groves vs contreras SPOILER

[Adamj1987]

Jeez, I am not writing him off - I like the lad and his potential. I only disputed the fact that some people on here said that Groves, at the moment, would be favourite in a fight with Paul Smith. I said that was silly, and I'm asking now whether people still believe that would be the case.

I agree Dioufy, making him a favourite was daft. However, I maintain he'd be competitive but I suggest it with less conviction than previously.

Fair enough, and as I said in the other thread, I think it may be a little competitive, but I feel it would ultimately end in Groves with an L.

Smith has a little too much for him, at the moment, IMO.

need to see him in and illiminaer first aginst either quigley or dilks

[Dioufy]

Dilks is the best otion, bar none, IMO.

[THEBUTCH]

Good win for Groves and great experience...bad stoppage from the referee, he wasn't in that much trouble.

The little wobble Groves had in the 1st was just a momentary blip, and I hope George learns from it because there much more dangerous punchers out there than Contreras.

Groves will move on from this experience and if the other British super middles want to beat him, they had better get in quick becuase i suspect his improvement will be rapid.

[palooka]

Boxers are not robots and can't look spectacular every time out. When Groves bombed out Adamu people went a bit over board. Styles make fights and once in a while a powerful boxer gets the chance to hit someone that walks straight in and with their head up. The mexican on Saturday was a tough lad and it was a shady stoppage; though he wasn't going to win and was taking some hard shots he didn't look too bothered. Groves is a good prospect with good power and his power shots are very fast. I'm not sure he's got the reflex speed to have his left hand so low; though it makes for entertainment. Groves v Dilks will be a good bout and we may see how he'd do with someone who's in there for the full 12 (if needed); like Smith.

[HomeOfBritishBoxing]

Anyone got a link to the bit where he's either hurt, or off balance? I hope it was the latter, as you wouldn't expect a big prospect like Groves to be troubled at this level. Getting caught is ok when you're learning, as you can fix that, we just don't want to see any spinning eye balls at this stage.

i will upload it to youtube soon mate, he was not hurt 1 bit, after watching it loads of times it was deffo a balance thing.

[MightyWarrior]

Just seen it, thanks. Clumps him on the top of the head and his legs do go for a fraction of a second, but no big deal as he recovers in the blink of an eye. Think it's a fair bet to say his chin isn't going to be as good as Carl Froch or Joe C though.

Hopefully that'll remind him that things can go wrong pretty quickly when you leave your chin hanging out like that - he's posted it on his website..He does admire his work a bit at times, hands low - but still looks one of the best prospects we've got.
With the likes of DeGale, Bomber, Frankie Gavin and the rest, things are looking very good over here at the moment.

[HomeOfBritishBoxing]

Do the silly billies still think the Groves that fought Contreras would've beat Smith?

yes deosn't matter how groves performs for me he would beat smith any day of the week i think, i thought groves performed well, not his best but a solid performance, defence was a bit slack

[hurlock]

groves was well winning & looking dangerous against an extremely tough man, who if im not mistaken was on a controversial loss to craig mcewan.

[crusader]

Contreras is a journeyman. We shouldn't twist it into ''he is an extremely tough man''. He is a pretty poor boxer and should not be troubling prospects who are supposed to be as good as Groves. Lemieux destroyed him in two rounds and Dirrell's inferior brother battered him far worse than Groves did. Sebastian Demers also took him to school and Rigiberto Alvarez knocked him out in a minute.

Groves got hit a bit too much and was not impressive, but it happens to everyone every now and then. Perhaps this will make people realize that although he is a good boxer with a bright future, he is not quite at a point where he will be outclassing guys like Smith, who are much better than Contreras. The hype was a bit too much and thankfully it looks like this performance has cooled it down a bit.

[Terrrrry]

Contreras is a journeyman. We shouldn't twist it into ''he is an extremely tough man''. He is a pretty poor boxer and should not be troubling prospects who are supposed to be as good as Groves. Lemieux destroyed him in two rounds and Dirrell's inferior brother battered him far worse than Groves did. Sebastian Demers also took him to school and Rigiberto Alvarez knocked him out in a minute.

Maybe Groves wanted the rounds under his belt?

[Infinite]

Or maybe it was still his 10th fight...

