What would have been the outcome if the fight was't stopped?

[johnswan1]

Last night I was on McCrory's side of saying that the stoppage was disgraceful. Today I'm not so sure. Premature maybe, but definitely not a disgrace.

I know a case can be made for Groves being given a chance to continue, but at the time it did look like Froch had caught up with him.

I genuinely think the stoppage would have been inevitable anyway. The fight had become Carls and I think he would have taken the last few rounds, even if Groves had survived.

[stujones]

I think groves had enough about him to survive that onslaught. Carl was tiring also and groves still had enough snap to hurt froch in the same round.

What foster in his disgraceful early stoppage did save us from was a disgraceful judging. So the likely outcome would have been a stinker of a decision.

[Tykemania]

Nah, he had been reeling for a minute and had ninety seconds to go. Against a man who, whatever you think of his skills, doesn't seem to hit the wall. He was going to get knocked out, just could have been allowed another twenty seconds so that it put any arguments over the fight to bed.

[Junker]

I tend to agree but Groves' performance up to that point had merited him being given the chance to weather the storm. he'd been looking tired since the 7th, but it was the first time he'd been in trouble. It may be that 20 seconds later he would have been on his back or helpless against the ropes, or it may be that he would have ridden it out and composed himself again. Maybe as Froch went all out, he would have left himself open and Groves would have planted another right hand. We just don't know. That's why its so frustrating - you want the fight to provide answers, not raise more questions.

[stujones]

I tend to agree but Groves' performance up to that point had merited him being given the chance to weather the storm. he'd been looking tired since the 7th, but it was the first time he'd been in trouble. It may be that 20 seconds later he would have been on his back or helpless against the ropes, or it may be that he would have ridden it out and composed himself again. Maybe as Froch went all out, he would have left himself open and Groves would have planted another right hand. We just don't know. That's why its so frustrating - you want the fight to provide answers, not raise more questions.

Yeah agree...first time he was hurt. I do disagree with previous poster who suggest that groves was Reeling pretty much throughout the 9th. If that was truly the case it would be considered a late stoppage.

[gazza8]

We will never know because of the worst stoppage in a long time. Froch could have finished him. Groves was still throwing punches, if Foster hadnt caught him he could have gone down, took an 8, the boxed on the back foot and danced rings round Froch. He was floored much much harder V kenny anderson and got back up to win.

im not annoyed at Groves being beat im annoyed at not being given a definative result

[ThereByTheGrace]

Froch KO. Groves put so much into the first half of the fight, he tired rapidly between 7 and 9 and I felt Froch was slowly starting to control the battle.

Groves was impressive last night and if he boxes the same way in a rematch but paces himself a bit more he will win.

[sendo]

Maybe Froch would have stopped him, but seeing as two judges only had it 76-76, even if Groves had avoided being stopped it does seem like he was going to get robbed by the judges anyway on split decision.

[Tykemania]

Yeah agree...first time he was hurt. I do disagree with previous poster who suggest that groves was Reeling pretty much throughout the 9th. If that was truly the case it would be considered a late stoppage.

Look at his legs throughout the minute leading up - even Watt referred to it!

[ALI]

I'm confident Groves would have comfortably regrouped and went on to win. I dont believe he was in real danger. He got hit but so what, this is boxing.

It was one of the worst stoppages I have ever witnessed!

[WayoftheCass]

Last night I was on McCrory's side of saying that the stoppage was disgraceful. Today I'm not so sure. Premature maybe, but definitely not a disgrace.

I know a case can be made for Groves being given a chance to continue, but at the time it did look like Froch had caught up with him.

I genuinely think the stoppage would have been inevitable anyway. The fight had become Carls and I think he would have taken the last few rounds, even if Groves had survived.

McCrory's description of the stoppage was a disgrace. "Ref grabbed him in a headlock...."...............don't get me wrong it was a bit premature but that's bollocks!

Laughing at the people who thought that Groves would have won by KO. He'd hit Froch with the kitchen sink already and still couldn't stop him.

There MUST be a rematch!

[damianhucker1]

He cartainly should have been allowed to continue at that point, he was less hurt than froch had been at times, but i do think it was the beginning of the end and froch would likely have stopped him in the next round anyway.

[hurlock]

Will never know!!

Cheers Howard !!

[stevieb_8006]

it was always a fight of 2 halves and it was carls turn. 20 more secs and there would be no debate.

[Neil Jones Jnr]

Well to be honest my question going into the fight is could Groves handle Froch bringing huge amounts of pressure late on.

That question hasn't been answered.

It's ridiculous to say another twenty seconds and its over.

Based on what?

Groves was buzzed, yes, no more than Froch earlier in the fight.

So my question is if we are giving Froch the benefit of recovering why not Groves?

This is surely based on Froch's history. With Groves we have no idea so I'm amazed everyone is jumping in and saying he was on his way to be stopped. It's based on nothing but Carl's reputation. That's why they fight to find out.

