A couple of thoughts RE Froch - Groves

[Memphis]

Groves surprised me with his strength and power. I didn't think he'd be able to cope physically with Froch but for most of that fight he was the boss in every way. Froch did as Froch does, he won the fight being a right hard cunt and walking through walls to get to his man.

Real shock to see Froch properly hurt for the first time. Taylor had him over but he wasn't really hurt, he's been buzzed several times but that was the first time I can recall him being 'gone' for a moment, he legs were still going as he was calling Groves on.

It surprises me to hear people say Froch looked crap. The thing is, he looked like he always does. For someone with so much success which cant be denied he still isn't that great at any one thing other than being a hard case. Groves was mobile, smart and it amplified the fact that Froch despite the Cobra moniker is a bit of a plodder.

The stoppage I don't have as big a problem with as most. Forget about the previous 24 minutes, its irrelevant, what matters is what the referee sees at the time and what he saw I think was a guy in trouble, bent double taking several unanswered shots and neither going down or showing signs of responding to it. Have a look at the angle they showed Robert Smith, that's the one the referee got and it showed Groves taking more punches than were seen by the live action camera that we saw. People talk about Froch being more hurt in the first than Groves was in the ninth. Again its irrelevant, Froch went over, you either get up or you don't, if you do it gives the referee a clear opportunity to see what state you're in. Getting stopped on your feet the way Groves did the referee has to act in a heartbeat, he doesn't get to look into your eyes for several seconds, ask you if your OK, he has to act.

The booing bothered me. Not the booing of the decision, everyone is entitled to their opinion but in true thick as fuck boxing fan style the boos that are initially directed at the decision end up being directed at the guy who didn't in their eyes get shafted. Lennox Lewis did nothing wrong other than carve Vitali Klitschko's face up yet gets treated like a villain. Carl Froch also did nothing wrong.

I didn't listen to every word that was spoken but I saw them both talk side by side at ringside and I don't see what problem people had with what was said. After that fight they eventually had a few words and cleared the air. Anyone that all of a sudden finds that Carl Froch is a bit of a cringe worthy interviewee and a bit of an arrogant cunt you're about 31 fights too late.

If they fight again I don't see any reason why anything will be any different. Groves is too fast and too good a boxer for Froch but Froch is a hard cunt and its just a case of whether Froch can catch up with him and get him out of there.

I don't think Adam Booth being there or not made any difference whatsoever. Groves fought a great fight, as well as he could I reckon. Trying to run away from Carl Froch for a few rounds to get over the line is asking for more trouble than most can handle, Groves included.

[smashup]

Groves surprised me with his strength and power. I didn't think he'd be able to cope physically with Froch but for most of that fight he was the boss in every way. Froch did as Froch does, he won the fight being a right hard cunt and walking through walls to get to his man.

Real shock to see Froch properly hurt for the first time. Taylor had him over but he wasn't really hurt, he's been buzzed several times but that was the first time I can recall him being 'gone' for a moment, he legs were still going as he was calling Groves on.

It surprises me to hear people say Froch looked crap. The thing is, he looked like he always does. For someone with so much success which cant be denied he still isn't that great at any one thing other than being a hard case. Groves was mobile, smart and it amplified the fact that Froch despite the Cobra moniker is a bit of a plodder.

The stoppage I don't have as big a problem with as most. Forget about the previous 24 minutes, its irrelevant, what matters is what the referee sees at the time and what he saw I think was a guy in trouble, bent double taking several unanswered shots and neither going down or showing signs of responding to it. Have a look at the angle they showed Robert Smith, that's the one the referee got and it showed Groves taking more punches than were seen by the live action camera that we saw. People talk about Froch being more hurt in the first than Groves was in the ninth. Again its irrelevant, Froch went over, you either get up or you don't, if you do it gives the referee a clear opportunity to see what state you're in. Getting stopped on your feet the way Groves did the referee has to act in a heartbeat, he doesn't get to look into your eyes for several seconds, ask you if your OK, he has to act.

The booing bothered me. Not the booing of the decision, everyone is entitled to their opinion but in true thick as fuck boxing fan style the boos that are initially directed at the decision end up being directed at the guy who didn't in their eyes get shafted. Lennox Lewis did nothing wrong other than carve Vitali Klitschko's face up yet gets treated like a villain. Carl Froch also did nothing wrong.

I didn't listen to every word that was spoken but I saw them both talk side by side at ringside and I don't see what problem people had with what was said. After that fight they eventually had a few words and cleared the air. Anyone that all of a sudden finds that Carl Froch is a bit of a cringe worthy interviewee and a bit of an arrogant cunt you're about 31 fights too late.

If they fight again I don't see any reason why anything will be any different. Groves is too fast and too good a boxer for Froch but Froch is a hard cunt and its just a case of whether Froch can catch up with him and get him out of there.

