I'm a big George Groves fan but....

[TopGun]

....on Saturday he looked a shadow of his former self. His jab was not the usual lightening quick and his right hand that looks terrifying to his opponents usually, looked lacking in power. Maybe I'm not giving Rebrasse enough credit but George engaged far too many times and should have fought him the same way he took on Glen Johnson which was punch perfect IMO.

Sad to say but I think we have seen the best of George. He has not been the same since his first fight with Froch.

Perhaps George is only interested in the money now? If boxing is what he is still motivated by then a word of advice for George, please prove me wrong so stop bank rolling the band to try and be like Hatton, put the headphones away, stop this massive PR stunt, your boxing is suffering.

[Josh1111]

I think he can still win a world title but i do agree that he didnt seem himself. I think he will improve now he's got that first fight (after a heavy KO defeat) out of the way.
I do question how much power he actually has though as he didnt seem to shake Rebrasse, not once that i can remember.
I think George's jab was good on Saturday though

[lefty]

I'm not sure if it was Paddy's influence but his style looked different. He looked to be fighting a lot more on the inside whereas he's a lot better boxing at range I think using his hand and foot speed unless those two things have diminshed since the Froch fights.

[TopGun]

I think he was better under Booth. Shame he won't ever go back there, or so he has said.

[danconnollyeire]

He used to fight more like Haye and pick his punches more. Hopefully he takes more risks in his next fight cos he can be exciting

[MarkMcBurney]

Agree re: Booth and IMO he'd have beaten Froch back in November with Booth in his corner to execute the plan after that first round.

[TheCobra]

He's got a lot more sloppy and takes a lot of risks. There were moments on Saturday where he got tired and got tagged and I thought if he was in with a bigger puncher then we'd be at the Froch fights all over again.

He seems to really tire in the mid-rounds and starts to lose his form a bit, not sure if it's a training issue or just that he hasn't quite got the engine for 12 rounds at full concentration. There were definite moments where he had that loss of form and did some wide swings that were massively risky late on in a fight.

Having said all that, it's his first fight back since a huge KO loss, so a win is a win and there weren't too many dramas, so onwards and upwards I suppose. Still not convinced by Paddy as a trainer though, he says the right things in the corner but the overall tactics and fight plans seem to be a little amiss.

[arlovski]

....on Saturday he looked a shadow of his former self. His jab was not the usual lightening quick and his right hand that looks terrifying to his opponents usually, looked lacking in power. Maybe I'm not giving Rebrasse enough credit but George engaged far too many times and should have fought him the same way he took on Glen Johnson which was punch perfect IMO.

Sad to say but I think we have seen the best of George. He has not been the same since his first fight with Froch.

Perhaps George is only interested in the money now? If boxing is what he is still motivated by then a word of advice for George, please prove me wrong so stop bank rolling the band to try and be like Hatton, put the headphones away, stop this massive PR stunt, your boxing is suffering.

Hmmm, not sure on that. Hasn't been the same since the first Froch fight?? He was on even terms and boxing well in the 2nd fight until he got banjoed i thought.

I think he could have done things a bit differently on Saturday; he was loading up way too much, obviously keen for the stoppage and to make a big statement, but Rebrasse is a big strong, durable guy, with the sort of hands high defence that it's hard to exploit, and he clearly didn't come just to lie down.

Groves still won nearly every round, threw loads of shots, didn't gas in later rounds like many feared after his fast start, and looked to be trying new things (going to the body with both hands inside, hooking off the jab more).
I think it was an ideal comeback fight, 12 hard rounds against a solid opponent.

Don't get the criticism of Fitzpatrick either, from the snippets i heard he was saying all the right things - don't load up on every shot, vary the tempo on the inside etc, he seemed calm, collected and giving clear instructions. Ok Groves didn't follow them to the letter, again i think he was too concerned with giving a big performance (which would probably be a criticism i'd level at him, why talk so much and give it the big un', thus adding so much more pressure to deliver)

But you've got to admire his confidence; he clearly wants big fights, willing to fight anyone (even someone who's levelled him twice), and keen to do it as quickly as possible, without pointless fights to build his ego/bank balance.

Ok he's had a couple of major setbacks, but so what?
This is what frustrates me about the sport these days, fighters are written off these days so soon, did Duran jack it in after being iced by Hearns? Hearns after Leonard? Jackson after McCallum? Benn after Watson?

