By Scott Gilfoid: WBC super middleweight champion Badou Jack (19-1-1, 12 KOs) doesn’t think too much of his opponent George Groves (21-2, 16 KOs) and all his bragging about his experience and his talent.
When Badou looks at the 27-year-old Groves, he sees a two-time world title loser, and a fighter who got popular from having been knocked out twice by Carl Froch. Badou doesn’t see anything that Groves has actually accomplished with his career other than being a knockout victim in his fights against Froch, if you want to call that an accomplishment.
“I won my biggest fight that I’ve had up to date, he didn’t. He has had two shots at the title and has lost them both,” Badou said.
Badou bagged the WBC 168lb title last April in putting on a sensational performance to defeat the highly talented Anthony Dirrell by a 12 round unanimous decision to win the WBC strap. The fight was Badou’s moment in the sun in his career, and he passed that test.
In contrast, Groves stepped up twice in challenging for a world title against Carl Froch in 2013 and 2014, and in both instances, Groves was knocked out. The second knockout was a really bad one in 2014, as it left Groves knocked unconscious briefly on the canvas.
Groves was on his back with his left leg twisted behind him in an odd and very painful looking position. Groves was fortunate not to have been injured during the KO, because a lot of fighters tear knee joints and suffer broken bones when they get KO’d the way that Groves was by Froch.
“Groves got famous for getting knocked out by Carl Froch,” Badou said. “He’s a good fighter, but I’m very comfortable that I’m going to beat him.”
I hate to say it, but I think Badou is right. Groves did get famous for getting knocked out twice by Froch. In both times, Groves attracted a lot of interest after his knockout losses.
It seems to me that instead of Groves getting the attention, it should have been put more on Froch, because he’s the one that won both of those fights. The two knockout losses that Groves took led to him getting put in the WBC super middleweight title eliminator after the World Boxing Council ordered Groves to fight Christopher Rebrasse.
Would the WBC have ordered the Groves-Rebrasse fight if Groves hadn’t been knocked out twice by Froch? I don’t know, but they definitely let Groves fight in their WBC eliminator following his second knockout by Froch.
It seems to me that it paid off for Groves to be knocked out twice by Froch. I know that sounds twisted, but that’s the only conclusion I can come to explain why the WBC picked Groves out for the eliminator after his second knockout.
“I just stay focused on what I have to do. No one is getting under my skin,” Badou said. “I’ve always been the underdog in my opinion. I like it. It motivates me. I’m going to prove my worth Saturday night.”
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