Do you think that Groves .....

[lefty]

could be permanently psychologically damaged by this loss and not be the same fighter? My reasoning is this ...... In the build up to this rematch, Groves has believed that he definietly was robbed in the first fight and that he was and is clearly the superior man to Froch in the ring. The mental aspect of his game has been a great strength of his so not only did he get completely stretched in the rematch in a way that he cant argue over, he did in front of 80k people in his home city in the national stadium! I for one think we might not see the same fighter again because of that. Thoughts?

[keirw]

He seems mentally strong to me. Saturday was a massive reality check for him, but he should learn from it and maybe in years to come we will be saying that the Froch KO was the best thing to happen to him. A cock-sure young man finding out that he isn't invincible can cause him to mature.

[lefty]

He seems mentally strong to me. Saturday was a massive reality check for him, but he should learn from it and maybe in years to come we will be saying that the Froch KO was the best thing to happen to him. A cock-sure young man finding out that he isn't invincible can cause him to mature.

That's a good point. Hopefully he grows from it rather than goes downhill.

[keirw]

He seems mentally strong to me. Saturday was a massive reality check for him, but he should learn from it and maybe in years to come we will be saying that the Froch KO was the best thing to happen to him. A cock-sure young man finding out that he isn't invincible can cause him to mature.

That's a good point. Hopefully he grows from it rather than goes downhill.

I certainly hope so, it would be a massive waste of talent if he doesn't go on to have a successful career, though I think it will be a while before we see him in a meaningful fight again.

[Sklar]

If you've a good head on your shoulders you realise that getting chinned is no big deal, anybody can get knocked out. He didn't swallow and quit on his stool or get beaten up. He just got caught. Tighten up your defence and crack on.

[thepocketrocket]

Total conjecture. Anyone who says either way is using the same visionary powers that they use when stating whether Groves would have made it through round 9.

You would hope not as he is a real talent. Unless he is broken, he beats AA

[Counter-puncher]

cyborgs like Froch will always be kryptonite to Groves because of his own, relative, weaknesses in certain areas.

my guess is psychologically he won't have too many problems until the next time from the fight he runs into someone who takes 3000 right hands without wilting.

i don't believe he would go into a fight with (say) Dirrell (extreme example) or Degale, with the kind of hangups he'd have going in against Froch

people have mentioned Bika w/r/t Groves. stylewise he's exactly the kind of fighter who *may* result in Groves' positive mentality being challenged

[lefty]

cyborgs like Froch will always be kryptonite to Groves because of his own, relative, weaknesses in certain areas.

my guess is psychologically he won't have too many problems until the next time from the fight he runs into someone who takes 3000 right hands without wilting.

i don't believe he would go into a fight with (say) Dirrell (extreme example) or Degale, with the kind of hangups he'd have going in against Froch

people have mentioned Bika w/r/t Groves. stylewise he's exactly the kind of fighter who *may* result in Groves' positive mentality being challenged

Bika would be a nightmare opponent. He's pretty much a carbon copy of froch in terms of attributes.

[Counter-puncher]

cyborgs like Froch will always be kryptonite to Groves because of his own, relative, weaknesses in certain areas.

my guess is psychologically he won't have too many problems until the next time from the fight he runs into someone who takes 3000 right hands without wilting.

i don't believe he would go into a fight with (say) Dirrell (extreme example) or Degale, with the kind of hangups he'd have going in against Froch

people have mentioned Bika w/r/t Groves. stylewise he's exactly the kind of fighter who *may* result in Groves' positive mentality being challenged

Bika would be a nightmare opponent. He's pretty much a carbon copy of froch in terms of attributes.

aye, tho he's not quite as- can't believe I am about to say this- polished, as Froch. ha.

if Groves even took the Bika fight i think it'd be a reasonable answer to your original question.

[lefty]

cyborgs like Froch will always be kryptonite to Groves because of his own, relative, weaknesses in certain areas.

my guess is psychologically he won't have too many problems until the next time from the fight he runs into someone who takes 3000 right hands without wilting.

i don't believe he would go into a fight with (say) Dirrell (extreme example) or Degale, with the kind of hangups he'd have going in against Froch

people have mentioned Bika w/r/t Groves. stylewise he's exactly the kind of fighter who *may* result in Groves' positive mentality being challenged

Bika would be a nightmare opponent. He's pretty much a carbon copy of froch in terms of attributes.

aye, tho he's not quite as- can't believe I am about to say this- polished, as Froch. ha.

if Groves even took the Bika fight i think it'd be a reasonable answer to your original question.

