BoxRec

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/boxing/25883588

I thought he would be one to fight for glory and for the belts. To turn down a 7 figure deal has left me a sour taste, I have defended George countless times but feel he has let me down as a fan. This is a massive payday for someone at this weight with no title.

Maybe he thought he wouldn't get the rematch but wanted to keep his name out there. Soon as he is offered it, he refuses it? Should of snatched it with both hands if he really believes he can win, but he knows he will lose again and two defeats on the bounce to Froch, could well ruin Groves, something that many people said before the first fight, Froch would ruin Groves.

Groves got beaten up, and he knows it. He had one of the best starts of his pro career, couldn't finish it, and despite turning in his best performance, ended up getting punched all over the ring. I'm not surprised he didn't want it again. I'll be happy if we can get on with enjoying whatever's left of Froch, and seeing Groves find his actual level, which is clearly pretty high, but not in Froch territory.

I think its a wise decision by groves - I'm on his side about the early stoppage but I still reckon he'd lose a rematch. theres plenty of ways up the ladder and I think he's made a good decision to go by another route. another year on the clock and he may beat carl but not yet.

TopGun wrote:http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/boxing/25883588

I thought he would be one to fight for glory and for the belts. To turn down a 7 figure deal has left me a sour taste, I have defended George countless times but feel he has let me down as a fan. This is a massive payday for someone at this weight with no title.

The problem with releasing these statements is that they never reveal the full truth.

Do you reckon the offer was for Groves to turn up, fight, go home with a 6 figure sum and that was that ?

No chance - the following comment, Groves replied: "The offer came with many stipulations and options I felt were unsatisfactory."

It is all part of the negotiation process.

I am sure that Groves wants to fight Froch and also that Froch wants to fight Groves - they just want to maximise their individual financial return which is fair enough.

Heard he was offered a 85-15 split. If that was the case no wonder he turned it down.

TopGun wrote:http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/boxing/25883588

I thought he would be one to fight for glory and for the belts. To turn down a 7 figure deal has left me a sour taste, I have defended George countless times but feel he has let me down as a fan. This is a massive payday for someone at this weight with no title.

Not everything you read is true and many a statement given through the media has slant; it was Groves showing (as a domestic unknown) that made the first bout so exciting and so why should Froch alone cash in?

TopGun wrote:http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/boxing/25883588

I thought he would be one to fight for glory and for the belts. To turn down a 7 figure deal has left me a sour taste, I have defended George countless times but feel he has let me down as a fan. This is a massive payday for someone at this weight with no title.

I wouldn't like to think I was relying on you to cover my back if one press release is enough to turn you.

rio wrote:Heard he was offered a 85-15 split. If that was the case no wonder he turned it down.

Derisive offer. Don't blame him telling them where to go if true.

Sklar wrote:

TopGun wrote:http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/boxing/25883588

I thought he would be one to fight for glory and for the belts. To turn down a 7 figure deal has left me a sour taste, I have defended George countless times but feel he has let me down as a fan. This is a massive payday for someone at this weight with no title.

I wouldn't like to think I was relying on you to cover my back if one press release is enough to turn you.

you said what I meant

This is my tuppence worth.

The key fact to remember is this - George Groves is FREE from any promotional ties.

If he wins the rematch, he walks away as a world champ leaving Froch facing retirement, and Eddie without arguably (if he were to beat Froch) Britain's biggest marquee fighter in his stable.

I'm not saying George is that now, I'm saying he could well be if he beat Froch in one of the biggest UK shows of all time this summer.

George has already said that the issue today is the stipulations that come with the offer.

In other words, he would be tied to a promoter. Guess who ?!?!

There is no fighter in the world, in George's position right now, who would willingly sign away the promotional rights at the most lucrative stage of their career. No one.

It isn't about 85% or 15% or a million quid. It is about George remaining a free agent and holding the world titles. As opposed to him winning the titles but having to sign a Matchroom contract along the way.

Let me ask you a question then. If the fight goes to purse bids who is going to make a massive bid and allow Groves to walk away win lose or draw ?

Parson Cross wrote:Let me ask you a question then. If the fight goes to purse bids who is going to make a massive bid and allow Groves to walk away win lose or draw ?

My understanding of the IBF rules in terms of a mandatory position is that the challenger does not have to sign over future options in order for the fight to be made ? Is that not correct ?

JimJim2009 wrote:

Parson Cross wrote:Let me ask you a question then. If the fight goes to purse bids who is going to make a massive bid and allow Groves to walk away win lose or draw ?

My understanding of the IBF rules in terms of a mandatory position is that the challenger does not have to sign over future options in order for the fight to be made ? Is that not correct ?

I thought that was the case with all sanctioning bodies, not just the IBF

Newport Daz wrote:

JimJim2009 wrote:

Parson Cross wrote:Let me ask you a question then. If the fight goes to purse bids who is going to make a massive bid and allow Groves to walk away win lose or draw ?

My understanding of the IBF rules in terms of a mandatory position is that the challenger does not have to sign over future options in order for the fight to be made ? Is that not correct ?

I thought that was the case with all sanctioning bodies, not just the IBF

So does all the fighters battling to get into the coverted #1 spot !!!!

If what jimjim says is true. Groves standing in my mind goes up immensely, not allowing himself himself to pressured by the UK's biggest promoter shows a business tenacity not normal in boxers.

