Froch: I will be the first to stop Groenewald

Wellington · Post by **Wellington** » 30 Nov 2005, 08:40

Froch: I will be the first to stop Groenewald

Commonwealth super middleweight champion Carl Froch has promised his hometown fans that he will hit the knockout trail once again this Friday at the Nottingham Arena by inflicting the first ever stoppage defeat on South African challenger Ruben Groenewald.

Despite impressing, the 28-year-old local favourite was taken the distance last time out in July at the same venue by the ultra elusive Matthew Barney, the then mandatory contender for the British title he also holds. It is not an experience he intends to repeat.

“I won’t be hearing the final bell again. That proper pissed me off,” Froch admitted of the fight against Barney, who in his last outing had, by all accounts, outboxed European light heavyweight champion and the then WBC #1 Thomas Ulrich in Germany, only to suffer a hometown decision.

“Even though I boxed well against a tough opponent, it was really frustrating. I went in against Barney with a damaged right hand and could only put half power into my big shots. I couldn’t get a full glove on him. I hurt him loads of times throughout the fight, I was doing what I liked with him. Without the injury, I know I would have stopped him and given the fans the finish they wanted.”

With the ruptured extensor hood he first suffered in his breathtaking win over the then WBC #11Henry Porras in April fully healed following successful surgery this summer, Froch goes into the Groenewald fight full of confidence.

“My preparation for Ruben has gone brilliantly,” Froch, 16-0 (12 KO’s), added. “The hand seems to be fine, it has held up in heavy sparring so I feel at my best. I’m going to have to be against Groenewald.

“He is going to come here looking for a toe to toe. He’s going to come and want to draw me into a fight, he’s going to want it in a telephone box. But that’s not happening straight away.

“For three or four rounds I am going to make it easy on myself. I am going to outbox him and show him what I can do, but then I know my fighting spirit will get the better of me and I am going to stand and have a good old fashioned punch-up.

“Then I will definitely stop him. I know he is tough, has fought several title fights, is bull strong and has never been stopped before, but he won’t be able to take the Cobra’s venom. I’m the cold-blooded predator.”

Froch is well up on his challenger. The pair shared a ring several years ago and contested several hard fought rounds.

“I know Ruben. I have got a lot of time for him,” he continued. “I have watched a lot of his fights and we sparred before I went to the world amateur championships in 2001. He was doing well, I was a bit green, but I still managed to assert myself with a couple of lead right uppercuts.”

“Cold-blooded predator’ takes place at the Nottingham Arena on Friday 2nd December. Tickets are available on 0870 121 0123. The undercard features a historical fight for the WBC Youth Lightweight World Title between Manchester’s John Murray and Colombia’s Nacho Mendoza. For the latest bill please visit http://www.HennessySports.com.

Slapsie Maxie · Post by **Slapsie Maxie** » 30 Nov 2005, 09:07

I have always had a soft spot for RG since he whacked Farnell in the nuts during their first fight

Farnell was doing his usual low blows most of which got no response from the ref ( Vann or Paris can't recall.)

When RG gave him one back, you'd have thought AF had been shot. Wanker. Always despised him as a fighter.

Still, I suspect Froch is not far off on his view of how things will go although RG will take some stopping

Slapsie

everyhookinthebook · Post by **everyhookinthebook** » 30 Nov 2005, 10:28

Groenewald is 10/1 with bet 365, i think its decent odds, he is fresh from some great sparring in denmark and germany,
by all accounts he held his own with Kessler in sparring.
I,m having a bet.

DavidPayne · Post by **DavidPayne** » 30 Nov 2005, 10:51

Didn't he fight Haussler in an eight rounder and claim he was jobbed.

knockout · Post by **knockout** » 30 Nov 2005, 10:56

He faded quiet badly down the stretch with Farnell didnt he??????

my memory is letting me down a bit... if his stamina is suspect he will struggle to go the distance against a naturally bigger man like Froch...

He doesnt have the punch to exploit Froch's hands down style either...

liamlion · Post by **liamlion** » 30 Nov 2005, 13:39

At the end of the day Groenewald is a tough, but average middleweight. Im dissapointed with this fight. Froch is 28 yrs old, he needs to get on with things.

A few of the Hennessey boys seem to be standing still at present.

leforge · Post by **leforge** » 30 Nov 2005, 14:59

Froch will make his move next year him v Magee at some point

liamlion · Post by **liamlion** » 30 Nov 2005, 15:14

I would really like to see Froch fight Robin Reid. Though saying that Robin Reid has been in some really ugly fights of recent.

E · Post by E » 30 Nov 2005, 16:35

Groenewald is a tough Middleweight, but nothing more.

I expect Carl will 'smoke his boots'.

steve689 · Post by **steve689** » 30 Nov 2005, 17:20

Yeah i back Froch inside 10 rounds, Groenewald is tough but Froch doesn't need too many of these calibre of fights, he should be looking for a tough one every time at 28 years old.