BoxRec

I just rewatched Froch v Groves properly for the first time since Saturday, I've watched snippets before but last night was the first time I sat down and really watched it all the way through with the SKy commentary, having been there on the night.

All I can say is wow, ridiculous.

Commentary - Absolutely ridiculously one-sided, They've picked out Groves as their winner from the opening moments of Round 1. NOTHING Froch did was acknowledged, I've seen this happen before on Sky and it frustrates the life out of me.

Scorecard, here is mine:

Round 1 - Groves 10-8

Round 2 - Groves 10-9
Close round actually, Froch recovered well from the KD and got back into things but Watt/Halling are just ooooooh Groves is soooooo fast and sooooo gooood.

Round 3 Froch 10-9
Close again, this time Froch landing a few decent jabs and power shots, Froch's work again completely ifgnored by the Scottish rat and his sidekick

Round 4 - Groves 10-9
Groves landed some decent power shots and took this round, apparently off some things I read Froch was really wobbled in this round and struggling, so I looked for that and didn't really see anything like that.

Round 5 - Froch 10-9
Clear Froch round, beating Groves to the punch several times, landing jabs and power shots, according to Jim Watt this was REALLY close and the amazing Groves just lost it, Froch's first round on Watt's card and only then given grudgingly.

Round 6 - Groves 10-9
Good round for Groves, landing big shots and getting back to his best type of work in the fight. Cue orgasm from Jim Watt.

Round 7 - Groves 10-9
Another Groves round, but he's starting to look a little bit more tired, starting to plant his feet more and engage with Froch.

Round 8 - Froch 10-9
The round that swung the fight for me, close enough round but Froch starting to land his power more often and hurt Groves, groves starting to look ragged and losing his form.

Round 9
The finishing round, Froch landing power and big, looking mean and surging for a finish, Sky commentating that Groves is ragged, on his way out, then totally change their mind when they realise george has been stopped. A preamture stoppage no doubt, but the Scottish one again can't give Froch much credit.

Overall score going into Round 9
Groves 77-74 Froch

So Groves winning by 3 points going into Round 9, a round which he was losing soundly, so he'd be 2 points ahead with 3 rounds to go IF he'd survived - looking ragged and Froch coming on strong.

Overall conclusion - people have been very harsh to Froch in the aftermath of this one! The one-sided commentary on Sky certainly won't have helped public perceptions.

Commentary in US can be quite good, they usually call the fight a lot more, saying who's landed etc, UK commentary seems to be just pick a side and stick with it and ignore the other guy and anything he lands. Time to get rid of the Scottish blinkered one and his laughable sidekick Halling who offers nothing.

Just one more point, look at Groves face bruising and body reddening up throughout the fight. Froch was landing and hurting Groves in quite a few rounds, from the Sky Commentary you'd think Groves just gave out a one-sided boxing lesson to Froch, winning every round and that the stoppage was just a random unexpected event at the end.

Froch is tentative x 50
Froch can't land his jab x 100
ooooh groves that was was class x 1000

What are the odds of a poster called "The Cobra" having a problem with criticism of Carl Froch? Never saw that coming.

earsjohn wrote:What are the odds of a poster called "The Cobra" having a problem with criticism of Carl Froch? Never saw that coming.

Haha, I'm on a hiding to nothing aren't I with my name :-)

End of the day I'd just like a bit of balance. That commentary is dafter than daft.

It's not just the Froch fight, it's Sky in general, if there was an option to turn off the commentary but still have the crowd noise I would take it, it absolutely ruins fights. But I'm not gona watch fights on mute with no atmosphere, so you end up having to put up with the wailing Scottish nutcase banging the drum usually about one boxer and Halling agreeing and nodding along.

TheCobra wrote:Just one more point, look at Groves face bruising and body reddening up throughout the fight. Froch was landing and hurting Groves in quite a few rounds, from the Sky Commentary you'd think Groves just gave out a one-sided boxing lesson to Froch, winning every round and that the stoppage was just a random unexpected event at the end.

