Woodhall rates Carl Froch as one of the best

The two Sky Sports boxing pundits shared top billing in the Premier Suite at Bar Sport in Cannock town centre,

Over 300 people crammed into Scott Murray's venue to meet the decorated former WBC, WBA and IBF world super middleweight titlist.

The evening culminated in a question and answer session with the questions posed by Woodhall, who went through Froch's life and times.

Both wore the WBC super middleweight belt with pride, Woodhall crowned in 1998 with a points win over 'Sugar Boy' Malinga on a night to remember at the Telford Ice Rink.

He made two successful defences, first over-the-distance against Glenn Catley and then a sixth round stoppage of Vincenzo Nardiello, before he was outpointed by Markus Beyer at the Ice Rink in 1999.

Froch's journey had parallels from when he defeated Jean Pascal on home turf at the Nottingham Arena in 2008, retaining against Andre Dirrell and Jermain Taylor.

'The Cobra' was then stung on points by Mikkel Kessler away from home in 2010, only he bounced back to regain the vacant title against Arthur Abraham that same year.

He saw off Glen Johnson the following June before dropping the belt to Andre Ward - and Woodhall thinks there could still be a rematch - six months later in 2011.

Froch has since added IBF and WBA world titles to his legacy by stopping Lucian Bute and Yusaf Mack, plus exacting his revenge over Kessler.

The 37-year-old has been inactive since knocking out George Groves twice for the belts, the second in the biggest all-British boxing bout of all time at Wembley Stadium last year.

And Woodhall said: "I think Carl is up there with the very best. Since 2008, I can't think of another boxer, in the history of British Boxing, who has gone on a run like he's been on.

"Every contest has been a really hard fight against high-ranked contenders and, five out of seven times, he's boxed on the road.

"He's hard as nails, his boxing skills are under-rated but his strengths lie in how and tough and competitive he is. He's always in great shape.

"He's the perfect role model for young boxers to look up to, in my opinion. He's been a great champion. I don't think there's anything else for him to win, to be honest.

"There's probably only one guy out there who's major enough in his division and that's Andre Ward. He's boxed him once and got beat, so I consider that a possibility.

"Carl has got to think about the financial side of things, he's got to think of his family. If he is going to get back in there, let's hope it's for a swansong payday. He deserves that.

"It would be great for him to finish his career in Las Vegas. It would be great for us all to go out there and celebrate a great career."

Woodhall and Froch are two of six Brits to have held division's big green belts since its inception with first holder 'Sugar' Ray Leonard in 1988.

Robin Reid and Glenn Catley also reigned, while Nigel Benn and Joe Calzaghe were jointly voted the WBC's best 168lb champions ever.