[video=youtube;1tVhuVU-LlI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tVhuVU-LlI[/video] Used to quite like Froch but he's proving to be a proper ****ing **** since facing Groves last time
Im finding it hard to want anyone to win this fight because I can't decide which one is the bigger bellend. I think Froch will win though, he underestimated Groves a lot the last time but I don't see that happening again. I predict a late stoppage win for Froch.
I wanted Froch to win the first one because he's a Notts lad but he's been a complete dick since that fight so I'm leaning towards Groves now
Froch has been a bit of a knob since getting shown up by Groves in the first fight. Its started in his post fight interview, and it pisses me off. But......You have to give the guy respect because he has done something very brave. Calzaghe never wanted any of Froch, Khan doesnt want any of Brook, Hatton never wanted any of Khan. It is a big risk for a fighter with a proven record to take on the untested 'upstart' who is clearly improving, (when the guy with the record is on the way down.) Legacies are at risk and it is oh so easy to go for the money making easier fights. (Fights may not be easy, but against proven oponents who there is no shame losing to.) Froch as taken on the up and coming star and fair play to him. He got lucky in the first fight and has still shown himself warrior by fighting Groves again. Ill always have massive respect for Carl Froch for his actions in selecting fights against the best and for his heart in the ring. That said Groves is an really exciting prospect and im hoping for a win over Froch to launch him into the super middleweight stratosphere. Just glad the fight is happenning. Its a proper fight
Froch has always relied on his stone chin. He's rarely faced fighters that could hurt him AND out box him. Grooves showed in the first fight that he is able to bring both attributes to the table. This is why I think Froch is in trouble. Its too late in the day for him to learn a new style so he's got to go in there with the aim of knocking Grooves out in the first few rounds. Bit ironic considering it was the opposite way around in the first fight.
I must confess my view of Froch has dimmed somewhat ever since his post-fight interview following the first contest. Froch can win this fight if he blasts Groves out early. Groves can easily win this fight if he boxes every round like he did rounds 1-6 in the first fight. He got over-confident after that and got tagged by a very, very tough fighter in Carl Froch. Groves can only beat himself in this fight - he proved he has the speed, movement and power to hurt and floor Froch. I just worry that he will be over-confident going in and get caught-cold. If Groves boxes like he can, and did in the first six of the first fight, he wins easily on points - I just can't see him knocking Froch out and it would be a massive mistake to try. Froch has to do the same thing he did to Lucian Bute... just jump in and smash him before he can get settled. Ok, it took him until Round 5, but the damage was done early... [video=youtube;IhmWEm_hqg8]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhmWEm_hqg8[/video]
I dont know. Froch could have stepped upto Light Heavy and taken fights against names that are passed their best just for the money. I definately think he was brave to take on Groves.
I watched the first fight over again, and didn't seem quite as impressed with Groves as I did initially. I think it was the shock of that knock-down in the first round. I'm going to say that Carl Froch will win this fight - he is simply too strong and still too tough for Groves to knock him out. George Groves is over-confident and will get stopped late-on in the fight, he will try to go to war with Froch and that will be the undoing of Groves.
This is a proper pick em fight. If it came down to who I wanted to win, it would be Froch all day long. Groves is a prize bellend. Froch can be a bit arrogant but then, most boxers are. There is a bit of machoism that will never leave the sport. Groves though is one of those guys who goes that little bit further when it comes to being a bellend. A bit like the Mayweathers and Broners of this world. On the fight itself, I do think Froch has handled himself better in the build up to the fight. I just feel he is having to very hard to keep a lid on it though as he clearly dislikes Groves. Maybe he is a lot more calm and collected but I'm not convinced. Groves does seem a bit more unsettled in the build up to this one too. He is at pains to focus on the sports psychologist but I actually thinking its unnerving him more than it is Froch. On skills I think Groves is all wrong for Froch. I respect what Froch has done in boxing. He has made the most of his talent and he clearly possesses an iron chin. Speed is his problem, and this is what Groves has. I just can't see too many options for Froch. He isn't going to outbox him. I don't think standing and just trading is the way to go either. His game plan is pretty easy to work out, he is going to try and jump on him a la Bute and get him out of there. I do think though if it gets into the late rounds, Froch will win. I don't think Groves is a 12 round fighter. He could have boxed smarter last time from 6 onwards, but I'm still not convinced he would have got to the end ungassed. Everytime I have seen him do the 12 rounds, he is like a rag doll late on. Like Froch has tried to fix some of his issues, Groves has gone and got himself a conditioning coach this time round. Maybe it will help but I reckon if it gets deep, Froch will get him. Groves is certainly talented. His main weaknesses for me is his stamina, and I still think he is a bit chinny as a result late on. He tends to get hit very clean late in fights and his footwork gets a bit uncoordinated. Those clean hits are what will get you cleaned out. I still think first time round was too early to stop, but I do think Froch would have stopped him. He was getting caught heavy and Froch is a good finisher. With 10mins of boxing still to go, Groves was only getting raggier. He has also lost the element of surprise. Froch clearly didn't rate him last time which is always dangerous. On the flipside if he can sort his stamina problem out, he could give Froch a really awkward night. He could win the fight without getting too involved. He is faster and better on his feet. I honestly don't know, which is what I think makes it an interesting fight. Is Froch finally getting old? Older fighters avoid young up and comers in the main. They put it down to "not being at the level" but its also because there is massive risks involved with a hungry young fighter. I didn't see much evidence of any massive deterioration though. He has always struggled with fast fighters. He will be better prepared but the contest really revolves more around Groves than Froch for me. Froch quite rightly said that was the best George Groves against a poor Carl Froch. You have to assume a better Froch will turn up. Can Groves either have improved his stamina or pace himself better. All said and done I think the safer bet is Froch. I don't think Groves will stop Froch, and I'm not convinced he will see out the 12 rounds well enough to get to the end. Late stoppage for Froch.
In the middle of one of the shopping centres in Nottingham... [video=youtube;oanIozAYvSc]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oanIozAYvSc[/video]
Well the "Unfinished Business" is certainly completed now! Why couldn't Carl have waited until the 9th round? I had £20 (18/1) on Froch to win in the 9th
Just afterwards the commentator said ninth too As for the fight, ther eis no argument over the knockout and winner, it was as clean as they come unlike the beginning rounds of the fight I thought it had been fairly equal up to the knockout punch though, there was very little between them. That was one of the best KO punches I have seen though, sweet as you like. The only negative I have is that it was ended by a one punch shot. I don't like it when this happens in good fights as it could have been either fighter that landed it really. I good combination prior to the big punch is much more defining and condemning IMO
Thought Degale put a series of good combos together on undercard. Stopped early but it was only going one way. These refs are getting a bit over zealous for me. Froch/Groves was tight. I had Froch up by 2 and Groves winning the 8th. As you say it was a monster punch, as clean as they get.
I missed the Degale fight so only seen highlights but he did look good in them. Having seen replies and Froch explain the tactics, he completely set Groves up for the big shot too.
It was a great spectacle and the undercard was great. Mitchell's stoppage was great I wanted groves to win personally as I am a fan of how he fight's but definitely the best punch froch has ever thrown, fair play to him hope he gets his big payday and groves comes back again. Degale boxed well but could have ended the fight even earlier and could have secured a stoppage in the first round but stopped to appreciate his handy work if he did do that against froch he would get found wanting
