Everyone likes to make analogies with granite and iron, but we?re ultimately dealing with flesh and bone; materials that deteriorate en route to becoming dust?
The ticks are getting louder by the minute. Fans are wilting arguments down to nostril flairs as a sign of unease. Sky Sports are milking it. In fairness to the latter, they have every right to. This coming Saturday boxing will do something it hasn?t in a long time and escape the PPV wormhole. Your average geezer, the type who still draws a blank when you say Manny Pacquiao, is lowering his paper and trying to remember what channel box office is. 80,000 have already guaranteed their spot inside Wembley Stadium, a figure which recalls Dempsey-Carpentier, when boxing first punched its way into the millions. At 10 pm the football pitch will be swamped, save for a tiny speck in the middle where two men will go at it. Americans have the privilege of watching fireworks in the afternoon.
Carl Froch vs. George Groves II has tickled the nation, a sequel that needed to happen and promises to deliver. It?s a milestone in British boxing. There shouldn?t be any cause to fret over PPV numbers, and everyone should get their money?s worth. Chewing over this grand occasion I hope it?s a revival, not a one-off, and George Groves is the right man to crest a new wave of Olympic talent.
If the young challenger from Hammersmith, eleven years Carl?s junior, is able to underscore the wrongdoing of the first fight with a dominant show, his star will climb higher than Froch?s has ever been in 12 world title fights. Andre Ward becomes a mega-fight. British boxing welcomes a new dawn.
The settings are perfect for George. He has all the experience of the first fight, none of the scarring. Since Howard Foster made his silly move in the ninth, speculation on a rematch hasn?t stopped. Recently one man cut through the waffle. The difference between victory and defeat may boil down to one thing, something Adam Booth brought up ? whether his former pupil gets ?greedy.?
The best George Groves we ever saw craved more than a win. His advantages in movement and speed were overcome by a will to destroy. Prior to getting hurt in the last round, George uncharacteristically threw himself off balance with fully-loaded shots. He was giving Carl rope instead of reeling it in with clever boxing.
Given the success he had, and inexperience on the world stage, it can be forgiven.
Groves needs to cool his emotions and tighten up. A knockout blow isn?t required to sting Froch. The challenger wants to command ring center, snap the jab and keep that right cocked for the inevitable rush once frustration sets in. Carl might have the first say this time around, but with his opponent wielding the more explosive mitts, common sense tells you Froch will reconfigure after eating a few. From then on the plan will compose of picking his spots and gradually turning up the heat.
And this possible scenario brings us to what appears be the failsafe in the Froch gameplan. As Carl himself emphasized, ?George Groves hasn?t got twelve championship rounds in him.? The champion has arguably conceded the technical battle before it?s begun, and that?s why Groves needs to blow it wide open.
The jab will return with a thud, popping Carl when he leans forward and doubling up when he backs off. What?s missing is a left hook. It only made cameos last time. Hooking off the jab and firing the odd lead will not only puzzle Froch but conserve petrol. It?s easier to flick. You also maintain good posture. Furthermore it will sharpen the honey punch. Swinging a right off a hook is a great way to turn you into the blow, chin up. In the event Carl gets buzzed it?s vital to hunt in proportion to wobbles. The sixth, while a fantastic round, saw a boxer-puncher turn slugger. It?s not in Froch?s interests to be cute, and it?s not in George?s to cheapen his style.
Invariably he wants to keep it at long range. Froch makes his move spontaneously, punching from the hip. There is no sense in trying to fight his way out of mid-range. George has aired his concerns about rough tactics though he can?t bank on Carl playing nice, so locking arms would be wise. It will again frustrate the champion and Groves? fair complexion will be spared ? purple blotches are encouraging.
Between holding his ground, sticking the jab, slamming home counters and disabling the rough stuff, Groves has a clearer route to victory than Matchroom?s aging warrior.
But something tells me this fight will go off-road again.
Trainer Paddy Fitzpatrick has called five. Groves three. If they?re not blowing smoke ala James DeGale then either they?re underselling Froch, or the dangerous challenger is positive he can blast him into retirement. A swift finish isn?t out of the question and there are a growing number of brave bets popping up on Facebook.
Having capsized and nearly drowned last November, Carl?s assured us that we were observing ?the worst Carl Froch.? I?m not sold. To train as thoroughly as he does, logic points towards a boogieman. The only other time he fought somebody who could outbox and hurt him (Jermain Taylor) he got cracked with that same counter-cross. This vulnerability is akin to Ali?s for left hooks. It?s permanent.
There can be no doubt George was in trouble when the original ended, but the stoppage turned a blind eye to the condition Carl was in, breathing heavily, marked up. As he took various interviews afterwards you could see the extent of his injuries. Most notable was a swelling on the left side. A fat lip affected his speech. Everyone likes to make analogies with granite and iron, but we?re ultimately dealing with flesh and bone; materials that deteriorate en route to becoming dust.
Being convinced that toughness will bail you out is a dangerous game to play for a man pushing 37.
Answering one of the many faceless, Carl recently said ?It?s called boxing for a reason,? scalding his crude ways, but in order to win most believe he needs to contradict himself, bite down on that mouthpiece and keeping swinging until there?s rubble. It?s worked pretty well so far, and if that basic yet magical ability to endure is what decides an historic night, I trust George will join me, alongside 80,000 noisy fans, in saluting the better man.
What a moment that would be.
Provided it doesn?t vanish after smelling salts.
