinkle more stardust on the occasion.

The England international likes his boxing and the pair, who became dads for the second time this month, chatted like two mates down the pub while Froch prepared to defend his IBF crown.

“I saw Wayne Rooney, which was nice,” said Froch. “He came into my dressing room before the fight. I’m a big fan of Wayne’s – he’s very down to earth.

“I was wrapping my hands and we didn’t have much time together but we still had a chat and got a picture together.

“It was good of him to come in and he really loves his boxing.”

Rooney would have been as enthralled as the rest of the 18,000 punters in a sold-out O2 and 100 million watching around the world on TV.

Froch got his tactics spot on and the disciplined fighter won this rematch with his jab. The Cobra had paid attention to Kessler’s comments last month that his jab worried him as he used his longer reach to devastating effect, peppering the Dane all night with his left.

Kessler’s face was red from the first round as Froch set the tempo to take the opening rounds.

The tourist responded in the middle rounds, aided by a low blow to Froch’s nether regions, to narrow the gap and Rob McCracken laid into his man at the end of the sixth.

McCracken’s blast worked as back came Froch in the eighth, though Kessler proved his mettle as the 34-year-old withstood a withering barrage of rights and lefts.

Anyone else would have hit the canvas but fighting on pure instinct Kessler managed to duck, swerve and backpedal his way out of trouble. Incredibly, the Dane – whose only other losses have come against Ward and Welsh giant Joe Calzaghe – sucked it all in and won the 11th when he rocked his opponent back with a right hook and cut him above his left eye which required a couple of stitches.

Froch, his tank completely dry, flailed away at Kessler right to the final seconds and deservedly sealed victory on points.

All this begs the question of a rematch which Froch asked Kessler when they embraced after the fight.

The Englishman would be up for a decider but isn’t so sure his opposite number would want another battering.

He said: “I would be up for it, yes. Stylistically, we make for an entertaining fight. I dominated behind the jab from early on and I’m not sure he would like to do that again.

“It’s one-all so there’s always the chance of the trilogy.”

CARL FROCH wants Andre Ward next - but the American’s camp say he would be “a fool” to fight him again.

After avenging his 2010 loss to Mikkel Kessler, Froch is desperate to eradicate the only other blemish on his record by beating Ward.

The world’s No 1 super-middleweight was at the O2 commentating on Froch’s win for US TV and his trainer Virgil Hunter dismissed the IBF and new WBA champ’s chances.

“Carl would be a fool to fight Andre,” said Hunter, who also trains Amir Khan.

“Andre would beat him. In fact, he would beat both Carl and Mikkel on the same night. He would knock either one of them out.

“That fight between Froch and Kessler was a fight between men who couldn’t get out of each other’s way. It was like watching two trains colliding.”

Froch was irritated when told Hunter had scored the fight a draw and replied: “He should have gone to Specsavers!”

The Nottingham fighter also disputed Hunter’s claim that he would be the challenger in a rematch and insisted it was Ward’s turn to come to the UK.

Ward claims it is up to Froch’s promoter Eddie Hearn to make the first move and the American tweeted: “It’s very simple.....pick up the phone @EddieHearn!!”

Froch said: “I fought him over in America, so come over here and fight me in the UK.

“I had a little chat with him after the fight and I think I upset him when I said that stylistically, he’s not the most exciting of fighters.

“That got his back up. I said I meant no disrespect. I’m not talking personalities, I’m talking boxing and his style would put a glass eye to sleep.

“If I could avenge the Andre Ward loss, can you imagine that? The only two people to beat me are Mikkel and Andre Ward. To beat those two would be unbelievable, something dreams are made of.”