Froch is tentative x 50
Froch can't land his jab x 100
ooooh groves that was was class x 1000

Pale ginger people bruise very easily.
Froch has his ass handed to him for 90% of the fight.

I can understand why you're disappointed with the opinion of many posters and the SKY commentary Cobra; the thing is, if Froch had used a modicum of intelligence he would have talked Groves up as a very dangerous opponent and accepted that he had lost in the past and that his style could be exploited; he could have said he knew this years ago but enjoyed a fight and that the fans seemed to like it. Then, when Groves came in and gave him a good hiding until he pulled out the stoppage he could have said - 'well I thought he was good but he's better than I thought he was, I'm glad I managed to pull out a win'. That would have shown real champions class.

If he'd done that there'd have been no negative opinion on Froch and he would have come out with a lot of public respect and his standing would have been raised.

It is because he dismissed Groves as not on is level, denied having a tough time of it and saying that he had a conclusive win and that Groves was silly, childish and didn't deserve a rematch that he's got egg on his face.

Froch talked down Groves chances and talked up his abilities and Groves out performed him, this hasn't been a public relations disaster for Froch but it would have got a public relations firm fired for their management.

palooka wrote:I can understand why you're disappointed with the opinion of many posters and the SKY commentary Cobra; the thing is, if Froch had used a modicum of intelligence he would have talked Groves up as a very dangerous opponent and accepted that he had lost and that his style could be exploited; he could have said he knew this years ago but enjoyed a fight and that the fans seemed to like it. Then, when Groves came in and gave him a good hiding he could have said - well I thought he was good but he's better than I thought he was, I'm glad I managed to pull out a win.

If he'd done that there'd have been no negative opinion on Froch and he would have come out with a lot of public respect and his standing would have been raised.

It is because he dismissed Groves as not on is level, denied having a tough time of it and saying that he had a conclusive win and that Groves was silly, childish and didn't deserve a rematch that he's got egg on his face.

Froch talked down Groves chances and talked up his abilities and Groves out performed him, this hasn't been a public relations disaster for Froch but it would have got a public relations firm fired for their management.

Yeh not gona argue with that, Froch didn't cover himself in glory with certain comments, he could have been more humble and would have got a lot of people onside with that.

I would just urge people to try and rewatch the fight, look at what Froch is landing and what Groves is landing and see that it's not quite the one-sided beatdown that some people might think. Groves was winning, yes, he was by 3 points on my card.

The commentators had Froch in no position/way of winning the fight on points, yet we were only in Round 9. Halling actually said that. It's daft. The one-sided nature of the commentary is what's bugging me, they just ignore everything Froch does for 7 rounds and yet it's what he did in those 7 rounds prior to the last 2 rounds, that caused the eventual wearing down of Groves and the controversial stoppage to even be possible.

Wow yet another thread on the fight. How original.

taffytoon wrote:Wow yet another thread on the fight. How original.

Only reason is Sky showed it in full last night so thought it was worth a comment as it's first time I've sat down and rewatched it all in HD. Sorry mr taffy.

Cheers for that; I watched it back on sunday morning but was still seething as I had rated George and his chances, paid for the PPV and put £10 on Groves to win; I watched with my wife and son in the morning and my wife thought it was a dubious stoppage though she really thinks boxing is very corrupt.

I can see why the commentary would wind you up, Jim Watt nailed his colours to the mast in the final presser though to be fair was the only one who did; everyone else was on the Froch show and Groves was seen as second fiddle.

Though Froch has the 'W' I honestly think that Groves will come out of this in a far better way and will be very well supported next time out - his trainer Fitzpatrick deserves credit as well, I thought he did very well in the circumstances and the person in Froch camp I have most 'respect' for is Robert McCracken though he toes the party line an awful lot, he is a very good trainer.

I can't see Froch boxing beyond the end of 2014, Groves landed some very hard punches.