Yeah he's a poor man's Froch i'd say. He has that toughness and chin and pure wildness though to offset Groves smooth boxing. I hope they dont aim for him next. If he goes straight into another big fight next then Abraham would be the best option I think.

[garethhop]

I'm no expert. But every time Froch cornered him and started throwing those big combos (which did for Bute) groves seemed to panic. He would only ever get one shot off in return.

From round three on this was happening and although groves' jab was more accurate, it was clear that froch's gameplan was working whilst groves' wasn't.

AA was poor last time out. But the fighter that showed up against Stieglitz would give GG a hell of a tough night in my view.

He's two million quid richer, but I feel that chunky will get to a world title before him.

[keithmoonhangover]

could be permanently psychologically damaged by this loss and not be the same fighter? My reasoning is this ...... In the build up to this rematch, Groves has believed that he definietly was robbed in the first fight and that he was and is clearly the superior man to Froch in the ring. The mental aspect of his game has been a great strength of his so not only did he get completely stretched in the rematch in a way that he cant argue over, he did in front of 80k people in his home city in the national stadium! I for one think we might not see the same fighter again because of that. Thoughts?

I think he will be mate. I also think his punch resistance will be effected.

[Mimmy]

could be permanently psychologically damaged by this loss and not be the same fighter? My reasoning is this ...... In the build up to this rematch, Groves has believed that he definietly was robbed in the first fight and that he was and is clearly the superior man to Froch in the ring. The mental aspect of his game has been a great strength of his so not only did he get completely stretched in the rematch in a way that he cant argue over, he did in front of 80k people in his home city in the national stadium! I for one think we might not see the same fighter again because of that. Thoughts?

Groves will not be the same fighter anymore. He was a decent fighter but nothing special. He was found out at the top level by a brilliant super middleweight, who is our best fighter since Joe Calzaghe. Groves will fight on and maybe win a world title, there are so many on offer and a load of chit to choose from out there. Rankings can be manipulated and Groves more than likely will win a title. However, when he fights a decent opponent he will once again be found out, put on his arse.

Many boxers become gunshy after a defeat such as Groves, lets face it that punch was out of the best rule book you could find anywhere. Its like having a car crash, you become a little scared when you are on the road the crash happened. Groves is young enough to come back but I think he's had his best days. Won't be long before another decent puncher lays him out again.

[hurlock]

He's been chinned twice in a row & to be fair he wasn't really out of his depth taking loads of punishment, which makes me think what can he work on to improve?! You can't get tougher! I think the fact he got back to his feet, will reassure himself that he wasn't out,out!
I think he'll get back there but needs to gain more 12rd expieriance & not thrown in again

[jackukmma]

could be permanently psychologically damaged by this loss and not be the same fighter? My reasoning is this ...... In the build up to this rematch, Groves has believed that he definietly was robbed in the first fight and that he was and is clearly the superior man to Froch in the ring. The mental aspect of his game has been a great strength of his so not only did he get completely stretched in the rematch in a way that he cant argue over, he did in front of 80k people in his home city in the national stadium! I for one think we might not see the same fighter again because of that. Thoughts?

Yes but he's arrogant enough to believe he didn't make a mistake and was just caught. His interview with sky today was ridicolous and told the story he completely bought into his own hype. He didn't think Froch could improve from the last fight and believed Zombie Froch was the real Froch. I don't think he ever gets to the top level again

[hurlock]

Ignorance is bliss!! I wonder if he starts pumping trainers like Amir did after defeat

[keithmoonhangover]

Ignorance is bliss!! I wonder if he starts pumping trainers like Amir did after defeat

Yep. He only lost concentration for one second and it was goodnight. According to George, he won every other second of both fights.

[TheCobra]

The defensive lapses that led to both defeats need to be worked on. It's ok having a gameplan of dancing around and popping in and out if you can keep it up, but he seems to tire in the mid-rounds and just get lazy.

So far I'm not truly seeing that Groves is a proper 12 rounds world title fighter, so probably his best chance would have been same tactics as the first fight but hoping he could see off Froch.

He did 12 with DeGale I know, but that was a bit of a pathetic fight to be honest with neither wanting to fully commit and DeGale isn't a noted puncher. So probably bit of a combo of stamina and defensive shape/concentration issues need to be worked on for Groves.

