It’s official: Carl Froch will defend his WBA and IBF super-middleweight titles against unbeaten countryman George Groves later this year at a venue in the UK to be determined soon. The exact date is also TBA but both men appeared live on Sky Sports News at 12 noon UK time today, to talk about the fight.
Froch, unable he said to get rematches with Mikkel Kessler and Andre Ward right now, is excited about giving the UK fans a domestic fight that will contest two major world titles.
“I think this fight is a real treat for the fans,” Froch said. “Some people have said George Groves is not in the same class as me, but there is no danger of me underestimating him. I will take this fight very, very seriously and will bring my A-game as I always do. Groves has done everything asked of him and Eddie Hearn has done a great job getting him the mandatory position. I will prepare like I’m fighting one of the best fighters in the world.
“Some people don’t have him as in my class because he has not beaten anyone in the top-15 in the world and now he is facing the number-two fighter in the world, who is ranked in the top-five pound-for-pound. But I’m sure Groves will look to raise his game and shine. He has Adam Booth, the mastermind tactician guiding him.”
Froch, 31-2(22) urged Groves to come and fight and not run and let the fans down. Groves feels this “desperation” from Froch, in knowing he needs Groves to stand in front of him and fight, shows a weakness.
“This fight has come at the perfect time for me,” Groves said. “Froch is very one dimensional. I hope he brings his A-game and doesn’t believe his own hype. He says I’ve not boxed anyone in the top-15 but I beat Glen Johnson by every round just a year before he [Froch] scraped past him in The Super Six. I didn’t expect this much desperation [from Froch] about me coming to him and having a fight. There is no blueprint on how to beat me, but Andre Ward showed the blueprint on how to beat Froch. Carl keeps hammering on about the fans [getting a great fight] with regards to how I approach the fight.”
Froch said he expects Groves, 19-0(15) to be on his toes, boxing – “just don’t run,” Froch asked, before stating that Groves is “no Andre Ward.”
A press conference is expected soon to announce the date and venue for this all-British clash.