Froch successfully defended his IBF/WBA super middleweight titles by knocking out George Groves with a picture-perfect right hand at 2:34 of the eighth round?
Saturday night at Wembley Stadium in London, England, Carl ?The Cobra? Froch (33-2, 34 KOs) successfully defended his IBF/WBA super middleweight titles by knocking out George Groves (19-2, 15 KOs) with a picture-perfect right hand at 2:34 of the eighth round.
The controversy surrounding their first fight on November 23, 2013 is now a distant memory. Froch wanted to avenge that victory, which was tainted by an early stoppage, and avenge it he did.
Fighting out of the blue corner in black trunks, it took a few rounds before Froch found his rhythm. Groves, fighting out of the red corner in blue trunks trimmed in white, put his youth (he?s 10 years younger than the champ) to good effect.
Both fighters were tentative in round one. They were cautious. They were respectful. They traded feints. They traded jabs. Groves tried to keep the action in the center of the ring. Froch obliged by rarely initiating. The round was as close as a round can be, with Groves slightly edging Froch, based on workrate alone, to take it 10-9.
Things heated up a bit in the second. Neither fighter was landing at first, but their clinches were significant. Given the opportunity, or making the most of an opportunity when it presented itself, Froch mauled and laced his opponent in close. He also pushed Groves to the canvas. The boxing resumed and they traded rights. But Groves was outworking the champ. He landed a beautiful straight right counter. Froch answered with a left hook at the bell.
Groves had landed 13 more punches that Froch after two rounds.
The 80,000 in attendance began booing in round three. They came to see a fight, not a game of chess, and expressed their displeasure in no uncertain terms. The fighters took turns landing right hands. Groves connected with two left hooks followed by a jab. Froch came back with a jab and hook of his own. Froch?s defense, or lack thereof, seemed ready-made for a speedster like Groves, who was ahead three to zip going into the fourth.
The tide began turning in round four. The technically superior Groves connected with a big right to get things started. No one likes getting hit as much as Carl Froch and he went on the attack. Groves landed a 1-2 followed by a right. The Cobra unleashed a left hook and jab that drove Groves to the ropes. Froch couldn?t capitalize as Groves slid out of harm?s way. They traded rights at ring center. Froch started working the body. He was behind on the scorecards, but that was about to change.
Froch gained the upper hand in the fifth. A flurry of punches got Groves? attention. A hard right wobbled him. Groves moved the action back to the center of the ring where he threw a right that was partially blocked. Froch landed five thudding shots to Groves body. War had finally broken out?and The Cobra had gotten the better of it. He landed 11 power punches to Saint George?s 3. More important, he had won the round.
Round six is when Froch took charge. He was relaxed. He was confident. Groves was slowing down. Froch sensed that he was there for the taking. Groves was still in it. He countered effectively and it was still anyone?s fight. But if Froch could sustain his killer instinct, it was only a matter of time.
Groves landed a jab followed by a left hook that stunned The Cobra to start the seventh. It looked like the momentum had shifted again. He caught Froch with a shot by the ear. Froch shook it off and caught Groves with a combination followed by a big right. With his back to the ropes, Groves landed a left to push Froch back. It was a close, action-packed round. The nod went to Froch.
Froch beat Groves to the punch at the start of round eight. Groves landed a jab upstairs and down. Froch landed a right and the two men traded right hands. Froch fired off another body shot. Then he feinted, threw a check left hook, and connected with a right that dropped Groves to the canvas. With his left leg twisted beneath him and his eyes swimming in his head, referee Charlie Fitch didn?t even bother to count. Carl Froch had won the fight and he had won it the way he wanted.
After the but Froch said he was ?Feeling unbelievably elated, the best moment in history of my boxing career. George Groves should also be proud. It was neck and neck, a close fight. Sometimes in professional boxing it only takes one punch. He was on the end of a right hand from a true seasoned champion.?
Truer words were never spoken, and it?s great to hear Carl Froch speak them.
