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Carl Froch and George Groves trade barbs in search of title advantage Carl Froch and George Groves trade barbs in search of title advantage
(3 months later)
Carl Froch and George Groves have exchanged pushes, acrid barbs and a handshake that turned into a tug of war in the protracted build-up to Saturday’s rematch at Wembley Stadium – but Froch now believes he is winning the psychological battle after sensing the “magnitude of the event” has dawned on his “subdued” opponent. Carl Froch and George Groves have exchanged pushes, acrid barbs and a handshake that turned into a tug of war in the protracted build-up to Saturday’s rematch at Wembley Stadium – but Froch now believes he is winning the psychological battle after sensing the “magnitude of the event” has dawned on his “subdued” opponent.
But Groves, who was surrounded by a dozen personal bodyguards at Thursday’s final press conference, laughed off suggestions that his understated demeanour betrayed any weakness.But Groves, who was surrounded by a dozen personal bodyguards at Thursday’s final press conference, laughed off suggestions that his understated demeanour betrayed any weakness.
“I don’t need to antagonise Carl,” he said. “I want him to be at peace because it is dawning on him that his day of reckoning is fast approaching. He is going to have to face the inevitable. He is like a man on death row.” “I don’t need to antagonise Carl,” he said. “I want him to be at peace because it is dawning on him that his day of reckoning is fast approaching. He is going to have to face the inevitable. He is like a man on death row.”
Both claim they are in best shape of their lives. They have done all they can to get a physical advantage; it is perhaps only understandable that they are scratching around for a psychological edge, too.Both claim they are in best shape of their lives. They have done all they can to get a physical advantage; it is perhaps only understandable that they are scratching around for a psychological edge, too.
But Froch, who is already on the 12-stone limit for the defence of his WBA and IBF super-middleweight titles, scents he has the psychological advantage after conceding that Groves got to him before the first fight.But Froch, who is already on the 12-stone limit for the defence of his WBA and IBF super-middleweight titles, scents he has the psychological advantage after conceding that Groves got to him before the first fight.
“I was expecting him to try to get under my skin again,” Froch said. “He’s put himself in a position where he’s told everyone that the first fight was stonewall robbery. But he knows when he looked in the mirror the following morning,his face was all swollen, he had two black eyes and a swollen lip, and lumps all over his head.He knows his legs were gone and he knows he was in trouble when the ref stopped the fight.”“I was expecting him to try to get under my skin again,” Froch said. “He’s put himself in a position where he’s told everyone that the first fight was stonewall robbery. But he knows when he looked in the mirror the following morning,his face was all swollen, he had two black eyes and a swollen lip, and lumps all over his head.He knows his legs were gone and he knows he was in trouble when the ref stopped the fight.”
As they posed for photographs, Froch slung his WBA and IBF belts across each shoulder and puffed out his chest; it was act of such overt manliness it would have come as little surprise if he had also ripped off his black tracksuit and revealed a gold medallion. But through it all Groves kept glaring, fist up, trying to bore into his opponent’s brain.As they posed for photographs, Froch slung his WBA and IBF belts across each shoulder and puffed out his chest; it was act of such overt manliness it would have come as little surprise if he had also ripped off his black tracksuit and revealed a gold medallion. But through it all Groves kept glaring, fist up, trying to bore into his opponent’s brain.
Groves, who was controversially stopped in their first fight, was unusually quiet – and even his comment that he would finish Froch with a left hook sounded a little like an afterthought.Groves, who was controversially stopped in their first fight, was unusually quiet – and even his comment that he would finish Froch with a left hook sounded a little like an afterthought.
But the Londoner insisted he would not crumble in the “gladiatorial atmosphere” he expects on Saturday night. “I’ve always been able to stay calm in high-pressure situations,” Groves said. “I never get nervous and I’m always very confident to the point where some people think I’m cocky.”But the Londoner insisted he would not crumble in the “gladiatorial atmosphere” he expects on Saturday night. “I’ve always been able to stay calm in high-pressure situations,” Groves said. “I never get nervous and I’m always very confident to the point where some people think I’m cocky.”
The security guards, he explained, were because Froch had pushed him over when the pair last met at Wembley. “He’s not the coolest customer under pressure and this is a high-pressure situation so it doesn’t hurt to be cautious, especially when you are the away fighter,” he said.The security guards, he explained, were because Froch had pushed him over when the pair last met at Wembley. “He’s not the coolest customer under pressure and this is a high-pressure situation so it doesn’t hurt to be cautious, especially when you are the away fighter,” he said.
Froch just shrugged the burly guardsmen off, just like he expects to do to his opponent’s challenge. “He must have had 20 security guards; if it makes him feel good, let him carry on. There will only be two people in the ring plus the referee. I am convinced this fight won’t go the distance, he won’t hear the final bell.”Froch just shrugged the burly guardsmen off, just like he expects to do to his opponent’s challenge. “He must have had 20 security guards; if it makes him feel good, let him carry on. There will only be two people in the ring plus the referee. I am convinced this fight won’t go the distance, he won’t hear the final bell.”
Froch believes he has another significant advantage because his trainer, Rob McCracken, a leading amateur who fought for a world title as a professional, has far more experience than Paddy Fitzpatrick, who coaches Groves.Froch believes he has another significant advantage because his trainer, Rob McCracken, a leading amateur who fought for a world title as a professional, has far more experience than Paddy Fitzpatrick, who coaches Groves.
“Rob has boxed at every level, amateur and professional,” he said. “I don’t know where Groves’ confidence comes from in terms of his corner because his coach has a 0-5 record. Five fights, five losses, three by the way of big knockout. I give anyone who has boxed respect for getting in the ring, but I don’t think that’s ideal.”“Rob has boxed at every level, amateur and professional,” he said. “I don’t know where Groves’ confidence comes from in terms of his corner because his coach has a 0-5 record. Five fights, five losses, three by the way of big knockout. I give anyone who has boxed respect for getting in the ring, but I don’t think that’s ideal.”