Groves lost the fight for himself

[Cas]

He fought recklessly with a brawler in the second half of the fight. He didn't need to - Groves was clearly the better boxer, and it was evident from round one. He needed guidance from Booth IMO. No chance Groves would have fought so stupidly and emotionally with Booth in his corner. Groves lost his head and tried to out battle Froch who loves wars. Very careless.

Feel a bit gutted for him, but Groves lost the fight due to his stupidity. Froch looked out of his depth when Groves stuck to the box and move tactics. He was landing his shots with ease, and Froch looked shook every time Groves landed them. He could have kept belting Froch all night and stuck to the plan of outclassing him, without taking the unnecessary shots. Froch wouldn't have landed hardly anything had Groves got on his bike. He was dragged into a war, and there was reason to. Just frustrating to watch.

I honestly believe Groves could have knocked Froch out IF he fought with more discipline. I've never seen Froch so hurt in a fight, especially on multiple occasions. Groves can really crack. His power is quite devastating for a SMW.

Groves needs Booth back in his corner to guide him to be a world champion. He needs that nursing and discipline drummed into him.

[U.F.O]

There is definitely some truth in that imo.

He became abit overconfident and reckless as the fight went on,
and this ultimately gave the tiny excuse the ref needed to stop it.

but who knows maybe he was worried about getting screwed on the scorecards too,
it's not like we havn't seen that before .

[Cas]

There is definitely some truth in that imo.

He became abit overconfident and reckless as the fight went on,
and this ultimately gave the tiny excuse the ref needed to stop it.

but who knows maybe he was worried about getting screwed on the scorecards too,
it's not like we havn't seen that before .

He was confident of out boxing Froch. He showed he could execute that part, but not out brawling him. Froch actually looked lost at times when Groves was sticking to his boxing. He had no answers, his only answer was to drag Groves in, and he did. Groves fault. It was massive mistake, and cost him.

There could be a chance of that too, but Groves would have a better chance at scoring a knock out if he boxed rather than brawled. He would landed loads of shots all night on Froch. And Froch was clearly hurt by them.

Honestly believe Groves could have made this fairly easy work tonight with Booth. Froch couldn't match the skill of Groves. He was to quick, powerful, and sharp. He was landing easily, and Froch was struggling to see the shots coming.

Gutted for him, but he will be back. I can't stress enough about Booth though. He needs to guide him or his talent will be a waste. Booth is a smart operator and knows his stuff. I really rate him highly as a trainer. Haye was disciplined and smart under him his wing.

GROVES NEEDS BOOTH!

[hurlock]

Groves committed himself & boxed brilliant, he was doing everything right. Professional boxing when it's a hard pace as this was after 6 rds it all goes out the window you can't phisically jump up & down & say I'm having it on my toes, once they commit it's extremely hard to reverse that & only a few can, calzaghe had this quality of adapting

[U.F.O]

I just think he was trying to hard to get him out of there, maybe because of the early knock down,
Groves is clearly a vastly superior boxer and didn't need to go toe to toe, but then again you carn't allow for dodgy refs.
Froch did suck him into to a war though and that's the only way he could win .

[CheckHook]

I just think he was trying to hard to get him out of there, maybe because of the early knock down,
Groves is clearly a vastly superior boxer and didn't need to go toe to toe, but then again you carn't allow for dodgy refs.
Froch did suck him into to a war though and that's the only way he could win .

I'm not sure, in hindsight I think he might've been better off just biting the bullet early on and pushing for the stoppage himself.... He is a better fighter, but the truth is he isn't ever going to be able to do what Ward does and slow the pace/ tie up when he needs to, especially against a guy like Froch who really is relentless. Maybe in a rematch he could try to find a way to slow the pace and tie up Froch to buy himself a bit more time, but if he cant he is in for a long night unless he just goes all out for the KO himself.

[stevieb_8006]

I can see that groves is gona be 1 of those fighters u just aren't allowed to slate anymore after this fight, no1 seems to want to even acknowledge he was all over the shop as soon as the fight swayed carls way. don't get me wrong he did brilliantly and the stoppage was a tad early, but if carl was given ten more seconds we would all be saying what an amazing come from behind victory it was.

[WayoftheCass]

I can see that groves is gona be 1 of those fighters u just aren't allowed to slate anymore after this fight, no1 seems to want to even acknowledge he was all over the shop as soon as the fight swayed carls way. don't get me wrong he did brilliantly and the stoppage was a tad early, but if carl was given ten more seconds we would all be saying what an amazing come from behind victory it was.

