Carl Froch vs George Groves: Disrespectful warfare

By Peter Wells (twitter- @boxingsaddler):

Best of enemies: Froch(right) taunts Groves(left) during a heated weigh-in

It's so simple to compare the glorified brutality of boxing to old tales of wars and heroes. All that is needed is two warriors of differing personalities or a considerable underdog or a bitter rivalry. Better still, you could have all three of those ingredients and the metaphors and similes will roll off the tongue as fast as Floyd Mayweather hits the pads. The fairy-tale here is simple; can the Saint slay the Cobra?

After a long and hefty build up these two best of enemies Carl Froch 31-2(22) and George Groves 19-0(15) meet in the ring on Saturday night in front of a packed out Phones 4U Arena in Manchester(still known to many as the M.E.N Arena).


Groves comes in as the young pretender, disrespecting the cream of the crop in the British pound-for-pound rankings. And following three none too taxing stoppage wins he has earned his status as Froch's mandatory challenger for the Nottingham mans WBA & IBF Super Middleweight titles.

Groves' biggest victories of his short career have come against previous British rival James DeGale(W MD 12) and the Jamaican warhorse Glen Johnson(W UD 12). George took the 'good guy' role before his clash with DeGale and came out on top after dragging the talented 2008 Olympic Gold medallist into a tooth-and-nail battle. Groves wont be implementing the same tactics this time around but he showed just how well he can follow a game plan and also his brilliant ring generalship.

A lot of that tactical nous came from his now old trainer Adam Booth, most well known in boxing circles for his ability to draw out the perfect tactics. It seemed that together Booth and Groves had been eying up Froch for some time, so will the change have a negative effect? Or will new head coach Paddy Fitzpatrick devise the perfect strategy?

As for Froch a game plan will be far easier to come by, in his recent rich vein of form there'll be little changes from the intelligent stalking that brought him victories over Lucian Bute(TKO 5), Yusaf Mack(KO 3) and Mikkel Kessler(UD 12).

The Kessler rematch in May, where he avenged a close decision loss in Denmark 3 years earlier, showed a wiser side to Carls game. The jab was a potent weapon and Kessler seemed confused as to the tactical switch in Froch's arsenal. But prior to his hot win streak he was picked apart by boxing starlet Andre Ward(L UD 12), and while Carl has attempted to point to the two 115-113 scorecards as a consolation, they hardly reflected how much the Californian dominated.

Much has been made of Froch's resume, wins coming against; Jean Pascal(UD 12), Jermain Taylor(TKO 12), Andre Dirrell(SD 12), Arthur Abraham(UD 12) and Glen Johnson(UD 12). He also boasts notable wins against Brian Magee(KO 11), Robin Reid(RTD 5), Tony Dodson(KO 3) and Albert Rybacki(TKO 4). Add in Mack, Bute, his two meetings with Kessler and his only unavenged loss to Ward and you have one of the best boxing records of his era.


Groves won his last 'battle of Britain' but this is a step up from DeGale

So the feeling is that Groves is levels below 'The Cobra' but his development has been of the highest quality, much likes Froch's was before he stepped in with Jean Pascal. But unlike Groves, Froch was entering into his first world title fight with an opponent also stepping up in class, not a 4-time world champion.

Wins over Kenny Anderson(TKO 6), Paul Smith(TKO 2), Francisco Sierra(TKO 6), Noe Gonzalez Alcoba(TKO 5) as well as Johnson and DeGale are all very impressive for a developing fighter, but when in the ring with Froch, the developing process has to be finished. George Groves must be at his full potential.

Froch will be venomous throughout the 12 rounds, with the likelihood that Groves' punches will have little effect on the man that twice walked through the fists of Kessler. Yet it is worth noting that the slick counter-puncher Jermain Taylor had Froch on the seat of his pants in the 3rd round of their contest, but the days of slow starting seem to be behind Froch now.

Groves' knack of sticking to a game plan has given many the feeling that the Hammersmith fighter has a chance in this contest. If he manages to keep Froch on the end of his jab before snapping in long right hands and then sliding low to his right out of danger for the full 12 rounds then I can see Groves taking the surprise victory on points.



Ward dominated Froch but Carl gave him his toughest fight to date

But that would be a huge shout and it's an even bigger "if". So while Groves' strategy may be perfect, carrying it out against Froch will prove to be a puzzle in itself.

While many see Froch darting out of the blocks I envision the veteran of this contest to box behind his ramrod jab for the opening 4 rounds. In close rounds short burst near the end of each stanza from Froch may give him the edge in some tentative rounds. If Groves is not ahead by round 5 then the likelihood he'll win the contest becomes even smaller.

Carl's confidence will grow from the 5th round and while these middle rounds are usually where Froch takes command this will prove to be Groves' best shot at creating a rhythm. While Froch starts to find his groove Groves can take rounds 5 and 6, using the right hand on a more regular basis. But the confidence that Groves will find may be short lived as Froch will eventually catch the underdog with a clean shot, before he pushes for the stoppage. Groves can survive several scary moments between rounds 7-10 but will find himself a little bit too far back on the cards.

Froch in rhythm will continue to push for the knockout but may ease off slightly in the final round, seeing that he is in command, before receiving a clear decision victory after 12 tactically thrilling rounds.