He's clearly not got an amazing chin so defence/concentration becomes key. But then comes the dilemma, some of Groves' best moments have relied on being an attacking fighter and taking a few risks/throwing bombs etc. He could end up caught between styles, which seems to be what happened against Froch on Saturday.

[keithmoonhangover]

The defensive lapses that led to both defeats need to be worked on. It's ok having a gameplan of dancing around and popping in and out if you can keep it up, but he seems to tire in the mid-rounds and just get lazy.

So far I'm not truly seeing that Groves is a proper 12 rounds world title fighter, so probably his best chance would have been same tactics as the first fight but hoping he could see off Froch.

He did 12 with DeGale I know, but that was a bit of a pathetic fight to be honest with neither wanting to fully commit and DeGale isn't a noted puncher. So probably bit of a combo of stamina and defensive shape/concentration issues need to be worked on for Groves.

He's clearly not got an amazing chin so defence/concentration becomes key. But then comes the dilemma, some of Groves' best moments have relied on being an attacking fighter and taking a few risks/throwing bombs etc. He could end up caught between styles, which seems to be what happened against Froch on Saturday.

Arthur Abraham is his best chance of winning a title fight. Arthur is predictable and can easily be outboxed. Dunno if George can do that though.

[lefty]

The defensive lapses that led to both defeats need to be worked on. It's ok having a gameplan of dancing around and popping in and out if you can keep it up, but he seems to tire in the mid-rounds and just get lazy.

So far I'm not truly seeing that Groves is a proper 12 rounds world title fighter, so probably his best chance would have been same tactics as the first fight but hoping he could see off Froch.

He did 12 with DeGale I know, but that was a bit of a pathetic fight to be honest with neither wanting to fully commit and DeGale isn't a noted puncher. So probably bit of a combo of stamina and defensive shape/concentration issues need to be worked on for Groves.

He's clearly not got an amazing chin so defence/concentration becomes key. But then comes the dilemma, some of Groves' best moments have relied on being an attacking fighter and taking a few risks/throwing bombs etc. He could end up caught between styles, which seems to be what happened against Froch on Saturday.

Im wondering whether Degale would beat him in a rematch aswell.

[hurlock]

Ignorance is bliss!! I wonder if he starts pumping trainers like Amir did after defeat

Yep. He only lost concentration for one second and it was goodnight. According to George, he won every other second of both fights.

I had froch up 2-3 rds at that stage, did you??

Groves fades badly & obviously the early stiff punches have a baring on groves.
He really don't have the minerals to long it out with froch

[lefty]

Froch is the kind of fighter that can be outboxed and beaten up in the early stages of fights but if you're good enough to do that you better have the punch resistance or evasiveness and stamina to keep that shit up for 12 rounds or you're gonna get drowned.

[keithmoonhangover]

Ignorance is bliss!! I wonder if he starts pumping trainers like Amir did after defeat

Yep. He only lost concentration for one second and it was goodnight. According to George, he won every other second of both fights.

I had froch up 2-3 rds at that stage, did you??

Groves fades badly & obviously the early stiff punches have a baring on groves.
He really don't have the minerals to long it out with froch

I had it the same mate, although some of the rounds were close. I honestly think Groves is delusional.

[Controversial]

People are writing Groves off too quick, one thing he seems to have is a strong mind and confidence. Before fighting Froch he only had 19 fights and gave a very good account of himself in both fights against one of the best SMW on the planet. That right hand would've finished many fighters.

[davie]

He seems mentally strong to me. Saturday was a massive reality check for him, but he should learn from it and maybe in years to come we will be saying that the Froch KO was the best thing to happen to him. A cock-sure young man finding out that he isn't invincible can cause him to mature.

could be permanently psychologically damaged by this loss and not be the same fighter? My reasoning is this ...... In the build up to this rematch, Groves has believed that he definietly was robbed in the first fight and that he was and is clearly the superior man to Froch in the ring. The mental aspect of his game has been a great strength of his so not only did he get completely stretched in the rematch in a way that he cant argue over, he did in front of 80k people in his home city in the national stadium! I for one think we might not see the same fighter again because of that. Thoughts?

It could conceivably go either way

we'll know next time he steps in the ring against a good fighter

in fact we might get an indication of how he is mentally when we see who Sauerland decides to match him up with next

if they were to try to "rebuild" him it might indicate they think he's damaged

if on the other hand, he goes straight back into the deep end against Abraham, you'd be confident they believe he is tough enough to take on another big challenge and the loss has potentially strengthened and matured him