Carl Froch reveals daughter's early fight for life: 'It was worst two weeks of my life, I felt helpless... but she is a fighter'

  • Carl Froch opened up about the traumatic birth of his daughter to Hello!
  • He and fiancee Rachael Cordingley welcomed Penelope on September 11
  • Ex-world champion revealed birth was complicated by shoulder dystocia
  • He said: 'It is fitting that she is a boxer's daughter because she is a fighter' 
  • The 38-year-old retired from boxing in July after 14 months out of the ring
  • Froch has sent out mixed messages regarding his desire to return to sport

By Kerri-ann Roper, Press Association

Published: 19:21 EST, 15 November 2015 | Updated: 06:07 EST, 16 November 2015

Four-time boxing world champion Carl Froch has spoken about the traumatic birth of his daughter, revealing she had to fight for her life.

Froch, also known by his nickname 'The Cobra', and his fiancee Rachael Cordingley welcomed their daughter, Penelope, on September 11 this year, but she was diagnosed with a serious illness just hours after a traumatic birth.

The Nottingham-born boxer told Hello! magazine her birth was complicated by shoulder dystocia, when the baby's head emerges but one of the shoulders becomes stuck behind the mother's pubic bone.

Carl Froch has spoken about the traumatic birth of his daughter in the latest issue of Hello! magazine

Carl Froch has spoken about the traumatic birth of his daughter in the latest issue of Hello! magazine

The 38-year-old, pictured at the premiere of Cristiano Ronaldo's film, revealed she had to fight for her life
Froch poses for a picture on the red carpet in Leicester Square

The 38-year-old, pictured at the premiere of Cristiano Ronaldo's film, revealed she had to fight for her life

Froch and his fiancee Rachael Cordingley welcomed their daughter, Penelope, on September 11 this year

Froch and his fiancee Rachael Cordingley welcomed their daughter, Penelope, on September 11 this year

WHAT IS SHOULDER DYSTOCIA?  

Shoulder dystocia means one or both of the baby’s shoulders get stuck behind the mother’s pelvis. The condition – which is common among larger babies – can be fatal.

Froch said: 'It is fitting that she is a boxer's daughter because she is a fighter. She was fighting for her life the day she was born.'

The 38-year-old - who announced his retirement in July after 14 months out of the ring following his defeat of George Groves -  said that after she was born, Penelope appeared lifeless as she had been starved of oxygen.

'I was in shock. I couldn't speak,' Froch said. 'Being a fighter, I tend to take the bull by the horns but I couldn't do anything and that made me feel helpless.

'Her head came out at 5.59am and she was born at 6.02 - the same length as a boxing round; the longest, most traumatic round of my life.

The Nottingham-born boxer told Hello! magazine Penelope's birth was complicated by shoulder dystocia

The Nottingham-born boxer told Hello! magazine Penelope's birth was complicated by shoulder dystocia

Froch announced his retirement in July after 14 months out of the ring after defeating George Groves

Froch announced his retirement in July after 14 months out of the ring after defeating George Groves

To read more of the interview with Carl and Rachael, pick up the latest issue of Hello! magazine

To read more of the interview with Carl and Rachael, pick up the latest issue of Hello! magazine

'When she made that first feeble cry, I burst into tears. It takes a lot to upset me but this was the most distressing thing I have ever experienced.'

A day later the family were back in hospital as Cordingley had a severe headache, and they had taken baby Penelope with them.

Froch, who could be tempted out of retirement to face Gennady Golovkin in 2016 according to his promoter Eddie Hearn, explained: 'A nurse noticed that Penelope had a temperature and was a bit lethargic. 

'Within an hour, she was in an incubator, hooked up to an intravenous drip and being given antibiotics and oxygen. We hadn't even come in for Penelope but for the next two weeks I was in and out of hospital and feared the worst.'

Penelope, the couple's third child together, was diagnosed with group B streptococcus infection, which can be deadly for infants, and suspected meningitis.

Froch said he hadn't given up but feared he may have to 'come to terms with the fact that we might not bring our baby home'. He said: 'It was a rollercoaster of emotions, the worst two weeks of my life.'

After ten days on antibiotics, Penelope had recovered and Rachael calls her a 'little miracle baby'.

She told Hello!: 'I sometimes wondered if we'd ever get out of hospital. Although there were some babies who had been there for months, so we were lucky.'

Froch had initially asked Cordingley to marry him in May last year after his fight with George Groves

Froch had initially asked Cordingley to marry him in May last year after his fight with George Groves

Froch's fiancee Cordingley posted this photo on Twitter following his announcement to retire from boxing

Froch's fiancee Cordingley posted this photo on Twitter following his announcement to retire from boxing

The four-time world champion won 33 of his 35 fights during a glittering career, including 24 by knockout

The four-time world champion won 33 of his 35 fights during a glittering career, including 24 by knockout

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