BoxRec

For anyone who like me missed it first time around. It looked pretty brutal all round actually! Eubank Jnr impressed me http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfd37A4z37M

Senior dressed like he's on safari..

I think Groves can take plenty of encouragement from that, Froch was backed up by Eubank Jr and caught clean regularly, backed up in straight lines a lot as well, on the front foot he looked decent and I don't think he really got out of first gear, but he certainly hasn't got quicker and he's still there to hit. The strapping and tape on the left arm also potentially indicates an injury, either to the elbow or bicep.

Froch s balance is all to fxck and he sounds like he s forcing every shot he throws doesn't look good at all in my eye s

Froch being outboxed or even backed up doesn't really surprise me but when it gets to the home straight thats when we'll really find out about Groves

Froch looked piss poor in that clip. Its very unusual for this type of footage to be released right before a major fight - could it be a ploy?

If not, its going to be an easy night for Groves.

ALI wrote:Froch looked piss poor in that clip. Its very unusual for this type of footage to be released right before a major fight - could it be a ploy?

If not, its going to be an easy night for Groves.

It's Eubank who's released it, not Froch, would be interesting to see the full sparring session and how it went over a longer distance.

Looked ok to me. I have seen plenty of world champions tested and bested in sparring by journeymen, youngsters and others. Means FA. What counts is what happens when titles are on the line. That is why they are champions, they can do it when it counts.

Some footballers brilliant in training and reserve games put them under real conditions, different story. I have known plenty of fighters crap in the gym, but can turn it on in the ring and vice versa.

Cant take too much from this. When was it? It wasnt this week or last week thats for sure. Chances are this was towards Eubank Jr's peak before his fight a few weeks ago. Plus, the above poster was right....sparring is sparring.

I was expecting much worse than that.

A few points:

1. Froch has always said he often doesnt look great in sparring
2. Eubank Jr said after his last fight "i've sparred with the top heavyweights in Britain, you ask them if im the real deal" he looked quality.
3. Eubank Jr sparred with Groves before he fought DeGale and apparently gave Groves hell, they showed Groves after the spar and he looked utterly depressed. Eubank Jrs camp looked very happy.
4. Sparring isnt the same as the real thing.

expe wrote:

ALI wrote:Froch looked piss poor in that clip. Its very unusual for this type of footage to be released right before a major fight - could it be a ploy?

If not, its going to be an easy night for Groves.

It's Eubank who's released it, not Froch, would be interesting to see the full sparring session and how it went over a longer distance.

Eubank released the footage filmed by sky and okd by team Froch to be shown? Okk then

Let's be honest. This is as relevant to Saturday night as Shakespeare writing a postcard to his mum from Southend & then us claiming that his next work would be crap based on that postcard.

Froch's strengths are his man strength & warrior mentality. His whole fornicating manliness when the chips are down. He has what 99.999% of us don't have (but wish we did).

Had he been born in Greece 3,000 years ago a random part of my body would be named after him ("Argh, I've pulled me Froch ")

Based on skill alone he should have lost more than 2 fights but fair play to the man he keeps grinding them out.

I'm not saying this as a Froch groupie. I thought Groves was robbed last November & not even close to being stopped. I'm also (slightly) leaning towards Groves in the rematch.

But Froch is a fornicating warrior & deserves EVERY boxing fans utmost respect

He doesn't really care about sparring. His blood ain't boiling until the bell rings proper.

jackukmma wrote:

expe wrote:

ALI wrote:Froch looked piss poor in that clip. Its very unusual for this type of footage to be released right before a major fight - could it be a ploy?

If not, its going to be an easy night for Groves.

It's Eubank who's released it, not Froch, would be interesting to see the full sparring session and how it went over a longer distance.

Eubank released the footage filmed by sky and okd by team Froch to be shown? Okk then

It's on his youtube channel.

They sparred a total of four rounds Carl Froch slightly getting the better of Eubank.

Eubank hurt his shoulder in the 3rd of the spar which meant that he was using 1 hand. This is the reason why Eubank looked below par in his last fight against Robert Swierzbinski

BAP1 wrote:They sparred a total of four rounds Carl Froch slightly getting the better of Eubank.

Eubank hurt his shoulder in the 3rd of the spar which meant that he was using 1 hand. This is the reason why Eubank looked below par in his last fight against Robert Swierzbinski

Did you witness this or have inside knowledge?

Also, Gomez, if you're reading this, is Carl's left arm ok? I and im sure others noticed he had it taped up.

I wouldn't read too much into that. Froch fights with his face in his bouts so he's hardly going to be concerned taking punches with big gloves and a head guard in sparring. He looked decent at the start.

columbo wrote:

BAP1 wrote:They sparred a total of four rounds Carl Froch slightly getting the better of Eubank.

Eubank hurt his shoulder in the 3rd of the spar which meant that he was using 1 hand. This is the reason why Eubank looked below par in his last fight against Robert Swierzbinski

Did you witness this or have inside knowledge?

Inside info

DMA1987 wrote:I was expecting much worse than that.

From the opening few posts I was too.

BAP1 wrote:

columbo wrote:

BAP1 wrote:They sparred a total of four rounds Carl Froch slightly getting the better of Eubank.

Eubank hurt his shoulder in the 3rd of the spar which meant that he was using 1 hand. This is the reason why Eubank looked below par in his last fight against Robert Swierzbinski

Did you witness this or have inside knowledge?

Inside info

Also forgot to add Froch had sparred 6 rounds with another boxer prior to eubank jumping into the ring. So eubank was definitely the fresher of the two

Seen the sparring, Eubank looked good in the ring.

But I wouldn't draw too much from the clip, Carl was probably allowing Eubnak to come forward and pressure him to get used to it by the time he fights Groves. Groves backed him up for the most part during the first fight, and a smart trainer would be enforcing situations for Carl to get comfortable being on the back foot.

Obviously Carl's natural tendency is to brawl, and he will always have that advantage over Goves in the locker, but to my mind, that should not be his Plan A - its a handy plan B to have, but I'd be planning for Carl to use his basic boxing pedigree (that he used against Abraham) as the first game plan.

The gym is the place to make mistakes and try different things out. It's good that Froch is getting sparring partners with ambition. It shows how seriously he is taking this fight.

I like both Groves and Froch (even though they don't like each other) and am so excited by this fight. I can't see how it won't set light at some stage.

columbo wrote:Also, Gomez, if you're reading this, is Carl's left arm ok? I and im sure others noticed he had it taped up.

I doubt it's a major problem, probably just a niggling injury, rare that fighters go into the ring without them, but looking at the strapping, it does look like he might have a bit of a problem with his bicep, but I don't think it will have much effect during the fight.