Groves shouldn't have let Froch get out of round 2. He was there for the taking after that first round knock down.
Disagree Steve, there was no snap in the majority of Froch punches or jabs and those that landed hit his gloves.
Can't see Froch taking it. Think he'll retire now. The only other fight out there would be Ward and he gets spanked there too.
Really? Did you see the state of Groves afterwards? He looked like he'd been in a bad car accident. I think Groves tried very hard not to show that Froch was denting him but he was landing decent punches. He got very sloppy in that last round and I think Froch's punches had started to really tell.
I think froch might have beaten him at the end,groves looked to be out of gas to me. I think the ref dropped a major clanger though, i thought groves could still defend himself so imo he could have let it go on a bit longer. Ive never rated Froch as a top fighter and tonight just confirmed it to me, he was lucky to beat Kessler who was carrying a knock and had apparently overtrained if froch was top drawer he would have fought a more measured fight, to think this guy was calling out smoking joe a few years back! he couldnt cope was groves hand speed let alone joe's ! Anyway entertainng fight and there should come a re match, i have a feeling froch will vacate and retire though
Tbh NJ, that version of Kessler that Froch beat was a shell of the fighter he was so I don't really look at that fight as a good performance for Froch, I look at it as a fight where Froch failed to stop a fighter who was well past his best. As for retiring, I think you are spot on. Groves would beat him in a rematch and the only other fight out there for him is Ward, which he also loses. Gutted for Groves, he talked the talk before the fight and most definitely walked the walk tonight. For me this stinks of a fix so that a certain promoter can protect his cash cow, knowing full well that you could sell out the millennium stadium for a rematch and thousands would buy it on box office. Froch should also have been docked at least two points for me tonight.
Heard that the judge got 100.000 pound for that ruling. Groves was leading 6-7 to 1 in points. What a ****ing corrupt judge.
I disagree he was defending himself. He was bent double with his hands down having taken 2 big punches quickly. More were going to follow and he was about to get put down. I think Groves pride and inexperience got in the way. He should have taken a knee and had an 8 count. At the very least he had to wrap him up. If you plant your feet and take the punishment whilst staring at the floor youre inviting he ref to make that call. I'm not sayin the stoppage was right just that watching the replays you could see why the ref did what he did. Froch was about to get at least a couple of free shots at an already badly hurt opponent. I also agree that groves looks like he had put a lot into the fight and froch was starting to get the upper hand. Froch might not be a boxer for the purist but he's a world champ and he beat Groves and probably had the beating of him whether or not the ref stopped it.
Well this is where the problem lies isnt it ? many think the ref should have waited for him to at least go down but its a difficult one ,i thought groves could have held out a little bit longer but i agree that froch probably would have done him in that round, while i thought groves was running on empty i still think he might have had enough heart toat least hold out longer,the ref decided that wasnt going to happen and on reflection it was probably the right call from a safety aspect
