The November
2013 fight between three-time Super-Middleweight world champion Carl Froch and
top contender George Groves is remembered by many for the somewhat
controversial way that the fight ended.
Groves, who was undefeated in nineteen professional fights heading into
the encounter, was making his first attempt at a world championship against a
fighter who has been a cornerstone of the Super-Middleweight division for
several years in Froch.
The quick
handed Groves made his presence known almost immediately dropping the champion
with a solid right hand in the closing stages of the first round. Groves’
timing, hand speed, and lateral movement were the story for much of this fight.
Although Froch was able to rally in the second half of the fight, the opinion
of most, this observer included was that the challenger was ahead in the fight
as it entered the ninth round.
Froch was
able to land a right hand that staggered Groves. The follow-up barrage by the
champion caused Referee Howard Foster to stop the fight in controversial
fashion. Although he was clearly staggered, Groves did not go down from the
barrage and the stoppage was seen by most, including myself as early.
Some readers
might remember my comments in the days following the first fight last November.
Even though it was my belief that Foster stopped the fight early, it was
clearly a case of a referee exercising his discretion. Despite my opinion that
the fight was stopped prematurely, I did state that it was possible that Foster
may have seen something in Groves’ body language that might have indicated that
he was in trouble and prompted him to stop the contest.
The
circumstances however, of which this fight ended has certainly left unfinished
business between the two fighters. I concluded my thoughts last November by
saying that although some may have been of the opinion that Foster acted in the
best interest of Froch by stopping the fight in the manner he did, I strongly
disagreed. I went on to say that a rematch between Froch and Groves was
warranted and should happen as soon as possible.
Sometimes it
can be all too tempting to focus on the negative aspects of the sport. No sport
is perfect and Boxing has certainly had it’s share of controversy throughout
it’s history that can and often has left a negative impression on fans. The
beauty of Boxing however, is that when controversy in a fight arises there is
always the potential for a remedy known by one word, rematch.
Even though
many of the sport’s detractors have often criticized Boxing’s respective
governing bodies, the International Boxing Federation (IBF) does deserve credit
for taking action in ordering an immediate rematch between Froch and Groves
earlier this year. If nothing else, by the IBF ordering an immediate rematch as
quickly as it did, it shows that the sport’s governing bodies are not oblivious
to controversy when it occurs and in the case of the IBF has shown that it will
take steps to remedy a controversial situation.
Quite
frankly, a rematch needed to happen not only for Boxing fans, but more
importantly for the fighters themselves. A rematch offers the perfect
opportunity for Froch and Groves to settle unfinished business.
The key to
this fight in my mind will be whether Froch can negate George Groves’ speed and
timing. In the first fight, Groves consistently beat Froch to the punch and was
able to make him miss, make him pay, and catch Froch in between his offense. It
will be interesting to see whether Froch will be able to utilize timing in
order to negate Groves’ quick hands and neutralize his lateral movement.
It is hard
not to argue based on how the first encounter between the two was fought that
George Groves does not have an advantage heading into the rematch. Froch
however, was able to have his moments occasionally throughout the fight before
the controversial stoppage. Groves was able to outbox Froch for the majority of
the first encounter, but was willing to get in and mix it up with the champion.
As the
rematch approaches I believe it will be in Groves’ best interest to attempt to
box Froch from the start and attempt to avoid getting into a rough toe to toe
battle where one might argue Froch has an advantage. There is also the
possibility that the anger over the stoppage of the first fight could influence
how Groves approaches the rematch.
It could
favor Froch if Groves elects to go toe to toe, perhaps looking to catch Froch
early like he did in the first fight when he knocked him down and had been
badly hurt in the first round. It was not however, Groves engaging toe to toe
that led to the knockdown. It was Groves’ timing that set up Froch for the
right hand that dropped him. If Groves can repeat the tactical, measured way
that he approached Froch in the first fight and avoid being baited into a toe to
toe battle, we could see a new champion emerge.
Perhaps the
biggest element of this rematch is not who will be able to make any tactical
adjustments from the first fight. A key element will be focused on the third
man in the ring. American referee Charlie Fitch will be charged with the task
of officiating the rematch.
It will be
interesting to see how Fitch will respond if circumstances emerge where a fighter
appears staggered, but is still on his feet as Groves was when the first fight
was stopped or if one of the fighters appears to be badly hurt as Froch did
early on in the first fight.
If this fight
does not go the distance, it is my hope that at minimum there will be a
conclusive ending that will not center too much on questions regarding a referee
exercising his discretion as to when to stop the fight. Fitch, who has
previously officiated five world championship fights arguably has the most
important assignment of his career in refereeing this rematch.
No matter
what happens when Froch and Groves meet for the second time on Saturday night,
the magnitude of this rematch can be demonstrated by where it will take place.
Wembley Stadium will play host to it’s first fight card since 1995 when British
legend Frank Bruno won the WBC Heavyweight world championship by defeating
Oliver McCall and the first card to take place since the stadium reopened in
2007.
With some
expecting between 60,000 to 80,000 in attendance for the rematch between Froch
and Groves, it is my hope that the rematch will be remembered as a memorable night
in Boxing history for the right reasons. Whether or not the fight lives up to
the magnitude of the event remains to be seen.
“And That’s
The Boxing Truth.”
The Boxing
Truth® is registered a trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.
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Denison on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Beau_Denison
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