Retired super middleweight champion Carl Froch is fully backing Chris Eubank Jr. to defeat George Groves on Saturday night in their WBA, IBO unification showdown.
The two boxers will meet in the semi-finals of the World Boxing Super Series super middleweight tournament, which takes place at the Manchester Arena.
In the past, Froch has sparred with Eubank Jr. and he stopped Groves, twice, in tough competitive contests.
Groves believes that he will knock Eubank out cold inside the distance.
He does not expect Eubank to have the capability of taking his big punches.
Froch, who was dropped by Groves in their first bout and shaken up a few times in their exchanges, confirms that his former foe does pack a big punch.
"Trust me, he can punch and even against a proper super-middleweight, he is big. He will also bring a lot of experience and confidence now he is a world champion, but I think we are all aware of that," Froch said to Sky Sports.
"But what happens when - and if - Groves gets that right going? Eubank Jr has never taken anything like that before. He might suddenly think 'jeez, I am not going to be able to swarm him', because Groves is actually not just a decent boxer but one who can punch. Hard.
Despite the claims being made by Groves, who says he badly hurt Eubank during sparring sessions, Froch predicts that there will be no issues with Eubank being capable of taking Groves' shots.
However, Froch does admit that Groves is a very live dog in the contest and could very well pull off an 'upset' - and some will view it as an upset because Eubank has become the betting favorite heading into the fight.
"I actually believe he will. I know he is a hard, hard kid. I hit him as hard as I could in sparring but he just looked at me, shrugged and went at it again. Yes, we're talking about 16oz gloves and headguards back then and the fact that I know Groves can bang, but there is just something about Eubank Jr, that he won't be stopped. That doesn't mean he can't be beaten, though," Froch said.
"I know Eubank Jr is fitter but he's not that fit. He doesn't work for every second of every round, he only works in bursts and then needs a breather. Groves could keep him on the end of his jab, then tag him with a couple of those big rights - with little gloves - that Eubank Jr has never felt before. No, I am not changing my mind and I am still sticking with Eubank Jr winning, but the more I look at this, the more I hear Eubank Jr talk, the more I see him on the pads, in those sharp but short spurts, there is a very real chance Groves could prove me wrong."