Styles make fights, and i reckon Groves will be in some epic contests in the next few years

[CheckHook]

I think he'll always have a bit of trouble in the mid- late rounds at the top level. I don't think he has the best engine and I really don't think he holds a shot very well. I thought there were a few times late in the fight where his legs just looked a bit unsteady, which considering how easy the fight was on the cards is a little bit worrying.... He seems like he has a ton of support though so shouldn't really have much bother getting opportunities, so I'd expect him to pick up a world title at some point in the next few years. I think he'd have a decent shot of beating Dirrell if that fight gets made, but it wouldn't be an easy nights work for him.

[mullenman]

also a big groves fan but that was his worst performance since the anderson fight

sort things out with Booth and he could become world champ

[lefty]

....on Saturday he looked a shadow of his former self. His jab was not the usual lightening quick and his right hand that looks terrifying to his opponents usually, looked lacking in power. Maybe I'm not giving Rebrasse enough credit but George engaged far too many times and should have fought him the same way he took on Glen Johnson which was punch perfect IMO.

Sad to say but I think we have seen the best of George. He has not been the same since his first fight with Froch.

Perhaps George is only interested in the money now? If boxing is what he is still motivated by then a word of advice for George, please prove me wrong so stop bank rolling the band to try and be like Hatton, put the headphones away, stop this massive PR stunt, your boxing is suffering.

Hmmm, not sure on that. Hasn't been the same since the first Froch fight?? He was on even terms and boxing well in the 2nd fight until he got banjoed i thought.

I think he could have done things a bit differently on Saturday; he was loading up way too much, obviously keen for the stoppage and to make a big statement, but Rebrasse is a big strong, durable guy, with the sort of hands high defence that it's hard to exploit, and he clearly didn't come just to lie down.

Groves still won nearly every round, threw loads of shots, didn't gas in later rounds like many feared after his fast start, and looked to be trying new things (going to the body with both hands inside, hooking off the jab more).
I think it was an ideal comeback fight, 12 hard rounds against a solid opponent.

Don't get the criticism of Fitzpatrick either, from the snippets i heard he was saying all the right things - don't load up on every shot, vary the tempo on the inside etc, he seemed calm, collected and giving clear instructions. Ok Groves didn't follow them to the letter, again i think he was too concerned with giving a big performance (which would probably be a criticism i'd level at him, why talk so much and give it the big un', thus adding so much more pressure to deliver)

But you've got to admire his confidence; he clearly wants big fights, willing to fight anyone (even someone who's levelled him twice), and keen to do it as quickly as possible, without pointless fights to build his ego/bank balance.

Ok he's had a couple of major setbacks, but so what?
This is what frustrates me about the sport these days, fighters are written off these days so soon, did Duran jack it in after being iced by Hearns? Hearns after Leonard? Jackson after McCallum? Benn after Watson?

Styles make fights, and i reckon Groves will be in some epic contests in the next few years

For me though, I think that was the issue, he was fighting too much on the inside against Rebrasse and I dont think that suits him. Also he threw a lot of punches but his accuracy was pretty poor and he missed with quite a high percentage. I think he would of been better suited throwing less and making them count more and also conserving his energy at the same time.

[arlovski]

I agree mate, don't think he fought the correct fight, he was trying to chuck the kitchen sink at him going for the stoppage, think he should have done as you say, throwing less but making them count. Trying to draw a lead from Rebrasse's tight guard then nail him with a hard counter

[forcefraser]

He did ok. Coming back from a major loss and facing a durable European level fighter. Degale did something similar after his loss to Groves and he struggled big time in that fight.

Since that fight degale looks to have upped his game. Groves can do the same.

It suprised me how he seemed to lack power. After the first froch some people (o here) were making out he has Tommy hearns like power. It didn`t look that way last night. He was in control though and didn`t look in any serious trouble. maybe Rebrasse was better than some give him credit for.

[danamba7]

Was thinking the same thing. He looked noticeably slower and seemed to lack that pop in his punches we've seen from him previously. Yes, I understand Rebrasse seemed tough but to not shake him once in 12 rounds was strange. It wasn't as if Groves' punches looked really hurtful and Rebrasse's chin was out of this world, it was that the punches just didn't look dangerous. It was quite frustrating at times.

[black panther]

I'm not sure if it was Paddy's influence but his style looked different. He looked to be fighting a lot more on the inside whereas he's a lot better boxing at range I think using his hand and foot speed unless those two things have diminshed since the Froch fights.

This. He's much better at drawing people on to his punches, lots of feints and lateral movement with actual fewer punches thrown.

In this fight he was trundling forward, throwing lots of punches with an advanced telegram to Rebrasse informing him of their arrival.

Hopefully he reverts to his old style.