TheCobra wrote:

taffytoon wrote:Wow yet another thread on the fight. How original.

Only reason is Sky showed it in full last night so thought it was worth a comment as it's first time I've sat down and rewatched it all in HD. Sorry mr taffy.

He's always in a bad mood, the sheep are too quick for him today

agree with everything you say Cobra...it was the worst commentary Ive ever heard. Also completely ignored George sticking the head in and when Groves tagged froch round the back of the head after the break Jim nearly had an orgasm when froch gave him a couple of cheeky ones back. The way he just fell silent for a few seconds every time froch landed anything was the giveaway...there was no way he was going to allow the fight to deviate from the course he had decided after the kd.

"nah hays just pawwing wi'it"

domjon wrote:agree with everything you say Cobra...it was the worst commentary Ive ever heard. Also completely ignored George sticking the head in and when Groves tagged froch round the back of the head after the break Jim nearly had an orgasm when froch gave him a couple of cheeky ones back. The way he just fell silent for a few seconds every time froch landed anything was the giveaway...there was no way he was going to allow the fight to deviate from the course he had decided after the kd.

"nah hays just pawwing wi'it"

Though the referee seemed to have decied on following the narrative of the fight; 'Froch will claw back an early lead from Groves and stop him' - the ref allowed Froch to come through being hurt more than Groves was in the 9th - he seemed to follow the fight plan most seemed to believe.

Why do you keep referring to Watt as "scottish"? What difference does that make?

i found the commentry ok myself ,and i can't beleive you prefer US commentry they don't even mention the fight in front of them especialy teddy atlas who talks over the fight rather than analysing them , if a boxer gets hurt he doesn't even mention it .

Ricky_ wrote:Why do you keep referring to Watt as "scottish"? What difference does that make?

Because as well as being annoying he is tight fisted and puts salt on his porridge.

palooka wrote:

Ricky_ wrote:Why do you keep referring to Watt as "scottish"? What difference does that make?

Because as well as being annoying he is tight fisted and puts salt on his porridge.

HE EATS SQUARE SAUSAGES the dirty bastard ......

palooka wrote:

TheCobra wrote:

taffytoon wrote:Wow yet another thread on the fight. How original.

Only reason is Sky showed it in full last night so thought it was worth a comment as it's first time I've sat down and rewatched it all in HD. Sorry mr taffy.

He's always in a bad mood, the sheep are too quick for him today

stevedoc wrote:i found the commentry ok myself ,and i can't beleive you prefer US commentry they don't even mention the fight in front of them especialy teddy atlas who talks over the fight rather than analysing them , if a boxer gets hurt he doesn't even mention it .

Atlas is probably the worst commentator and "expert" in boxing though!

palooka wrote:

domjon wrote:agree with everything you say Cobra...it was the worst commentary Ive ever heard. Also completely ignored George sticking the head in and when Groves tagged froch round the back of the head after the break Jim nearly had an orgasm when froch gave him a couple of cheeky ones back. The way he just fell silent for a few seconds every time froch landed anything was the giveaway...there was no way he was going to allow the fight to deviate from the course he had decided after the kd.

"nah hays just pawwing wi'it"

the ref allowed Froch to come through being hurt more than Groves was in the 9th - he seemed to follow the fight plan most seemed to believe.

This is the bit that confuses me. Im hearing people saying Froch was out of it in the 4th and I didn't see it.

The only bit I can think you are referring to is the 1st round Knockdown, which yep Froch was hurt then he got back up and was firing back and took 2 bombs and still just stood there, they literally bounced off him.

At NO point in the fight was Froch in as much sustained trouble as Groves was in that 9th round. Groves was on the ropes and on the end of a barrage of bombs.

Groves never followed up in any of his attacks like Froch did in that 9th, that was the major difference. Maybe if Groves had gone in with a barrage when he had Froch hurt - who knows what might have happened, but when he did start to stand there and trade with Carl in the 8th and 9th he came out second best, that is clear.

