By Scott Gilfoid: Joe Calzaghe is impressed with George Groves’ speed and talent, but he questions whether he’ll have the stamina to defeat IBF/WBA super middleweight champion Carl Froch (32-2, 23 KO’s) in their rematch at the end of the month on May 31st. Calzaghe sees Froch an old time boxer who could have fought 15 round fights years ago when championship boxing matches were still going 15 rounds. Calzaghe also thinks he would have beaten Froch and Groves in his prime.
“It’s a question of stamina. Froch still appears to have the cardiovascular capacity to go any distance,” Calzaghe said. “I expect we’re going to find out about George. Froch is beginning to look like he’s slowing up…Groves is faster but does he have the steam for a long fight? In my own mind, I believe that in my prime I would have beaten either of them.”
I wouldn’t be surprised if Calzaghe could have beaten either of these guys, but that’s not really saying a whole lot because both both Froch and Groves are flawed fighters. They’re not in the class of Andre Ward, and arguably not in the class of Andre Dirrell either. Dirrell did a number on Froch in 2009 in Nottingham in a fight that Dirrell appeared to win in the minds of many boxing fans.
Groves is in a good position to beat Froch in the rematch, because he dominated him in the first half of their fight last November, and the only thing Groves needs to improve on his stamina. One of the easiest thing for a fighter to fix is the pace with which they fight. The only thing that Groves needs to do is use more movement, and pick his spots in which to nail Froch with single shots or quick combinations. But obviously Groves can’t stand and trade with Froch in the rematch, because he doesn’t have the chin or the engine to fight like that. Ward did, but he made Froch miss most of the fight, and he smothered him on the inside.
Groves can’t fight worth a lick in close, and he doesn’t know how to pay Froch back when he gets nailed with rabbit punches while in close. Ward put Froch in line when he tried to rough him up on the inside, but Groves doesn’t seem to know how to train Froch to respect him in close, so I expect he’ll take a beating each time he clinches with him.
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