Carl Froch vs George Groves November 23rd Manchester

It feels like Froch ought to be on a different level, but then you start wondering how depleted he might be with at least 48 tough rounds from Kessler I through Kessler II (Abraham, Bute, and Mack were relatively easy nights) - and you can't ignore Groves being the young fresh confident undefeated man laughing his way through his limited opposition so far...nor how much easier Groves found Johnson to deal with...

Then again, Glen was looking worse from night to night after Froch - ineffective against Bute, really pedestrian against Fonfara (thought Johnson did get shafted there, had it a draw myself, but Fonfara is garbage) and then abysmal non-effort versus Groves.

:think

 

Talk about a huge step up in competition. I got Froch, no doubt. Groves is good, but Froch can beat him on crafty experience alone.

 

(posted in british forum)

My prediction?

Well it will come down to how Groves can fight. He will most definately fight on the back foot/around the ring. He will look for openings when froch lunges forward to fire his shots. Problem groves is going to get is that Froch has VERY good reach and now is good at judging the distance. Also he will possibly go through groves's back-foot timed punch (as froch comes in). Groves will not be able to generate enough power to deter froch on the back foot. He will hope he can catch him enough times as scoring punches -nick some rounds.
Can he do it WITHOUT getting hit/buzzed? i don't think he can for the full 12 rounds. Froch is a good finisher so any signs of distress froch will jump on him. One thing i would say is that Froch may have a slight disadvantage fighting on the inside. Ward used this excellently (and possibly exploited froch as more of a mid range fighter). Groves to date has shown no skills he can mix it with the best on the inside, if he was i give him more of a chance as froch cannot generate enough power on the inside if you can hold/limiting his leverage as Ward did.

Froch on the other hand will probably want to keep this fight mid range so i expect him to take a step inside each time -wait for groves then fire. The difference in this fight is going to be froch's power. Frochs power punches will tell in the judges eyes as Groves will be looking to pot-shot all night trying to find holes. Froch has a good chin so those shots will not score as hightly as frochs. Froch can keep his power from round 1 to 12. To keep froch off for 12 rounds without getting hit is very difficult if you don't have the slick footwork/back foot skills of Ward/dirrell, a great long range/front foot Jab of taylor and a inside game that can nullfy big punchers like ward can. Therefore no matter how i look at it i just cannot see Groves winning by decision.

The smart money has to be froch by TKO/KO or froch on points due to the scale of power punches and Groves wants none of that and gets on his bike for the rest of the fight -and throws nothing of significance to give him any rounds.

 

Easy win for Froch in my opinion. Don't think Groves hits harder than Kessler and doesn't seem to have the chin to stay with Froch over 8-10 rounds.