I'd like people to state at what point in the fight Froch could have been stopped? The argument doesn't quite stand up to scrutiny.

domjon wrote:agree with everything you say Cobra...it was the worst commentary Ive ever heard. Also completely ignored George sticking the head in and when Groves tagged froch round the back of the head after the break Jim nearly had an orgasm when froch gave him a couple of cheeky ones back. The way he just fell silent for a few seconds every time froch landed anything was the giveaway...there was no way he was going to allow the fight to deviate from the course he had decided after the kd.

"nah hays just pawwing wi'it"

Very good point you make about the naughties after the ref had called break, can't remember what round. Groves started it and then Froch came back at him with a couple which was perfectly justified if groves was carrying on, and Jim Watt ERUPTED into a frenzy and is calling for Froch to have a point deducted.

I'm all for lively commentary, it makes a fight fun, but Jim Watt completely lost the plot on Saturday and just sounded like a cheerleader for Groves. Look at how Sky do football and then how they do boxing - it's absolutely world's apart in terms of professionalism of the commentary, imagine if they did a football commentary so biased?

I really would like them to rethink their commentary and get some better guys in like they did for the football stuff, update it a bit and let the young ex-boxers like Jamie Moore etc have a go, time to move out the dinosaurs.

Re-watched it last night and me and the lads all commented that Watt was a fornicating scandal. During Frochs good work he would either be silent or talking about how good Groves has been, then Groves would land a jab and Watt would bring his orgasm noise out.

It was embarrassing IMO.

TheCobra wrote:

palooka wrote:

domjon wrote:agree with everything you say Cobra...it was the worst commentary Ive ever heard. Also completely ignored George sticking the head in and when Groves tagged froch round the back of the head after the break Jim nearly had an orgasm when froch gave him a couple of cheeky ones back. The way he just fell silent for a few seconds every time froch landed anything was the giveaway...there was no way he was going to allow the fight to deviate from the course he had decided after the kd.

"nah hays just pawwing wi'it"

the ref allowed Froch to come through being hurt more than Groves was in the 9th - he seemed to follow the fight plan most seemed to believe.

This is the bit that confuses me. Im hearing people saying Froch was out of it in the 4th and I didn't see it.

The only bit I can think you are referring to is the 1st round Knockdown, which yep Froch was hurt then he got back up and was firing back and took 2 bombs and still just stood there, they literally bounced off him.

At NO point in the fight was Froch in as much sustained trouble as Groves was in that 9th round. Groves was on the ropes and on the end of a barrage of bombs.

Groves never followed up in any of his attacks like Froch did in that 9th, that was the major difference. Maybe if Groves had gone in with a barrage when he had Froch hurt - who knows what might have happened, but when he did start to stand there and trade with Carl in the 8th and 9th he came out second best, that is clear.

I'd like people to state at what point in the fight Froch could have been stopped? The argument doesn't quite stand up to scrutiny.

Agree about Froch being in danger. I thought I must have missed it first time around, but it turns out that after the first it didnt happen. He took shots, but wasn't in real trouble.

im normally a big fan of watt and his commentary, but he was way off the mark with this fight. he reminded me of the yank commentary teams when they cover a mayweather fight....its all floyd this floyd that and never recognising any positive work from the opponent.
listening to the sky team made the fight seem like it was one way traffic and that carl was getting smashed to bits. if you watch without commentary it is a much more even affair , and obvious from the sixth round on that its becoming froch's fight.

columbo wrote:

stevedoc wrote:i found the commentry ok myself ,and i can't beleive you prefer US commentry they don't even mention the fight in front of them especialy teddy atlas who talks over the fight rather than analysing them , if a boxer gets hurt he doesn't even mention it .

Atlas is probably the worst commentator and "expert" in boxing though!

Bit of a daft thing to say columbo and Steve. Atlas is as sharp as a needle.