Froch: "I'll do what Haye couldn't and make Britain proud on October 29."

Carl Froch refuses to believe a broken toe cost David Haye his fight with Wladimir Klitschko.

The WBC world super-middleweight champion from Nottingham had vocally backed Bermondsey's then-WBA heavyweight boss to slay the multi-titled 6ft 6ins, 17st German-based Ukrainian giant when they met in Hamburg on Saturday night (July 2).

But the Englishman was forced to eat Wladimir's jab for 12 controlled rounds and later blamed his inability to plow through the broom-handle-like lead and get his punches off on a broken little toe that effected his balance and ability to set his feet.

Froch, however, believes that friend Haye was simply beaten by a better-skilled man who made the most of his physical advantages in height and weight. He said: "To be fair, it wouldn't have been ideal for him to have gone into a contest of that magnitude with a broken toe, but we [fighters] always go in with niggles.

"When i beat [future WBC light-heavyweight boss Jean] Pascal for my first world title [in Nottingham in 2008] i went into it with broken ribs and stood toe-to-toe with a knockout artist for 12 rounds and still won. People had paid good money to come and see me and i wasn't going to let my Nottingham faithful down.

"But i don't think David is using it as a full excuse," continued the mallet-fisted 34-year-old East Midlander, 28-1 (20). "Everyone could see what was going on so he probably shouldn't have said it as it detracts from the job he [Klitschko] did. He was out-jabbed by a technically-sound fighter with a weight and height advantage."

And 'The Cobra' promised to put in a showing that will cement his place as Britain's premier pound-for-pound fighter - which has been disputed with Haye for a while - when he meets undefeated American Andre Ward, the smooth-boxing if light-hitting WBA 12st king, in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on October 29.

Although Froch would have preferred the unification fight and Showtime Super Six final to be in Nottingham [at the City Ground, home to his beloved Forest] or Las Vegas, the Matchroom-promoted warrior is delighted that he at least won't have to cross swords in California - where Ward, from Oakland, has boxed in nine of his last ten.

"Ward is coming to fight, unbeaten [24-0, 13 stoppages] but he can't hurt me and i'll walk through him," boasted Carl, who took full-bloodied punches from world-class foursome Jean Pascal, Mikkel Kessler, Arthur Abraham and Glen Johnson without being seriously rattled. "He won't have hometown officials letting him get away with using his head when he wants, as he did against Kessler and Abraham, either.

"I would have liked it in Vegas. I mean, who wouldn't? To see my name up in lights would have been amazing. But it's back to Atlantic City [where he outpointed Glen Johnson last month] and i can assure everyone that i'll make Britain proud of their fighters when i come home with the trophy, the WBC and WBA world titles, and The Ring Magazine belt."