[Infinite]

1. Andre Ward
2. Lucian Bute
3. Carl Froch II
4. James DeGale
5. George Groves

[crusader]

Contreras is a journeyman. We shouldn't twist it into ''he is an extremely tough man''. He is a pretty poor boxer and should not be troubling prospects who are supposed to be as good as Groves. Lemieux destroyed him in two rounds and Dirrell's inferior brother battered him far worse than Groves did. Sebastian Demers also took him to school and Rigiberto Alvarez knocked him out in a minute.

Maybe Groves wanted the rounds under his belt?

Even if he did, it doesn't mean he had to take the shots he did. Dirrell went rounds with Contreras and he dominated without taking clean shots or being momentarily buzzed. Also, Groves was throwing some pretty heavy shots from the get go and hitting Contreras over and over with power punches. To me, that is not how someone fights if they want rounds, that is what happens if their opponent doesn't feel their power. All in all it was an unimpressive performance, but I'm sure we will see Groves shine again.

I think this showing makes it clear that there is no need to already be talking about him dominating guys who are more experienced then himself and much better than Contreras. We also should not be labeling Groves as a future world champ or world class fighter yet, like a few have. Let's see how he fairs as he continues to step up before coming to such conclusions.

[Terrrrry]

Even if he did, it doesn't mean he had to take the shots he did. Dirrell went rounds with Contreras and he dominated without taking clean shots or being momentarily buzzed.

Groves will always take shots, due to how poor his defence currently is. This is my biggest worry for him in the future, as he doesn't seem to have the reflexes that allow Carl Froch to get away with holding his left hand so low. I hope Booth & Co really work on it.

Dirrell was in his 18th fight when he fought Contreras. Big difference.

Also, Groves was throwing some pretty heavy shots from the get go and hitting Contreras over and over with power punches. To me, that is not how someone fights if they want rounds, that is what happens if their opponent doesn't feel their power. All in all it was an unimpressive performance, but I'm sure we will see Groves shine again.

I wouldn't say Groves was throwing masses of power-punches to try and get Contreras out of there though, would you?

He was just putting bunches of good shots together, like he always does.

Anyway, as you say, due to the location, the stage and they new type of fighter, I don't think we should read into Saturday's fight too much.

[crusader]

I understand that Dirrell was in his 18th fight and Groves was only in his 10th, but a lot of people seem to think Groves is already at a point where he should be the favorite to beat (and according to some, dominate) far more experienced opponents like Paul Smith. Obviously, a young kid like Groves who only has ten fights will improve as he continues to gain experience and mature. That is why I think he needs to develop more gradually than some people suggest (i.e. fight Smith right now).

Plenty of great fighters put in performances like this early in their career or even lost a bout or two, so it should be nothing to get overly worried about. However, it should make people realize that their is no need to rush a 22 year old with a lot of potential.

[Terrrrry]

Half of me agrees that he shouldn't challenge Smith, the other half of me feels he'd be ok in there with Paul Smith.

Tony Quigley would probably be the better fight for Groves. Maybe even Patrick Mendy.

For me, Groves needs to step it up in some form in his next time out.

[Dioufy]

Groves looked decent, having only watched his fight last, but I agree with the poster who questioned his power. Contreras got hit a lot with quick, clean punches and didn't seemed fazed. Also, Groves "getting chinned", as one poster put it, is a bit of a push. He got hit on the side of the napper and he fell back momentarily. I guess that's pretty normal for fighters who always plow forward. And the stoppage was pants; Contrares was fine to carry on.

[Terrrrry]

Groves looked decent, having only watched his fight last, but I agree with the poster who questioned his power. Contreras got hit a lot with quick, clean punches and didn't seemed fazed.

Carl Froch hasn't scored a knockdown against either Dirrell or Kessler in his last two bouts. Does that mean Froch lacks power as well?

Groves will never be a KO specialist, but to judge his punching power whilst he's in with a Mexican fighter, who are generally tougher than most, is a bit harsh for me.

[Dioufy]

Groves looked decent, having only watched his fight last, but I agree with the poster who questioned his power. Contreras got hit a lot with quick, clean punches and didn't seemed fazed.

Carl Froch hasn't scored a knockdown against either Dirrell or Kessler in his last two bouts. Does that mean Froch lacks power as well?

I never said he lacks power; I questioned his power. Learn to differentiate, buddy.

[Terrrrry]

Fair enough

Still think people are reading into Groves' performance on Saturday night far too much, though.

But, as a few have said, some of the hype and expectation lowering on Groves might not be a bad thing.

On British soil, on not such a big event/card, I think we'll see Groves return to form next time out.