Calzaghe: Groves has Froch’s number

By Boxing News - 05/16/2014 - Comments

groves8By Scott Gilfoid: Former IBF/WBA/WBC/WBO super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe thinks that IBF/WBA super middleweight champion Carl Froch (32-2, 23 KO’s) is going to have major problems on May 31st against George Groves (19-1, 15 KO’s) in their rematch at Wembley Stadium in London, UK. Calzaghe thinks that the confidence that Groves got from being able to put Froch down early on the canvas will translate over into this fight, and he sees Froch struggling in this fight, which he sees as a real toss up.

“I think he [Groves] has got his number regarding the boxing style,” Calzaghe said to Sky Ringside. “Froch always struggles against people that can box, that can move and feint, and come over the top with a right hand, because Froch always leaves his left hand down. But obviously he’s going to be working on that. He’s 37 years of age, he’s had some hard fights. It’s one of those pick em fights. I think with Groves, he’s going to improve from the last fight. He’s learned a lot from that fight.”

Groves was the better fighter of the two through the first six rounds, and you can say that he won the first six rounds, The thing Groves needs to improve upon for the rematch is to pace himself a little better. He’s probably not going to be any better than last time in the stamina department, so he’s going to need to take rest breaks in between exchanges by getting to the outside to keep Froch from mauling him on the inside with his clubbing punches to the back of the head. I don’t imagine that there will be a referee that will stop that kind of thing, as Froch’s management already objected to American referee Jack Reiss being used for the fight. Reiss doesn’t put up with fouling, and having him as the referee would have helped Groves immensely. If Froch fought the way he did in the previous fight, he’d likely have lost points if Reiss was the referee because he doesn’t put up with rabbit punches or hitting on the break.

Groves needs to use his in and out attacking style to frustrate Froch in this fight, and he can’t make the same mistake of backing away slowly with his gloves glued to his head after he’s thrown a punch. In other words, Groves can’t fight like a sparring partner like last time. After he throws a punch, he needs to get away quickly instead of stepping backwards like he’s walking in quicksand. If there’s a referee that controls the fouling, then it’ll be alright for Groves to take a rest break by clinching Froch, but I have my doubts that the referee that they finally agree upon will be one that controls fouling.



Comments are closed.