Groves refused to suck off the great god Hearn and his associated options and has won the first war, if he gets the short end of the stick in terms of a purse I'm sure that won't bother him too much when he's world champ and had the money making potential and promotional options to choose from.

JimJim2009 wrote:This is my tuppence worth.

The key fact to remember is this - George Groves is FREE from any promotional ties.

If he wins the rematch, he walks away as a world champ leaving Froch facing retirement, and Eddie without arguably (if he were to beat Froch) Britain's biggest marquee fighter in his stable.

I'm not saying George is that now, I'm saying he could well be if he beat Froch in one of the biggest UK shows of all time this summer.

George has already said that the issue today is the stipulations that come with the offer.

In other words, he would be tied to a promoter. Guess who ?!?!

There is no fighter in the world, in George's position right now, who would willingly sign away the promotional rights at the most lucrative stage of their career. No one.

It isn't about 85% or 15% or a million quid. It is about George remaining a free agent and holding the world titles. As opposed to him winning the titles but having to sign a Matchroom contract along the way.

Guess what, if Groves wants to get a shot against a world champ who isn't a mandatory fight, he's going to likely find himself in the same situation - it's common practice in boxing, promoters don't want to risk sacrificing a marquee fighter and not having the option to promote the winner if they lose. It's good business sense.

I don't blame Groves for walking if that is the case, but the time could come when he rues that decision, when he finds himself on the outside, looking in, or on the end of a loss away from home, for a shitty payday - he'd hardly be the first.

A fighter with no promotional ties, is a fighter who is walking alone, and the breaks don't come easily in that situation unless you are an extremely hot commodity, and even then, promoters aren't going to throw silly money at you unless they've got future options. Promoters aren't samaritans, they're businessmen.

I wonder how much this fight would have generated - hard to be sure really, but it would have been the biggest domestic world title clash since Benn v Eubank, and that did pretty good numbers.

What kind of split does anyone here imagine Ward giving Groves - not a generous one I'm sure, and of a much much smaller pot, and let's face it, an almost impossible task to beat Ward.

People are saying it's the biggest money fight for Froch out there, but remember, Froch is already wealthy, he's earned very well over the last 3 years, Groves is just starting out, and hasn't got much to fall back on.

Good luck to Groves, he's a good fighter, but there's shark infested waters ahead, and no guarantee he will ever win a world title, let alone become a big star.

George Groves is at a crossroads in his career from a business perspective. Remember, he's lost a claim against Adam Booth recently, which was for big money.

The first fight had a purse split of 85 / 15 percent. (Eddie confirmed this today on Ifilm).

I can completely understand why George does not want to sign a promotional contract.

I can completely understand why Eddie wants George under contract.

To me the proposed purses are a smokescreen. It's about who owns George Groves if he emerges the winner.

It's looking like he can only get 15% if it is an immediate rematch, as he's only entitled to the same split as he had last time.

If so, then depending on whether it's about money or options, then groves is either gutted or very happy right now.

Can anyone clarify that rule, have never come across the rules for an immediate rematch with regard to purse bids.

The_Don1 wrote:Groves refused to suck off the great god Hearn and his associated options and has won the first war, if he gets the short end of the stick in terms of a purse I'm sure that won't bother him too much when he's world champ and had the money making potential and promotional options to choose from.

I think that's a smart analysis. He holds his own destiny in his hands that way and can take the best deals offered to him.

He has grown up with David Haye and Adam Booth - that was how they played out David's entire career.

jamesmcdonnell wrote:It's looking like he can only get 15% if it is an immediate rematch, as he's only entitled to the same split as he had last time.

If so, then depending on whether it's about money or options, then groves is either gutted or very happy right now.

Can anyone clarify that rule, have never come across the rules for an immediate rematch with regard to purse bids.

I bet that question has been asked a few times today already !!!!!!

JimJim2009 wrote:

The_Don1 wrote:Groves refused to suck off the great god Hearn and his associated options and has won the first war, if he gets the short end of the stick in terms of a purse I'm sure that won't bother him too much when he's world champ and had the money making potential and promotional options to choose from.

I think that's a smart analysis. He holds his own destiny in his hands that way and can take the best deals offered to him.

He has grown up with David Haye and Adam Booth - that was how they played out David's entire career.

Yes it's definitely a Booth/Haye move, I think Groves is playing it correctly and gaining the public's support during this saga.

JimJim2009 wrote:

jamesmcdonnell wrote:It's looking like he can only get 15% if it is an immediate rematch, as he's only entitled to the same split as he had last time.

If so, then depending on whether it's about money or options, then groves is either gutted or very happy right now.

Can anyone clarify that rule, have never come across the rules for an immediate rematch with regard to purse bids.

I bet that question has been asked a few times today already !!!!!!

Apparently that's the rule if you are below the top 3 challengers with the IBF....

Groves was offered a £1m+ gurantee plus bolt ons from PPV sales.

He flatly turned it down.

When Froch took £150k to fight Jermain Taylor who was on three times that amount as challenger, in f*cking America - to make his own name.

Now the IBF ruling has came in, the purse splits for someone outside the Top 3 is a paltry 15% , so will earn far less than the offer if he refuses and it goes to sealed envelopes.