Groves vs Eubank - Who've you got?

Jr and Murray are about the same height both slightly over 5ft11, Groves must be slightly over 6ft (or even 6ft1 but not 6ft2)

Jr is pencil thin and dry when he weighs in @ 167 and looks to put on a fair amount by fight night, muscles full of fluid.

Murray looks more solid on weigh in night and nowhere near as dry but come fight night he doesn't look any bigger which makes me think he doesn't add as much fluid.

Khan looked the same size as Canelo at the weigh in and fight night was clearly the smaller man.

Groves will have a bit of a size advantage but not enough for it to make a big difference. Jr is naturally just as big as someone like Andre Ward IMO, so is GGG.

Groves is a bigger 168lber than Ward ever was but still would never beat him.

 

Then of course there is the Carl Froch angle to consider.

Eubanks poor technique/defence is often cited as a reason groves will beat him. But groves has already been beaten by a crude face first brawler, Froch.

Also Froch ( for what it's worth) says jr took huge shots off him in sparring and wasn't hurt.
Harder shots than he hit groves with and jr took them well, he says.


Can we ignore this?

 

Fair point. But Groves was his own downfall in them fights. Trading toe to toe when he shouldn't and going too all out for the ko in the first. I can still hear Jim Watt's "foolishness of youth" commentary. In the second he was boxing well and then a stupid mistake got him ko'd.

Froch has an agenda. Chudinov fight aside Froch has never given Groves any credit for anything so he's bound to say things like that. Plus, in the video I've seen of them sparring Eubank has a full face head guard on. I know people these days are saying they don't help taking shots but I'm not having that.

 

I think he’ll give Groves a lot of problems and will have joy in spells but I don’t believe it will be enough. Athleticism can go a long way in compensating for skills, but I reckon that size difference (Eubank will weigh 12 on the night, Groves around 13) will play a big factor.

It’s athleticism vs skills, size and experience.

 

Can't ignore it. The reason why I think it matters is because of anything Froch would big up Groves because KTFOing Groves was his signature moment. We all know Carl has an ego so if anything he would big up Groves because it makes him look better. He could say that Groves is damaged goods now after he already dealt with him.

But no Froch is 100% leaning with Eubank and is vocally stating that Eubank has the better attributes. Speaks volumes for me.

 

He's came out and said Groves has zero chance and it's impossible for him to win. You only have to look at the odds and this forum with some knowledgable people to see what stupidity that is. To me if it's a 50/50 split on opinions, and he comes out with such a one sided assessment you can't take it at face value regardless of his experience with both men.

 

It is a bit ridiculous to say that Groves has no chance. In that case Carl may just be playing mind games because it's well known that he and his brother still hate Groves and goad him a lot on Twitter.

I still think it counts for something though. Froch has limited knowledge of current boxers as is apparent in his commentary but this is his division and he has fought one, and sparred both of the fighters. I think his vehement backing of Eubank is noteworthy at least.

 

Yes, if he's being honest then you'd certainly have to listen to his opinion. It's just his seemingly sour grapes towards Groves despite winning that makes me question him.

 

i see the fight a bit Like Groves Vs Murray. Middleweight with good chin and almost imposs to stop stepping up to face a bigger man. Hes a better version of Murray tbf but not much.

Groves uses his ring IQ and doesn't get caught up in wanting to KO jr then hell win by shut out.
That's what BJS would of done before he gassed.

JR not proven at world level (ESP not SMW). Groves power will be enough to stop JR walking through him and size and reach are massive.

I made GG a solid fav tbf but books see diff. This fight will be a defining night in my gambling life. Im Balls deep on GG already LOL

 

Haha, Grove's odds are getting better last time I looked mate. I dunno when to put my money on.... I'll be nervous come fight night. Not that I'll put a crazy amount on anyway.

 

Come on, Eubank is light years better than Murray. Murray was soundly beaten by Abraham and Eubank won every single round against Abraham. You really think Eubank would struggle to beat Rosado?

He's a million times better.

 

I keep changing my mind on the winner...I was convinced that Eubanks would outwork him over the 12 possible late stoppage but now I’m starting to think Groves’ jab and movement and natural strength could be the key- it’s a great matchup

 

If Groves wins it's because he KO's CEJ not because he out boxes him. Groves sucks as a boxer, he's all offence, he gets backed up onto ropes way to easily and doesn't know how to clinch. Just watch his last fight with Cox he gets backed up and forced to trade on the ropes because he doesn't have the defensive skills to, one avoid being pushed to the ropes, two to slip shots on the inside and three clinch to stifle an opponents offense.

But Groves is a good counter puncher which makes it dangerous for CEJ to go straight at him. If he can force CEJ to hesitate on the way in or stay at a distance then he'll win. But if he allows CEJ to force him back and box defensively he'll get overwhelmed. His footwork while fast is limited because he uses such a wide stance to generate power, he won't be able to evade CEJ if CEJ keeps pressing.

 

Disagree he doesn't know how to clinch.

First round he got 'pushed' back on the ropes by Cox and hit with a good shot. What did he do? He actually physically pushed and moved Cox 3/4s across the ring onto the ropes and hurt him with a shot back. He did that when he was against the ropes himself.

That's the strength difference.

Rounds after when Cox gets close, watch what happens when he's on top of Groves on the ropes. For the most part he either can't or doesn't do any work from round 2 onwards. I put that down to the strength difference from Groves, Groves also starts to push his arms out more and take over in the clinches.

He also tosses Cox around like a rag doll three times after the 1st round, very easily. Again the size difference and strength.

 

Froch a crude face first fighter lol. You obviously never noticed how an in form Froch worked off world class jab and footwork. When sparring Eubank they would have had pillow gloves on their hands.