Froch Groves II Poster

Cobra Strikes! Carl Froch Uses Perfect Timings To Knock Out Faster Punching Groves

By Robert Brizel, Head RCM Boxing Correspondent

London, UK (June 1st, 2014)– By Carl ‘The Cobra’ Froch’s own admission, George Groves, is a better, faster, more superior boxer in terms of accuracy and speed of punches. The big question at Wembley before the Froch versus Groves rematch was whether or not Carl Froch was finally done nearing age 37, or whether the immediate rematch the British public demanded was in reality ill-advised. Froch retained his International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Association Super World Super Middleweight titles in spectacular fashion, knocking out George Groves in the eighth round of a scheduled 12 rounder.

Froch distracted Groves with a feigned left hook to the head with Groves along the ropes, then nailed him in close with an overhand straight power right with send Groves, trying to counter, down on his back knocked out.

Groves is not yet in the league of a super champion. Froch’s entire game was to drag the less experienced Groves into deep uncharted waters, which translated meant the eighth round on. Groves had won 12 round decisions over Glen Johnson and James DeGale, which was not enough to jump to the world championship level.

Froch appeared to take this bout more seriously than his bout with Groves last November, a ninth round stoppage which saw Froch on the canvas in the first round. In the rematch, Froch was warned for holding behind the head in round one. In a bizarre break by referee Charlie Fitch, Froch wrestled Groves to the canvas. Groves appeared to just win those first two rounds. Froch waged a solid technical performance in rounds three through six to win them by outworking Groves.

With 80 thousand fans watching in the new Wembley Stadium in London, United Kingdom, and millions watching on Pay-Per-View, Las Vegas is undoubtedly the next conquest for Froch, who seems to have hit Floyd Mayweather Jr. like worldwide mega following, at least in Europe. Froch could retire now on the Pay-Per-View percentage he got paid for fighting Groves again, in excess of seven million British Pounds.

Groves, from London, falls to 19-2, 15 knockouts, and expressed hope in the future for a second rematch with Froch. Meanwhile, mandatory challenger James DeGale appears next for Froch, now 33-2, 24 knockouts, Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom. DeGale won the IBF eliminator for the right to fight Froch earlier in the night, by knocking down and stopping 18-0-1 American pretender Brandon Gonzales in the fourth round.

Result: Carl Froch KO 8 George Groves, Super middleweights (1:48)

Froch retains the IBF and WBA Super World Super Middleweight Titles

Referee: Charlie Fitch. IBF Supervisor: Daryl Peoples. WBA Supervisor: Jesper Jensen.

Froch spoke after the win. “This is the most important moment of my career. Let’s be honest, it was neck and neck for me and George. Sometimes in professional boxing it only takes one punch. It shows one punch can make all the difference, one right hand from a true seasoned champion. I was very calm. I’ve got a bit more reach and heart than George, timing beats speed. The main adjustment was I timed my right hand perfectly. Last time I was rushing it. The game plan was executed perfectly tonight. I knew I closed the gap. As soon as I closed the gap and landed the right hand, I knew it. I was working on it in the gym. The finish of it shows it, how hard it is to get to that level. I’d love to box in Las Vegas, Vegas is the boxing capital of the world.”

Groves spoke in a conciliatory tone. “It’s boxing. He (Froch) caught me. I went down. I felt I was doing very well in the fight. Carl caught me with a shot. I’ll come back, better and stronger. I feel like I let myself down, congratulations to Carl, fair play, I congratulation and all the best. Bad blood “I go about my business. I was ahead on the scorecards. I’ll be pushing for my world title shot, if Carl is still fighting, I’ll be pushing to fight Carl again. I’m still young, I’m going to improve for this fight. I made a mistake, a silly mistake, I left my chin open for a right hand. We’ll come back stronger. We had a good camp, we had no excuses. We improve week in and week out. We’ll come back stronger.”

Undercard Bouts at National Wembley Stadium in London

James DeGale TKO 4 Brandon Gonzales, Super Middleweights

International Boxing Federation Eliminator Bout (2:38). Gonzales down in fourth round.

Kevin Mitchell TKO 11 Ghislain Maduma, Lightweights (2:56)

Jamie McConnell TKO 10 Tabtimdaeng Na Rachawat, Bantamweights

McConnell Wins Vacant World Boxing Association World Bantamweight Title (2:00)

Anthony Joshua KO 1 Matt Legg, Heavyweights (1:23)

Martin Ward Technical Draw 1 Ian Bailey, Super Featherweights (1:41)

Gamal Yafai TKO 1 Jack Health, Super Bantamweights (2:40)

Heath down twice. Special optional add on swing bout to Froch-Groves card.

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