Froch v Groves Countdown: The Gloves Are Off

[mickey1975]

Tyson Fury?

Fury has never lost a press conference.

[DMA1987]

Froch annihilated Groves in this face off. Froch does seem in a better place this time.

I've not got to see it yet; I set it to record and I got a football programming instead. Will watch later in the week, getting half hour telly on a Sunday in our house is a pitched battle.

Tell me about it. I had to watch it on you tube.

[Trojans44]

To be honest I find the whole thing utterly embarrassing. Two world class athletes reducing themselves to cheap thugs talking themselves into a fight. If I was Froch I'd take the high road and not engage in at all.

[mickey1975]

Froch annihilated Groves in this face off. Froch does seem in a better place this time.

I've not got to see it yet; I set it to record and I got a football programming instead. Will watch later in the week, getting half hour telly on a Sunday in our house is a pitched battle.

Tell me about it. I had to watch it on you tube.

When BN does this everyone wants Fwank hanging from the nearest tree.

[dsimpson]

Froch fans seem to be quite happy with that but his new facade this time is fake and he's had to lie and make excuses in order to keep it up. He lied and contradicted himself all through the first part. He was not being tongue in cheek when he referred to himself as an international superstar last time, that's an excuse for his actions. He did the same on Ringside when he said he pushed Groves cos he spat on him, again an excuse for his actions. The big excuse in the build up so far is that he underestimated Groves. Froch fans are hoping that's the difference. Well he didn't underestimate Taylor and he still got outboxed, he didn't underestimate Dirrell and he still got outboxed, he didn't underestimate Ward and he still got outboxed, and he didn't underestimate Kessler the first time and he still got outboxed. It makes no difference.

[johnnygreaves]

Froch fans seem to be quite happy with that but his new facade this time is fake and he's had to lie and make excuses in order to keep it up. He lied and contradicted himself all through the first part. He was not being tongue in cheek when he referred to himself as an international superstar last time, that's an excuse for his actions. He did the same on Ringside when he said he pushed Groves cos he spat on him, again an excuse for his actions. The big excuse in the build up so far is that he underestimated Groves. Froch fans are hoping that's the difference. Well he didn't underestimate Taylor and he still got outboxed, he didn't underestimate Dirrell and he still got outboxed, he didn't underestimate Ward and he still got outboxed, and he didn't underestimate Kessler the first time and he still got outboxed. It makes no difference.

Good post spot on. For some reason I really can't stand the guy. I refer to him as Carl thrush. Because he is an irritating c&@t. If he had a cock big enough he'd bend it round the back and do himself

[Boxerbeetle]

To be honest I find the whole thing utterly embarrassing. Two world class athletes reducing themselves to cheap thugs talking themselves into a fight. If I was Froch I'd take the high road and not engage in at all.

It doesn't have to be that way though. allegedly has been showing the HBO face-off between Cotto & Martinez & they are genuinely fascinating. The major difference is that Cotto & Martinez are 2 very focussed, intelligent individuals who are able to put their points across eloquently & respectfully, while always maintaining an aura of menace.

Froch & Groves, on the other hand, are 2 fairly dull individuals who rarely say anything interesting or insightful so just end up throwing childish insults at each other.

Of course, it helps that HBO have very high production values, with tense music adding to the atmosphere & Max Kellerman asking the questions, whereas Sky have Johnny Nelson

[handsofstone]

Haha i like that one Johnny,i'll need to use that one,the Mrs is always moaning i haven't got a pet name for her ,problem solved

Back to TGAO,although im still edging Froch to win the actual fight,im not buying that he's turned a corner in reference to Groves getting into his head,George is still there alright,Carls hiding it slightly better but the all the signs are there to see,especially when he keeps trying to get George to eff up a sentence,Groves is talking a lot of sense as he always does IMO,all Carl seems to be doing is worrying about George's pronounciation etc and trying to make George answer questions that he's already answered rather than answer his own questions,Carls doing a lot of stuttering and fidgeting and contradicting himself

I think Carls quite wooden and the fact that he's trying to play it cool makes his weaknesses more noticiable,he should just come out and say "fair do's George your right,i cant stand you,i dont wanna sit with you i just cant wait to get in the ring with you and smash your lights in" but Carls trying to win a battle of wits with George whos very smart IMO

In saying all that i think George let his guard down near the end by just staring at Carl and letting him waffle out cliche after cliche to give himself(and a lot of posters it seems) the impression that Carls winning mind games when its not the case

But like before the first fight i think all this mind games is irrellevant as it wont affect Carl when the bell rings as thats where he's at his comfiest,Carls never been the most charismatic boxer so its no big thing to see him belittled outside the ring,insides a different matter though and as much as i rate Groves as a boxer,can he keep up in a marathon with Froch? i think no

[handsofstone]

I thought Johnny Nelson asked the right questions and didnt beat around the bush and i think Groves talks a lot of sense and everything he says has merit

[lillywhite14]

Neither are particularly smart or cute. Groves played the part well last time round but Froch seems to have sharpened up his chat a little and isn't biting as much. Groves come across as a bit dense in this episode.

