Groves and Froch: is it just me...

[dan28uk]

I genuinely believe Froch was pleased for groves but the better groves does the more it enhances frocks legacy.

[Jackson328]

I've always thought it was a case of Froch feeling that Groves took liberties with him in the build up to their first bout. Carl felt that he should have been shown more respect as the old lion, king of the hill and all that, but Groves was this cocky young London boy full of himself telling everyone how he was going to dethrone him and Froch the straight laced Nottingham lad clearly hated that. I think Groves was a bit sharper with the chat at the time too, he seemed able to wind Froch up easily, maybe because Froch was such a big favourite when the first match was made all the pressure was on him? Groves definitely got inside Carls head and when he did what he predicted and hit him with a straight right in the very first round, dropping him proper too, it was all a bit much for the Cobra.

I agree with Leprechaun in that Groves had much better technical ability and the fact is only the toughness and granite chin of Froch saved him from a nailed on stoppage loss in that first match but hey thats the fight game, technique is not even the half of it. Groves would have been shocked by how Froch survived that first round knockdown and all the subsequent heavy head shots and when he himself started to unravel from sheer fatigue in the championship rounds Froch just knew it was a matter of time before the ref was waving it off. Froch visibly recoiled when he got booed sat on the ring apron, he looked crest-fallen in fact, and that inspired him to give Groves the rematch and settle it once and for all.

The rematch was pure redemption for The Cobra, exactly how he would have dreamt it to unfold. That should have been that really but Carl continued to goad Groves at every opportunity afterwards and it wasn't very nice to see, his fists had done enough talking and the score was well and truly settled as not many were all that interested in seeing a trilogy. Glad to see they appear to have buried the hatchet, hope they can now respect each other a bit more.

Apologies for the long-winded post but their rivalry and fights enthralled me and I needed the release, I really do need to get out more

[CaptainSpacerod]

I've always thought it was a case of Froch feeling that Groves took liberties with him in the build up to their first bout. Carl felt that he should have been shown more respect as the old lion, king of the hill and all that, but Groves was this cocky young London boy full of himself telling everyone how he was going to dethrone him and Froch the straight laced Nottingham lad clearly hated that. I think Groves was a bit sharper with the chat at the time too, he seemed able to wind Froch up easily, maybe because Froch was such a big favourite when the first match was made all the pressure was on him? Groves definitely got inside Carls head and when he did what he predicted and hit him with a straight right in the very first round, dropping him proper too, it was all a bit much for the Cobra.

I agree with Leprechaun in that Groves had much better technical ability and the fact is only the toughness and granite chin of Froch saved him from a nailed on stoppage loss in that first match but hey thats the fight game, technique is not even the half of it. Groves would have been shocked by how Froch survived that first round knockdown and all the subsequent heavy head shots and when he himself started to unravel from sheer fatigue in the championship rounds Froch just knew it was a matter of time before the ref was waving it off. Froch visibly recoiled when he got booed sat on the ring apron, he looked crest-fallen in fact, and that inspired him to give Groves the rematch and settle it once and for all.

The rematch was pure redemption for The Cobra, exactly how he would have dreamt it to unfold. That should have been that really but Carl continued to goad Groves at every opportunity afterwards and it wasn't very nice to see, his fists had done enough talking and the score was well and truly settled as not many were all that interested in seeing a trilogy. Glad to see they appear to have buried the hatchet, hope they can now respect each other a bit more.

Apologies for the long-winded post but their rivalry and fights enthralled me and I needed the release, I really do need to get out more

Summed it up perfectly

[Syntax Error]

I'm not so sure that Froch is necessarily pleased for Groves, more like it's fitting to see a man he beat twice now winning a 'world title' enhances Froch's legacy even more.

[Stuarty]

I've always thought it was a case of Froch feeling that Groves took liberties with him in the build up to their first bout. Carl felt that he should have been shown more respect as the old lion, king of the hill and all that, but Groves was this cocky young London boy full of himself telling everyone how he was going to dethrone him and Froch the straight laced Nottingham lad clearly hated that. I think Groves was a bit sharper with the chat at the time too, he seemed able to wind Froch up easily, maybe because Froch was such a big favourite when the first match was made all the pressure was on him? Groves definitely got inside Carls head and when he did what he predicted and hit him with a straight right in the very first round, dropping him proper too, it was all a bit much for the Cobra.

I agree with Leprechaun in that Groves had much better technical ability and the fact is only the toughness and granite chin of Froch saved him from a nailed on stoppage loss in that first match but hey thats the fight game, technique is not even the half of it. Groves would have been shocked by how Froch survived that first round knockdown and all the subsequent heavy head shots and when he himself started to unravel from sheer fatigue in the championship rounds Froch just knew it was a matter of time before the ref was waving it off. Froch visibly recoiled when he got booed sat on the ring apron, he looked crest-fallen in fact, and that inspired him to give Groves the rematch and settle it once and for all.

The rematch was pure redemption for The Cobra, exactly how he would have dreamt it to unfold. That should have been that really but Carl continued to goad Groves at every opportunity afterwards and it wasn't very nice to see, his fists had done enough talking and the score was well and truly settled as not many were all that interested in seeing a trilogy. Glad to see they appear to have buried the hatchet, hope they can now respect each other a bit more.

