Dislike of Froch? Explain

Carl Froch was the real loser on Saturday night. He spent 5 hard years proving himself to be the hardest man in British boxing, and one of the toughest in the World. No argument. He built his fan base, he took the hardest fights available, many of which 'hardcore fans' like many of you predicted he would lose. Brutally, by KO at times. He built his reputation to the point where he became a 'PPV Star', as he had wanted for his whole career. It took him 5 years of his life, going life and death with superior boxers, faster athletes, undefeated fighters, more accurate punchers, to win him those fans and his position in the sport.

Then, on Saturday, it all came crashing down. Once again, he walked through hell, got off the floor, ate shot after shot after shot, and kept coming forward throwing bombs. Some missed, some connected, both fighters used dirty tricks. He was on his way (and this is the only point where anything I'm saying can be classed as my opinion) to winning the fight, knocking out the younger man, better boxer and future star, when the ref denied him of his greatest come-from-behind victory.

This cost him the adoration of the 20,000 fans who had cheered him in, and the respect of people like you who should really know better. He was the big loser, because, at 36 years old, he had gone to the well again, and was coming up with the goods. His pride made him offer a rematch, but now a proven champion has to go through yet another training camp, walk into the ring for the first time in his career with someone he knows can genuinely hurt him, and know that he has to eat many more of those vicious right hands to once again stalk his man down to try to force a stoppage. On Saturday night, he had no choice but to walk through all that, but can he do it again? Maybe, maybe not, but it's suddenly his legacy on the line through no fault of his own.

For a number of years now, I've viewed these boards mainly as what I would call a casual fan. I've never pretended to be an expert on boxing, I've never boxed. I have had my favourite fighters and have made no secret of them. However, the reaction to Saturday night has made extremely angry - the absolute BULLSH*T way that many on this forum are disrespecting Froch is unbelievable.

Someone posted a thread the other day 'What is a casual fan?'. A casual fan is ANYBODY that booed Froch out of the arena on Saturday night.

I feel sick that a fight that sold out in 11 minutes was filled with 20,000 scumbags that booed Britain's best fighter of the last 5 years out of the arena. I can only conclude that about 15.000 of them, if asked, would not know who Jean Pascal was. Or maybe even Andre Ward. The certainly had no respect for a man who has put his body and health on the line for their entertainment, and had walked through hell to give himself a shot of winning a fight on Saturday night.

There are some facts that I'd like people to acknowledge:

* Carl Froch has ducked NO ONE in his entire career.

* He gave Groves the shot he never had himself when he was in Groves' position

* People will bang on about Calzaghe, but when he was at the same point in his career, he fought what he thought was the ghost of Hopkins - but turned out not to be - and the actual ghost of RJJ in what he perceived to be easy, legacy-enhancing fights.

* When he beat Hopkins in an extremely tight decision, and Hopkins clamoured for a rematch in the post fight press conference, Calzaghe said 'I don't do rematches...you should fight Kessler, that would be a great fight' He also never gave Reid a rematch after an extremely close fight.

* Froch was the first to offer a rematch on Saturday night.

People see what they want to see in a fight sometimes, so don't give me the 'YDKSAB' and all that sh*t. Here's what I saw:

Yes, Groves was the better boxer, but people are using huge double standards when discussing this fight.

Why no 8 count?! Learn the rules...there can only be an 8 count if the ropes are deemed to be holding someone up, or they take a knee.

Froch landed no clean punches?! Go and watch it again, watch it from the ref's angle, watch Groves' head lolling around from 3 huge shots. Look at the state of his face. Froch DID land clean punches DESPITE BEING OUTCLASSED FOR MOST OF THE FIGHT.

Why didn't the ref stop it in round 1? When a fighter is knocked down, which can happen for many reasons and to varying degrees of severity. They are given the chance to stand up, gather themselves, and show they are in a position to continue. Froch did these things, and was allowed to carry on. When a fighter is taking unanswered punches which don't result in a knockdown, unfortunately the fighter is then the hands of the ref, whose only recourse is to stop the fight for the fighter's benefit. Had Groves hit the floor, he would have been given 10 seconds to get himself together. Instead, HE TURNED HIS BACK ON THE PUNCHES, his arms were by his side, and his head was being swivelled around.

Groves would have found a way out? Watch the fight from round 7. Watch the change in body language, the fatigue, the arms by his sides, the standing on the ropes trying to catch a second wind, the black eyes, the cuts. I'm not saying he hadn't had success, but he had thrown EVERYTHING he could at that point, and was starting to tire, and to some extent become disillusioned that Froch was still in front of him and coming foward.

The referee is the only one to blame for any unsatisfactory outcome for Saturday night, but make no mistake, Groves was the big winner. People so keen for Froch to be knocked out are scum, who despite their protestations to the contrary, have no respect for the sport, or the fact that there are many ways to win a fight. The better boxer doesn't always win, and there are reasons why a fight is 12 gruelling rounds. Carl Froch embodies that ethos, and deserves respect for it. History will always say there is only one man he never beat. And for everything he's done, he deserves a chance to rectify that before he retires without taking sh*t for it.

I'm sure most of you won't even read this post to the end, but f*ck it, I got it off my chest. I salute both the boys that put their bodies on the line on Saturday night. Groves is the future, Froch is the man. I hope Groves remembers how deep it's possible to dig when he's in future mega fights. I hope he remembers you need more than talent to win a boxing fight when he gets his shot against Ward. And if he does, then he has Carl Froch to thank for it.

 

Thanks for your kind words, Laz!

Thanks for posting that, hadn't seen any post fight vids yet as I was out all weekend. Watching that, Froch showed class there, but also seems genuinely hurt and for the first time in his career seemed unsure of his words 'I've forgotten my words now'.

He needs a long break, and a good hard look at himself. Personally, I think he should take a Ward rematch for his own pride - as losing doesn't tarnish his reputation much - or retire. Would hate to see him hurt more by lesser fighters. And would hate to see his stock fall. Plus all the trolls that would take pleasure watching his fantasy 'head to head' matchup stock fall.

He's one of those fighters in years to come where people will say 'Was he fast?' No. 'Was he a massive puncher?' Not really. 'Could he be hurt?' Well, yeah, but he was tough as nails. 'So...why was he so good?' and the only will answer will be 'You kinda had to be there to appreciate it'.