David Haye: Froch Now Knows Groves is World Class

By Edward Chaykovsky

Former two-division world champion David Haye is 100% sure that IBF/WBA 'regular' super middleweight champion Carl Froch has a lot more respect for his domestic rival George Groves. The rematch takes place at Wembley on May 31. Last November, Froch predicted a violent, and easy, knockout victory. Instead Froch was dropped hard in the first round and battered during the contest, before securing a controversial ninth round stoppage.

"I know George has come from a good amateur to a world-class boxer, and I've seen that behind closed doors. Before the fight with Carl everyone said 'it's going to be a blow-out job, he's only fought at domestic level,'" Haye told Sky Sports Ringside.

Haye added: "There's two schools of thought: George 100% knows (his ability). Before he thought it but didn't know it. Now he knows he's world class and that gives you that advantage going into the second one.

"For Carl, he didn't take George seriously, he didn't believe he was world class. I know it, he pretty much told me that. But he knows now. So now he's going to be preparing for a world class opponent, mentally. Physically Carl is always in great shape. But it's mentally, going to sleep knowing 'my whole life's on the line, I could be knocked out!' So you've got an argument for both guys."