However, Jones suffered an even more chilling knockout against Jamaica's Glen Johnson four months later before being outpointed by Tarver in a decider in 2005.
Froch, who is unbeaten in 26 professional encounters, will be making the third defence of his world title against Kessler, who was outpointed by Wales' former world champion Joe Calzaghe in 2007.
After wresting all-four major belts from Hopkins in 2005, he held the titles for just over two years before Pavlik knocked him out in seven rounds and outpointed him in the rematch.