I have watched the ending a few times. Groves was on queer street the moment that swinging Froch right hand caught him high. I thought a stoppage looked inevitable. Groves was superb but was beginning to get out manned. People saying if Booth had been there then Groves would have boxed the ears off him for 12 rounds are themselves on queer street. Froch drags everyone into a fight. Its what he does. Even Ward dropped a few rounds to him due to it and he takes zero risks. Someone said above that they thought that Groves would have got through it and just pit shotted Froch for the last 3. And apparently Froch would just have let him.
I mean people making out that Groves had swept the board and was winning it at a canter are just going OTT. Look at Groves face. Yeah he was winning but was still getting caught himself from the second onwards. Hope he gets a rematch.

[winkveron]

And it's like football, you have to capitalise when you are on top. Fact is, Groves looked class for the first 6/7 but Froch was still there. He should've finished it off and didn't. I'm sure he'll learn from that and come back even better.

[WayoftheCass]

And it's like football, you have to capitalise when you are on top. Fact is, Groves looked class for the first 6/7 but Froch was still there. He should've finished it off and didn't. I'm sure he'll learn from that and come back even better.

Froch's ability to take monster shots and rebound back is incredible. He's done it time and time again. Anyone else in boxing and Groves would have had them out of there.

[winkveron]

Exactly. I think all this conspiracy nonsense is taking away from Froch's incredible strength. He took some monster shots and despite that was clearly grinding Groves down regardless. Imo Groves' inexperience cost him this fight, not the referee or his undoubted talent, just inexperience.

[Wa1nuts]

I agree 100% he threw the fight away and seemed to be gassing towards the end. In my opinion it wouldnt have lasted much longer despite the early stoppage.

Why brawl with Froch when he had been outclassing him the first half of the fight?!

Froch getting zero credit from 'casual' fans. Doing my head in.

[keithmoonhangover]

It also had a lot to do with Froch changing his tactics. Later in the fight, he starts waiting for Groves to throw the right hand and then open up. If you don't think that's the case, watch the last two rounds again and you'll see Froch waiting for Groves to lead.

[Superheavy]

Froch will win a rematch. McCracken will have him boxing more cautiously, sticking to his raiding tactics like against Bute and out manning GG in the later rounds.

[rhino222]

There is definitely some truth in that imo.

He became abit overconfident and reckless as the fight went on,
and this ultimately gave the tiny excuse the ref needed to stop it.

but who knows maybe he was worried about getting screwed on the scorecards too,
it's not like we havn't seen that before .

He was confident of out boxing Froch. He showed he could execute that part, but not out brawling him. Froch actually looked lost at times when Groves was sticking to his boxing. He had no answers, his only answer was to drag Groves in, and he did. Groves fault. It was massive mistake, and cost him.

There could be a chance of that too, but Groves would have a better chance at scoring a knock out if he boxed rather than brawled. He would landed loads of shots all night on Froch. And Froch was clearly hurt by them.

I agree with the posts. In reality froch is in skill deficit with most of his opponents, but heart, balls and chin are his speciality. No one can ever match that. Boxing is one ofthe only sports where you can be 10 nil down inthe last minute but still win. Froch out dukes everyone, you are a fool to play him at his owngame. Froch deserves massive credit.
Honestly believe Groves could have made this fairly easy work tonight with Booth. Froch couldn't match the skill of Groves. He was to quick, powerful, and sharp. He was landing easily, and Froch was struggling to see the shots coming.

Gutted for him, but he will be back. I can't stress enough about Booth though. He needs to guide him or his talent will be a waste. Booth is a smart operator and knows his stuff. I really rate him highly as a trainer. Haye was disciplined and smart under him his wing.

GROVES NEEDS BOOTH!

[Hagler2002]

I can see that groves is gona be 1 of those fighters u just aren't allowed to slate anymore after this fight, no1 seems to want to even acknowledge he was all over the shop as soon as the fight swayed carls way. don't get me wrong he did brilliantly and the stoppage was a tad early, but if carl was given ten more seconds we would all be saying what an amazing come from behind victory it was.

Totally agree m8, I was sitting there at the end of the 8th and said to my pal if I was putting money on this now I'd be lumping on Froch. Groves was blowing out of his hole and had very little left in the tank, premature or not he wasn't going to last another 4 rounds.