[lefty]

I'm not sure if it was Paddy's influence but his style looked different. He looked to be fighting a lot more on the inside whereas he's a lot better boxing at range I think using his hand and foot speed unless those two things have diminshed since the Froch fights.

This. He's much better at drawing people on to his punches, lots of feints and lateral movement with actual fewer punches thrown.

In this fight he was trundling forward, throwing lots of punches with an advanced telegram to Rebrasse informing him of their arrival.

Hopefully he reverts to his old style.

Yeah, I wasnt sure if it was a conscious decision to fight like that against Rebrasse or the Froch fights have taken something out of him. Hopefully it's the former though.

[danamba7]

I'm not sure if it was Paddy's influence but his style looked different. He looked to be fighting a lot more on the inside whereas he's a lot better boxing at range I think using his hand and foot speed unless those two things have diminshed since the Froch fights.

This. He's much better at drawing people on to his punches, lots of feints and lateral movement with actual fewer punches thrown.

In this fight he was trundling forward, throwing lots of punches with an advanced telegram to Rebrasse informing him of their arrival.

Hopefully he reverts to his old style.

True, at times he was fighting like Lee Purdy. Completely different to his usual style which, I agree, he needs to revert to.

[MightyWarrior]

You don't lose the big punch ( unless it's bad hands or moving up weight ) Groves will still be flattening a lot of fighters, but safe to say the Frenchman looked absolutely rock hard.
Agree, don't think George is as good as he was under Booth, and what I saw as a big problem was how naive he can still be.
Wasting energy, still going a 100 miles an hour, loading up on punches, when he was clearly knackered & well ahead on points. Against a bigger puncher he might have ended up in trouble late on. Paddy needs to drill into him how to see out the rounds, when he is heading for a points win and clearly not going to knock the other guy out.

[black panther]

You don't lose the big punch ( unless it's bad hands or moving up weight ) Groves will still be flattening a lot of fighters, but safe to say the Frenchman looked absolutely rock hard.
Agree, don't think George is as good as he was under Booth, and what I saw as a big problem was how naive he can still be.
Wasting energy, still going a 100 miles an hour, loading up on punches, when he was clearly knackered & well ahead on points. Against a bigger puncher he might have ended up in trouble late on. Paddy needs to drill into him how to see out the rounds, when he is heading for a points win and clearly not going to knock the other guy out.

Don't necessarily think it's Booth he's missing. I thought he was tremendous in the first Froch fight - despite Booth's absence.

Maybe he thought he could walk through this guy, which is why he fought the way he did. To be honest, looking at the guy's record, I thought he would have done too.

[arlovski]

You don't lose the big punch ( unless it's bad hands or moving up weight ) Groves will still be flattening a lot of fighters, but safe to say the Frenchman looked absolutely rock hard.
Agree, don't think George is as good as he was under Booth, and what I saw as a big problem was how naive he can still be.
Wasting energy, still going a 100 miles an hour, loading up on punches, when he was clearly knackered & well ahead on points. Against a bigger puncher he might have ended up in trouble late on. Paddy needs to drill into him how to see out the rounds, when he is heading for a points win and clearly not going to knock the other guy out.

Don't necessarily think it's Booth he's missing. I thought he was tremendous in the first Froch fight - despite Booth's absence.

Maybe he thought he could walk through this guy, which is why he fought the way he did. To be honest, looking at the guy's record, I thought he would have done too.

agreed. Still think he could have fought smarter, just looked like he was hell bent on getting the stoppage, even after it became clear that the Frenchman was going nowhere

[TheCobra]

As the commentator's said though, just because someone is a light puncher doesn't mean he isn't going to have a good chin himself and just be able to be marched through. This is probably the main mistake George made.

[Loftgroov]

Confidence fighter.

The win will do him good. We'll see better next time out.

[CiganoBoxer]

i used to think he would still go on and win a world title ..but now ? can't help but thinking he's a waiting to happen

[MightyWarrior]

Don't necessarily think it's Booth he's missing. I thought he was tremendous in the first Froch fight - despite Booth's absence.

Maybe he thought he could walk through this guy, which is why he fought the way he did. To be honest, looking at the guy's record, I thought he would have done too.

Yes of course that's true, he was brilliant in the first Froch fight up until the last couple of rounds, not so much in the second though.... And yes he clearly thought he could blast the French man out

[Maxsplit]

As the days pass and the dust settles I think his stock will have dropped after that fight vs Rebrasse.

It looked like he could fight the Frenchman for 100 rounds and not really physically trouble him.

A little of his aura has vanished now IMO.

Opponents certainly won't be scared of Groves anymore off the bsck of his performances and results in 2014