Apologies for the long-winded post but their rivalry and fights enthralled me and I needed the release, I really do need to get out more

Summed it up perfectly

Nice point. It's a bit of a cliché now but talent only takes you so far. Ricky Burns & Frankie Gavin is a decent and recent paradox. Burns is a three weight world champion and has worked his nuts off to achieve what he has. Gavin was and is more 'talented' than Burns ever was! Gavin has still had a respectable career but when you compare the two you can't help think what might have been for Gavin had he been properly committed....

[Jackson328]

I've always thought it was a case of Froch feeling that Groves took liberties with him in the build up to their first bout. Carl felt that he should have been shown more respect as the old lion, king of the hill and all that, but Groves was this cocky young London boy full of himself telling everyone how he was going to dethrone him and Froch the straight laced Nottingham lad clearly hated that. I think Groves was a bit sharper with the chat at the time too, he seemed able to wind Froch up easily, maybe because Froch was such a big favourite when the first match was made all the pressure was on him? Groves definitely got inside Carls head and when he did what he predicted and hit him with a straight right in the very first round, dropping him proper too, it was all a bit much for the Cobra.

I agree with Leprechaun in that Groves had much better technical ability and the fact is only the toughness and granite chin of Froch saved him from a nailed on stoppage loss in that first match but hey thats the fight game, technique is not even the half of it. Groves would have been shocked by how Froch survived that first round knockdown and all the subsequent heavy head shots and when he himself started to unravel from sheer fatigue in the championship rounds Froch just knew it was a matter of time before the ref was waving it off. Froch visibly recoiled when he got booed sat on the ring apron, he looked crest-fallen in fact, and that inspired him to give Groves the rematch and settle it once and for all.

The rematch was pure redemption for The Cobra, exactly how he would have dreamt it to unfold. That should have been that really but Carl continued to goad Groves at every opportunity afterwards and it wasn't very nice to see, his fists had done enough talking and the score was well and truly settled as not many were all that interested in seeing a trilogy. Glad to see they appear to have buried the hatchet, hope they can now respect each other a bit more.

Apologies for the long-winded post but their rivalry and fights enthralled me and I needed the release, I really do need to get out more

Summed it up perfectly

Nice point. It's a bit of a cliché now but talent only takes you so far. Ricky Burns & Frankie Gavin is a decent and recent paradox. Burns is a three weight world champion and has worked his nuts off to achieve what he has. Gavin was and is more 'talented' than Burns ever was! Gavin has still had a respectable career but when you compare the two you can't help think what might have been for Gavin had he been properly committed....

I'm so frustrated about Gavin (as a fan) that I find it hard to talk or even post about him, a criminal waste of talent. It's not like he couldn't make the turnover from amateur like some don't, he still had all the tools as a pro but it seems he just didn't have the motivation? Its common in sports like tennis where burn-out is rife but to bomb like that as a pro boxer when there's life changing money to be made is incredible.

Then again it is the hardest sport of them all and maybe there are other reasons for Frankie's failings as a pro, he is only human like us

[Stuarty]

Summed it up perfectly

Nice point. It's a bit of a cliché now but talent only takes you so far. Ricky Burns & Frankie Gavin is a decent and recent paradox. Burns is a three weight world champion and has worked his nuts off to achieve what he has. Gavin was and is more 'talented' than Burns ever was! Gavin has still had a respectable career but when you compare the two you can't help think what might have been for Gavin had he been properly committed....

I'm so frustrated about Gavin (as a fan) that I find it hard to talk or even post about him, a criminal waste of talent. It's not like he couldn't make the turnover from amateur like some don't, he still had all the tools as a pro but it seems he just didn't have the motivation? Its common in sports like tennis where burn-out is rife but to bomb like that as a pro boxer when there's life changing money to be made is incredible.

Then again it is the hardest sport of them all and maybe there are other reasons for Frankie's failings as a pro, he is only human like us

Not sure why he's bombed mate. It's hard to understand man.

I had only heard of Gavin as an amateur and had only seen him a couple of times.... I was on the same cards as Burns in a good few fights and he was notorious for KO'ing guys in the ams! As a pro he wasn't exactly known for his power It's pretty mad when you think of it

[Jackson328]

Making weight is such a crucial issue these days with strength conditioning coaches and nutritionists input and 'marginal gains' a factor in almost every sport, its easy to see how a normal kid can fall off the wagon, especially kids who take up boxing. Not making excuses for anyone here but its much more scientific these days, a far cry from the Rocky movie chicken chasing, log chopping, running up the steps a lot and catching an apple scenario. I think too many boxers nowadays look to use modern methods to try and fight at the lowest weight possible in order to give themselves the biggest advantage on the night but it doesn't always work out that way, everyone is different in rehydrating and refuelling, no body is the same. If you are old school it probably isn't going to work out well, like Frankie. Or maybe he just doesn't have the discipline. Hey we are well off topic now . . . Groves and Froch were seriously well conditioned

[Bricks]

Don't think Groves will ever be able to get over losing to him. It probably pisses him off just being around Froch because he feels like such a dope for losing.

No way he should have lost to Froch. If he'd boxed the way he boxed against Degale, he'd probably have won 120-108.

There is a personality clash that was genuine.

But at the end of the day they each made the other a packet.

Groves career has been a huge financial succcess and eventually so was frochs