George Groves

Eight experts give their pre-fight predictions on Froch-Groves II

Eight experts give their pre-fight predictions on Froch-Groves II

Photo by HBO/Ed Mulholland – One of the biggest fights in British boxing history will take place tomorrow, as bitter super-middleweight rivals Carl Froch and George Groves will go at it in front of 80,000 fans at Wembley. Currently, seemingly everyone is talking about the fight and who will win.

Here, eight figures from the boxing world give their pre-fight predictions:

Harold “The Shadow” Knight, former co-trainer of Lennox Lewis and current co-trainer of Zhang Zhilei:

“I’m going with Froch, even though I think Groves will test Froch and give him a competitive fight. Experience and the grit and toughness Froch has will see him keeping his titles.”

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Froch vs. Groves II: A Prince plots to make history by dethroning the reigning King Carl the Cobra of Great Britain

Froch vs. Groves II: A Prince plots to make history by dethroning the reigning King Carl the Cobra of Great Britain

Two noble men battle in the modern day coliseum of Wembley Stadium for historic supremacy. The reigning King Carl Froch from Nottingham earned his kingship at war, with the blood running through his body from a long line of warriors representing proudly out of the house of Froch.

Prince George of London is plotting his revenge after claims of robbery by way of referee, being the sole the reason for his demise. The pouting Prince was jeered and booed on his way into the ring last November and received a hero’s exit on the way out.

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How would a near-prime Joe Calzaghe fare today?

How would a near-prime Joe Calzaghe fare today?

With bated breath, the entire boxing world is looking forward to the eagerly anticipated rematch between Carl Froch and George Groves. The sheer energy and excitement that will undoubtedly be unleashed by 80,000 screaming British fans is so electric it can practically be felt already. Their first encounter was incredible, and there is every reason to believe that this time the action will be every bit as intense, with the possibility of even exceeding the former’s fireworks. The atmosphere being generated is so fiery and profound and explosive, that it is totally reminiscent of the mood often created during the lead-up for fights involving the soon-to-be Hall of Fame inductee, Joe Calzaghe, the greatest super middleweight boxing has ever known. Makes you kind of wonder how Joe Calzaghe would do if he was fighting today at or near his best?

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Carl Froch v George Groves 2: The Rematch Is Here!

Carl Froch v George Groves 2: The Rematch Is Here!

The most anticipated fight in British boxing in decades is upon us. On Saturday at Wembley Stadium in London, Carl Froch and George Groves will climb into the ring in front of 80,000 spectators, with millions watching on television not only in Britain but around the world.

Not since the Eubank v Benn rematch at Old Trafford in 1993 has a domestic boxing rivalry generated this much excitement. Frank Bruno’s heavyweight clash with Lennox Lewis at Cardiff Arms Park, again in 1993, is also up there, but in terms of scale and magnitude, Carl Froch v George Groves exceeds both.

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LIVE! Froch vs Groves 2 – The Weigh-In LIVE from Wembley Arena

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Official Weights from London:

Carl Froch: 167.9 lbs.
George Groves: 166.4 lbs.

Saturday’s HBO Boxing After Dark telecast begins at 4:00 p.m. (ET/PT) with a world featherweight title fight (Vetyeka vs. Donaire) from Macau. The main event of the day live at 4:45 p.m. (ET/PT) features a highly anticipated 12-round title rematch between super middleweight title-holder Carl Froch and top contender and arch-rival George Groves.

American boxing fans can catch a highly anticipated UK rematch and a title fight from Macau when HBO BOXING AFTER DARK®: CARL FROCH VS. GEORGE GROVES II AND SIMPIWE VETYEKA VS. NONITO DONAIRE is seen SATURDAY, MAY 31 at 4:00 p.m. (ET/PT). The HBO Sports team will be calling both events, which will be available in HDTV, closed-captioned for the hearing-impaired and presented in Spanish on HBO Latino. Other HBO playdates: June 1 (8:30 a.m.) and 3 (1:00 a.m.) – HBO2 playdates: June 1 (3:15 p.m.) and 2 (11:00 p.m.)

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Groves: Froch will be getting a beating from me

Groves: Froch will be getting a beating from me

George Groves (19-1, 15 KO’s) plans on giving IBF/WBA super middleweight champion Carl Froch (32-2, 23 KO’s) a royal beating in the process of ripping his two 168lb title straps from him on Saturday night in front of what will be a roaring crowd of 80,000 fans at Wembley Stadium in London, UK.

Groves senses weakness in Froch, and like a shark, Groves will be looking to rip Froch to pieces to finish his title reign. Groves sees it as a process of the young lions taking over for the older lion.

“It might not even be a fight,” Groves said. “I can beat Carl for hand speed, foot speed and I can hurt him. It doesn’t matter how Carl approaches this fight, he’s just not good enough. I see panic, I see a man who’s worried, I see a man who’s got to face the inevitable and that’s a beating from me.”

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Froch-Groves 2: Pushing barriers, planting seeds

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A first preemptive seed planted in the referee’s mind for their mega-fight, George Groves’s trainer Paddy Fitzpatrick has drawn attention to Carl Froch’s not-so-nice line in the barge and the rabbit punch. But if Groves really wants a clean fight, all he has to do is box from distance and Froch will have it all to do.

George Groves understands his attempt to ridicule Froch on the Ringside show as a continuation of war by other means and contemplation of his role as psychological ’bully’ even sprang a faintly rueful smile. With the self-possession of an assassin that is about him always, Groves assures us that he harbors no ill-will once a fight is over. Cold composure, as his former trainer Adam Booth defines it. Clinical, scientific, precise. He views Froch as much too under the sway of brute feeling. The merest smuggled emotion for Groves is a crutch in the ring.

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Froch vs. Groves: Carl Froch Could Retire If Defeated

Froch vs. Groves: Carl Froch Could Retire If Defeated

· Fighters both believe they’ll get the job done within twelve rounds
· Froch says retirement is ‘probable’ if he were to lose – as Groves would ‘never give me a re-match’

With under a month until the hugely anticipated re-match between IBF and WBA Super middleweight champion Carl Froch and challenger George Groves, the duo came face-to-face in front of the Facebook cameras today, and – finally – they agreed on something.

Both Froch and Groves made it clear that a points decision won’t be necessary – as both pledged to finish off the other within 12 rounds:

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Froch vs. Groves II: The Controversial Stoppage and Rematch Prediction

Froch vs. Groves II: The Controversial Stoppage and Rematch Prediction

We won’t have to wait too long before we witness the rematch between Carl Froch and George Groves, May 31st to be exact, which is being staged at a sold-out 80,000 capacity Wembley Stadium. So I thought I’d provide my own view of the controversial ending of their first encounter and also express an opinion on the likely outcome of the rematch itself.

Just to be clear, when reviewing the first fight, I believe that George Groves had a comfortable lead on the scorecards, despite whatever the official scorecards claimed, and also thought that the ref’s stoppage was premature. However, I’m convinced that this was a classic case of one punch too soon or one punch too late. I feel that Groves put the referee in a difficult situation by not defending himself effectively when he was on the receiving end of Froch’s relentless onslaught.

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Can Froch Get Even With Groves?

It has recently been revealed that Carl Froch and George Groves will face each other in a rematch that is expected to take place on 31st May 2014. This is after of course the controversial ending of the Froch-Groves I, in which George Groves alleged that he was stopped too soon in the 9th round. News of this rematch started rumours that this match will be the biggest bout in Britain of 2014. I expect that above rumour will be proven, but with little possibility of a controversial ending like the first Froch-Groves bout ended.

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