Froch to face Groenewald
In their first fight back from injury many fighters opt for a walkover. Not Carl Froch. He returns immediately to Championship action on December 2nd following successful surgery to repair a ruptured extensor hood on his right hand this summer.
The 28-year-old will defend his Commonwealth super middleweight title against Ramsgate based South African Ruben Groenewald at the Nottingham Arena - his hometown venue - on an event to be covered live by Sky Sports.
“I wanted to get straight back into a competitive fight,” explained Hennessy Sports promoted Froch, who is also the British champion and WBC #8. “I have got big plans for next year, so don’t want to be wasting time in one sided 8 rounders that teach me nothing.
“I have kept in shape throughout my injury, (first sustained in April when beating Henry Porras), and have already got in plenty of sparring to test my right hand, so a warm-up would be pointless.”
‘The Cobra’ will ensure that he is prime condition given the respect he has for his opponent. Whilst many will see him as a clear favourite going into this defence, he believes that he has got his hands full.
“I’ve got a fight on my hands here,” Froch, 16-0(12), continued. “Groenewald is a proud warrior who has had to do things the hard way. This is his big opportunity and he is going to do everything he can to take it.”
One glance at Groenewald’s record proves that he has the potential to succeed at title class. He has been in with high-level opposition, is a former all-African champion and has contested five 12-rounders. He also has a style that will cause anybody problems.
“He comes at you hard,” appraised Froch. “He is fit, strong, very determined and never gives up. Everything you don’t like to face really. He has never been stopped before, but he is coming up against the Cobra here. I am a cold-blooded predator.”
It would be understandable if Groenewald went into his shell against such an accomplished, confident operator. He wont, however, simply be intent on survival.
“I have been waiting around for an opportunity like this for three years so believe me, I am definitely coming to win,” the 28-year-old said. “It’s going to be two talented boxers going at each other. We are going to put on a show. It’s going to be a very good fight.”
Unlike previous challengers desperate for a way to unsettle a seemingly unshakeable champion, the South African has not resorted to slinging insults at Froch. Quite the opposite.
“I have the utmost respect for Carl for defending against me,” Groenewald continued. “Carl is taking on all comers and that to me is sign of a good boxer. I am very thankful to him and his promoter Mick Hennessy for this chance.
“I am not interested in getting involved in a slagging match like some other fighters have done. This is a good fight for the public and I don’t think that approach is good for the sport.”
As such, the challenger only comments on his opponent’s credentials in the best of terms.
“Carl is a very good fighter. I have seen bits of his most recent fights and he has looked good,” he added.
“Porras came to fight against him. If he was a bit younger he may have given him more of a challenge, but credit where it is due, Carl dealt with him well.
“All due respect to him as well for fighting Matthew Barney, he is an avoided man. He boxed well. I thought he was going to stop him in the later rounds, but Barney held on.”
So does Groenewald genuinely feel he can succeed where so many others have failed?
“Definitely,” he added. “I have proved that at super middleweight – a division I feel much more comfortable in – I can mix it with world class contenders.
“Last year I went to Germany and boxed former European champion Danilo Haussler, (over eight rounds). I beat him, but didn’t get the decision. I have asked for the rematch several times, but his people are not interested.
“I have also been sparring WBC champion Markus Beyer. I have been asking to fight him as well, but have been told that’s not going to happen. That says it all.”
Groenewald – who has now got his big fight - is a likeable and remarkably open character. There is one subject, however, he is not too keen to discuss.
“I don’t want to say too much about how I’m going to approach Froch. Lets just say he knows what he knows and I know what I know and leave it at that,” he finished.
Tickets for Carl Froch vs Ruben Groenewald at the Nottingham Arena on December 2nd can be bought on 0870 121 0123. For the latest bill please visit http://www.HennessySports.com.
Froch to face Groenewald
Could be worse, but I'm not overly thrilled with Groenwald. I suppose given the hand surgery that Froch has had it's probably fair enough.
If Froch is back to full fitness I think he'll soon solve Ruben out and give him a pounding. Groenwald is tough and he'll need to be.
Not the sort of match to get me running for a ticket, but pound to a penny that there will be good undercard from Hennssy, so it's probably worth whatever Hennessy is charging.
If Froch is back to full fitness I think he'll soon solve Ruben out and give him a pounding. Groenwald is tough and he'll need to be.
Not the sort of match to get me running for a ticket, but pound to a penny that there will be good undercard from Hennssy, so it's probably worth whatever Hennessy is charging.
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Slapsie Maxie
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 794
- Joined: 22 Jun 2004, 08:22
this is not a bad fight and RG is a tough old bugger
I have always had a soft spot for him since he beat Farnell on the hatton/McGee undercard.
I was sitting about two rows away from his brother who was screaming blue murder everytime Farnell hit RG in the crown jewels ( which was about once every 5 seconds if I recall )
When RG gave Farnell some of his own back the brother did a very bizarre little dance.
was convinced that Farnell would get a homer, so was very thrilled that RG was given the decision. Cue all too familiar scenes of AF crying and saying he had let his public down.
perhaps my least favourite domestic fighter since Keith Wallace.
Slapsie
I have always had a soft spot for him since he beat Farnell on the hatton/McGee undercard.
I was sitting about two rows away from his brother who was screaming blue murder everytime Farnell hit RG in the crown jewels ( which was about once every 5 seconds if I recall )
When RG gave Farnell some of his own back the brother did a very bizarre little dance.
was convinced that Farnell would get a homer, so was very thrilled that RG was given the decision. Cue all too familiar scenes of AF crying and saying he had let his public down.
perhaps my least favourite domestic fighter since Keith Wallace.
Slapsie
I hope Groenwald has improved since the Farnell fight/s, he looked good early but faded desperately towards the end.
I don't really like the match, would have prefered to have seen a world class name or someone eligable to fight for the British title - so that Froch can be one step closer to winning it outright.
I don't really like the match, would have prefered to have seen a world class name or someone eligable to fight for the British title - so that Froch can be one step closer to winning it outright.
perhaps my least favourite domestic fighter since Keith Wallace.
Christ on a bike, I'd forgotten about that chap.
Good shout Mr Slapsie. He made my flesh crawl too.
Never much of a fan of Tony Collins either, though I enjoyed seeing Andy Till bitchslapping him in '92.
Farnell always looked like a 12 year old who'd been put in detention when it was someone else's fault.
Click 'quote' in the right hand corner of the persons post you want to highlight and its all done for you, then just type what you want under it then submit.deadpan wrote:Er, never tried using 'quote' before.
Explains how I made a pig's dick of it.
I'm very dissapointed about Groenewald as the opponent, wouldn't have minded seeing him matched against Haussler, Sanavia or even Veit.
Not the best opponent I think we are all aggreed but legitimate after an injory to get fitness back aginast a juroble opponent who is likely to last rounds, not seen him fight but have seen froch struggle to look good against some come forward african fighters (Velery Odin, charls Adamu) as he can't get enough distance when they are in his face, in both fights he took over when they couldn't sustain the pace and I imagen that is what will happen with this one.
If this is a tune up it would be good to see him in with someone a bit more seriouse (Vite, Haussler etc), anyone know if the Haussler decsion was really a homer.
If this is a tune up it would be good to see him in with someone a bit more seriouse (Vite, Haussler etc), anyone know if the Haussler decsion was really a homer.