By Scott Gilfoid: Super middleweight contender George Groves (19-2, 15 KO’s) hasn’t lost his confidence after betting blown to smithereens by IBF/WBA super middleweight champion Carl Froch in their rematch last month. Groves sees himself coming back from the knockouts and going on to become one of the world champs at 168. At 26, Groves has time on his side because he can wait out all the good fighters in the super middleweight division, and then try to take over once they’re all gone.
With the way that Froch knocked Groves out in their second fight there has to be some concerns about whether Groves has the punch resistance needed for him to fight at the top echelons of the super middleweight and/or light heavyweight division. I mean, I’m sure he can hang around as a contender in either of those divisions, but in order to be a real champion and not just a short term paper belt holder, you’ve got to have a chin.
While Froch does have good power, his power isn’t extraordinary, as there are plenty of other fighters in the super middleweight division that can pretty much with the same power, if not better power than him. The thing is if Groves can’t handle Froch’s power then what is he going to do when he starts getting nailed with head shots by the other super middleweights?
“I have a long successful career in front of me,” Groves said to Sky Ringside. “I know it. I certainly don’t need [Matchroom Sport] promoter Eddie Hearn or anyone else to tell me. I’d like to think that I’ll eventually become world champion. I just have to work with a little harder to get it.”
Even if Hearn is pouring compliments over Groves’ head, it doesn’t mean anything. Hearn has no way of knowing what’s going to happen to Groves if he gets put in the ring with someone like Arthur Abraham and he starts getting nailed with vicious right hands to the head.
Groves might want to think about taking a year or so off from boxing in order to let his head clear up from those two back to back knockout losses to Froch. It might help toughen up his punch resistance, because right now he doesn’t seem to be handling head shots too well. I’d hate to see Groves getting knocked out by in his next fight or two by some 3rd tier opponent that his promoters at Sauerland Events put in with him as a confidence builder.
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