I must say though, its all extremely tedious. Neither play the role too well. Manufactured.

[187]

This sort of thing is to capture the imagination of the non boxing fan and it works

[palooka]

I've just watched it, on demand. Groves is still very assertive and it's clear that someone has spoken to Carl, about how he came across prior to the first bout and about what Groves was attempting to do. It was pretty even Stevens, I think Groves was a bit tongue tied when Froch didn't act as he hoped and it was clear that Carl wasn't as cool and calm as he claimed. I imagine Froch will hold it together right until the bout, he knows he is likely to get punched about in the early rounds. I think Groves will sharp shoot and conserve energy and make a big flurry toward the end of a round.

[whiskey]

It was pretty even Stevens

[palooka]

It was pretty even Stevens

I think we all see what we want to see, do you disagree with the rest of my post?

[handsofstone]

The show was like the fight in many ways,Groves started off well before fading,letting Carl finish in front without actually doing much

Only kidding guys :P

[thepocketrocket]

Gomez in jerking off Carl Froch shocker.

In the end Palooka is right...Groves fans will see what they want to see, and the same with Froch boys.

I remember in the first fight build up, Froch fans said he wasn't wound up then as well. It is the same tired arguments being done to death. In the end the fight will come down to whether Froch can avoid the right hand, and whether George can keep it going for a full 12 if he has to.

All the rest is totally irrelevant

[The_Don1]

Froch seemed well coached, well rehearsed and passive aggressive throughout, he wasn't calm in the slightest the wipe of the sweaty hand at the end told that. He came across as a bullying boss and still very unlikeable.

Groves didn't do particularly well either, making statements but not qualifying them, he's run out of things to say that don't make him look like he's whinging on again.

Conclusion, we've heard enough, bring on the fight.

[palooka]

I wonder if both men were given notice of what questions were likely to be asked and I wonder how long they were sat there and how much was edited out of the programme.

[jeej]

Froch came out of that looking much better than Groves. As Froch pointed out, Groves was glassy eyed and looked tense as hell. Froch stayed calm and was able to articulate himself in a measured fashion. Groves came across as an irritated child. The hand pulling bit was the icing on the cake and Groves managed to come out of that looking a fool as well.

[whiskey]

I don't think any of it matters come fight night.

Groves gave Froch a hell of a fight and thinks he's gonna win, regardless whether loses in the verbals.

I just think he was deliberately belligerent on the show. Groves should have really gone on the wind-up but he just did.. Nothing.

[mickey1975]

I don't think any of it matters come fight night.

Groves gave Froch a hell of a fight and thinks he's gonna win, regardless whether loses in the verbals.

I just think he was deliberately belligerent on the show. Groves should have really gone on the wind-up but he just did.. Nothing.

You're right. It will come down to 12 rounds of boxing(or less). May the best man win.

[Final round]

I don't think any of it matters come fight night.

Groves gave Froch a hell of a fight and thinks he's gonna win, regardless whether loses in the verbals.

I deleted that bit as I didn't see the show but concur with the rest.

Anyway I for one am getting pretty hyped for next Saturday! Had a dream I missed it the other night woke up concerned. btw Where will you be seated m8? Bet you have a decent seat

[danamba7]

So according to some people whenever Groves wins these small battles, it's natural but if Froch comes out on top, he's acting and it's all rehearsed! Have a word with yourselves. There's bound to be slight nerves being on TV and in the presence of someone you don't like but overall Froch was calm and put Groves on the back foot on more the one occasion, didn't at all seem like an act, he just wasn't as wound up as he has been.

[chiggsy]

''I don't think any of it matters come fight night''.

Does anyone really think that either trainer is going to tell either man to change tactics based on what happens in a studio?

Don't fall for it folks it's just panto for the casuals the real fun only starts next saturday.

[rossij8]

[/quote] Watch how he wipes his hand on his trousers before shaking George's hand.. Your hands are the first place to get sweaty when your nervous.[/quote]

Being on TV watched by thousands, knowing your every expression or movement is being watched closely would make most nervous