George Groves believes he has the measure of Carl Froch ahead of their clash for Froch’s WBA and IBF World Super Middleweight titles at the sold-out Phones 4u Arena in Manchester on Saturday (November 23), live on Sky Sports Box Office.
Unbeaten Groves fights in his first World title contest in the North West, as Froch dons the gloves for his 11th fight in a row with a coveted strap on the table. ‘The Saint’ has been bullish in the build-up and has been awarded victory by many in the verbal battle between him and the champ – and the popular Londoner says the time is right for him to defeat Froch.
“This is the fight I have always wanted,” said Groves, speaking at his public work-out at the Westfield Shopping Centre in Shepherd’s Bush. “I respect Carl Froch for achieving what he has in the sport, and I know he’s a tough fighter, but I also believe he is beatable and that I have the style to cause him nightmares.
“I think he knows it, too, and because of this he resents having to defend his belts against me. This is a risky, horrible style match-up for him, and he realises there’s every chance he gets taken to school and stopped for the first time in his career.
“I’m more than ready for this fight. I’ve beaten some good opponents in my career so far and nobody has found a blueprint to beat me. Unlike Froch, I don’t have a lot of miles on the clock and I don’t have a lot of ways to be beaten. And, anyway, why shouldn’t I be ready for a fight against the second best Super Middleweight in the world?
“We’re not talking about me fighting Andre Ward, the number one. I know I’m still a little way off beating Ward, but Froch is a different story altogether. He isn’t the best in the World and never has been. Do I think I can beat him with nineteen fights under my belt? Absolutely.”
Groves’ challenge against Froch leads a great line-up of action in Manchester on Saturday night.
Scott Quigg defends his WBA Super Bantamweight title against Diego Silva and his gym-mate and resurgent Lightweight star Anthony Crolla defends his WBO Inter-Continental Lightweight title against Stephen Foster Jr. on a busy night for trainer Joe Gallagher, who also has Super Featherweight star Stephen Smith tackling Sergio Manuel Medina for the WBC Silver International title and unbeaten Lightweight talent Scotty Cardle on the bill.
There’s also a late spot on the bill for Murray, who is back in action after his controversial loss to Sergio Martinez in his second World title challenge in April. The 31 year old will now face Sergey Khomitsky in Manchester after his December fight in Australia fell through.
Former IBF World Bantamweight champion Jamie McDonnell fights in an eight round bout, Rocky Fielding defends his Commonwealth Super Middleweight title and Olympic Gold medal hero Luke Campbell MBE tackles his fourth pro contest, while unbeaten Super Flyweight Kal Yafai continues his comeback from injury, but Anthony Joshua MBE has been forced off the bill by a bicep strain.
Froch vs Groves – Froch: Fan power drives me to victory
Carl Froch believes his experience of his epic win over Mikkel Kessler in May will give him the edge when he defends his WBA and IBF World Super Middleweight titles against George Groves at the sold-out Phones 4u Arena in Manchester, live on Sky Sports Box Office on November 23.
Froch defeated Kessler in their titanic rematch at The O2 in front of a capacity crowd in London, and the four-time World champion says he thrives on the sensation of lifting belts in front of a packed out Arena.
“There’s no greater feeling than standing victorious in the Arena, especially in front of a sell-out crowd with 20,000 people cheering your name,” said Froch.
“You’re stood in the middle of that ring, you’re cut and bruised, got a nose bleed but you’re a champion. You’re looking around at a packed house.
“You’ve had 12 weeks in a training camp and you’ve had an unbelievable fight – I’m talking about the Kessler rematch – that sort of feeling, those sorts of nights. Money can’t buy that, there’s nothing else you can do, you can’t go to a fair ground and ride a roller coaster to get that feeling.
“I’m still boxing because of my pure love for the sport. The sport has given me so much, a privileged lifestyle for a start. The feeling of the fight night that I talked about earlier, you can’t get that anywhere, people smoke, gamble and eat lots of chocolate because they are all vices in order to feed a habit or a want. I think I’m addicted to fighting and I’m addicted to fight night.”
Froch and Groves battle it out in Manchester on a fantastic bill stacked full off the cream of British boxing.
Scott Quigg defends his WBA Super Bantamweight title against Diego Silva and his gym-mate and resurgent Lightweight star Anthony Crolla defends his WBO Inter-Continental Lightweight title against Stephen Foster Jr. on a busy night for trainer Joe Gallagher, who also has Super Featherweight champion Stephen Smith on the bill and unbeaten Lightweight talent Scotty Cardle.
There’s also a late spot on the bill for Martin Murray, who is back in action after his controversial loss to Sergio Martinez in his second World title challenge in April. The 31 year old will now face Sergey Khomitsky in Manchester after his December fight in Australia fell through.
Former IBF World Bantamweight champion Jamie McDonnell fights in an eight round bout, Rocky Fielding defends his Commonwealth Super Middleweight title and Olympic Gold medal heroes Anthony Joshua MBE and Luke Campbell MBE are both in action in their fourth pro contests, while unbeaten Super Flyweight Kal Yafai continues his comeback from injury.
Froch v Groves on 23 November is live on Sky Sports Box Office. Visit skysports.com/frochgroves for booking information, book via your Sky remote or call 08442 410888