Froch may have done it, may not have. I don't see any evidence in Groves' history to say he could or could not have survived.

That's the whole point of the fight, to find out.

It was a disgraceful stoppage, and you have to say double standards, Froch was more hurt than groves ever was, why does he get the benefit and not groves? Totally unfair.

[ALI]

Well to be honest my question going into the fight is could Groves handle Froch bringing huge amounts of pressure late on.

That question hasn't been answered.

It's ridiculous to say another twenty seconds and its over.

Based on what?

Groves was buzzed, yes, no more than Froch earlier in the fight.

So my question is if we are giving Froch the benefit of recovering why not Groves?

This is surely based on Froch's history. With Groves we have no idea so I'm amazed everyone is jumping in and saying he was on his way to be stopped. It's based on nothing but Carl's reputation. That's why they fight to find out.

Froch may have done it, may not have. I don't see any evidence in Groves' history to say he could or could not have survived.

That's the whole point of the fight, to find out.

It was a disgraceful stoppage, and you have to say double standards, Froch was more hurt than groves ever was, why does he get the benefit and not groves? Totally unfair.

Good post, I will second all of that.

[stujones]

Yeah agree...first time he was hurt. I do disagree with previous poster who suggest that groves was Reeling pretty much throughout the 9th. If that was truly the case it would be considered a late stoppage.

Look at his legs throughout the minute leading up - even Watt referred to it!

Groves won the first minute of the 9th clearly....froch first landed clean at 1:53 to go....fight stopped 1.27


Gomez has posted a link to the last round.

[Finn]

when foster steps in you can see groves hands drop down by his knees, i think it was way too early to stop a world title fight when he was ahead on points but im pretty convinced that if groves had survived that flurry he would have be stopped in the next assault or the one after. Froch was building momentum it was his fight from the 7th, groves was gassing and without that defensive movement and extra snap in his punches it became the fight froch likes.

I think theres a difference to being buzzed by a punch and being fatigued which groves was.

[ILikeBeer]

It was a poor stoppage. Groves was winning, and he was able to continue.

I still reckon that Carl would've got stronger as the fight went on though. He seeme to be getting better in the last round. I think Froch would've had him in the next round or two.

It's just a shame the referee robbed us of the opportunity to know for sure.

[Ricky_]

Apparently Groves was only 1 round up despite completely dominating and schooling Froch to that point, so my answer would be disgusting, corrupt scorecards & Froch majority decision or something. Matchroom reek more by the day, if it wasn't obvious enough after Burns-Beltran, it is now.

[Ricky_]

when foster steps in you can see groves hands drop down by his knees

Wrong, his glove is by his ear... you know... protecting himself. The ref left him wide open though for Froch to dig him in the ribs by putting Groves in a god damn headlock - i think that was the "free shot" Froch was talking about.



Farce.

[MarkMcBurney]

Terrible stoppage. Groves was buzzed badly for sure but Froch was just as knackered as Groves and these ridiculous 'free shots' he's gone on about were powder puff shots, relatively speaking. Had there not have been a stoppage then Groves goes down, takes a breather and loses the round 10-8. He comes out for the run in boxing off the back foot and for me, a tired Carl Froch gets nowhere near finishing him, maybe even walking onto one himself. Froch thought he needed a knock out to win, I'm convinced. He was 5pts down -though evidently would have got a real 'home town' decision based on the two ridiculous 1pt cards - and he was too gassed himself from the beating he'd taken for most of the previous 8 rounds.

Would it have been stopped the other way round? Well, just look at round one - Froch is in far more trouble as he wobbled about than Groves was on his feet in round nine.

Utter disgrace, there SHOULD be a rematch but if Froch has any grey matter left at all he will steer well clear. The only way Groves gets another shot is if the IBF order a rematch. Highly unlikely but then the IBF are probably the most honourable governing body, but they won't seriously 'over rule' a referee stopping a bout in the interests of 'safety'.

I also think Froch showed himself up to be a complete arse in his post-fight interview, and if anything Groves was far too gracious.

Nobody has done that sort of number on Froch before, not even Andre Ward. If there is a rematch, Groves knocks him out, I'm convinced of it.

[keithmoonhangover]

Yeah agree...first time he was hurt. I do disagree with previous poster who suggest that groves was Reeling pretty much throughout the 9th. If that was truly the case it would be considered a late stoppage.

Look at his legs throughout the minute leading up - even Watt referred to it!

I agree. I watched it back this morning and his legs are still shaky almost a minute later in the corner. No question Froch would have stopped him in my eyes. I'm a Froch fan, but I'm saying this as an observer, Froch would have stopped him.

[WelshDevil]

Will never know!!

Cheers Howard !!

Spot on.

[Ally-M1]

In answer to the question to the OP; a Froch KO.