I don't think Adam Booth being there or not made any difference whatsoever. Groves fought a great fight, as well as he could I reckon. Trying to run away from Carl Froch for a few rounds to get over the line is asking for more trouble than most can handle, Groves included.

Agree with all of that bar the stoppage, Groves was still throwing punches as the ref moved in, def not unanswered infact he threw 4 or 5 punches back.
For me that stoppage just gets worse the more you watch it
Couple that with 2 of the scorecards which are insane and once again the darker side of the sport immediately springs to mind for me

[ryanman]

Groves surprised me with his strength and power. I didn't think he'd be able to cope physically with Froch but for most of that fight he was the boss in every way. Froch did as Froch does, he won the fight being a right hard cunt and walking through walls to get to his man.

Real shock to see Froch properly hurt for the first time. Taylor had him over but he wasn't really hurt, he's been buzzed several times but that was the first time I can recall him being 'gone' for a moment, he legs were still going as he was calling Groves on.

It surprises me to hear people say Froch looked crap. The thing is, he looked like he always does. For someone with so much success which cant be denied he still isn't that great at any one thing other than being a hard case. Groves was mobile, smart and it amplified the fact that Froch despite the Cobra moniker is a bit of a plodder.

The stoppage I don't have as big a problem with as most. Forget about the previous 24 minutes, its irrelevant, what matters is what the referee sees at the time and what he saw I think was a guy in trouble, bent double taking several unanswered shots and neither going down or showing signs of responding to it. Have a look at the angle they showed Robert Smith, that's the one the referee got and it showed Groves taking more punches than were seen by the live action camera that we saw. People talk about Froch being more hurt in the first than Groves was in the ninth. Again its irrelevant, Froch went over, you either get up or you don't, if you do it gives the referee a clear opportunity to see what state you're in. Getting stopped on your feet the way Groves did the referee has to act in a heartbeat, he doesn't get to look into your eyes for several seconds, ask you if your OK, he has to act.

The booing bothered me. Not the booing of the decision, everyone is entitled to their opinion but in true thick as fuck boxing fan style the boos that are initially directed at the decision end up being directed at the guy who didn't in their eyes get shafted. Lennox Lewis did nothing wrong other than carve Vitali Klitschko's face up yet gets treated like a villain. Carl Froch also did nothing wrong.

I didn't listen to every word that was spoken but I saw them both talk side by side at ringside and I don't see what problem people had with what was said. After that fight they eventually had a few words and cleared the air. Anyone that all of a sudden finds that Carl Froch is a bit of a cringe worthy interviewee and a bit of an arrogant cunt you're about 31 fights too late.

If they fight again I don't see any reason why anything will be any different. Groves is too fast and too good a boxer for Froch but Froch is a hard cunt and its just a case of whether Froch can catch up with him and get him out of there.

I don't think Adam Booth being there or not made any difference whatsoever. Groves fought a great fight, as well as he could I reckon. Trying to run away from Carl Froch for a few rounds to get over the line is asking for more trouble than most can handle, Groves included.

Agree with much of this but not the bit in bold. The action leading up to a stoppage should and does affect the decision. For instance if a fighter has been bashed around for 9 rounds, been down 3 times, is not going to win and then gets rocked, the ref would more likely step in to prevent further punishment. That definitely happens a lot and we say 'good stoppage'.
Likewise, if someone has dominated the fight and hasn't been badly hurt previously refs will generally give them time to get through the bad patch. It's right really. The ref should be making the best judgement they can with all of the available evidence - this includes the fight up to that point.

[Master]

Froch did an interview on Sky and he came across really well and humble. I take it back, he said groves should be proud of what he did in the ring and that he is willing to accept the rematch.

[FinitoElDinamita]

Froch did an interview on Sky and he came across really well and humble. I take it back, he said groves should be proud of what he did in the ring and that he is willing to accept the rematch.

His people probably advised him that it would be better to tone it down after seeing him come off as a total cunt in earlier interviews. It was damage control.. an act to save face and regain fans..

[Kirkland Laing]

Froch did an interview on Sky and he came across really well and humble. I take it back, he said groves should be proud of what he did in the ring and that he is willing to accept the rematch.

His people probably advised him that it would be better to tone it down after seeing him come off as a total cunt in earlier interviews. It was damage control.. an act to save face and regain fans..

Exactly. The Hearns would have been on the phone explaining that you made yourself look like a total classless cunt, we've got an team from Sky coming to see you to do an interview and this is what you say. It'll have killed Froch to say it. His real reaction you saw after the fight when he couldn't bring himself to talk to Groves and the whole thing nearly kicked off in the ring. That's the real Froch.

[ryanman]

Paddy Power have priced up the rematch and have Froch the 2/5 fave. Groves is 9/5. Pretty shocked by that.
I will be putting a wedge on Groves.