Originally posted by Sugarj
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He's always been crude and predictable but he has a tremendous fighting spirit that has compensated for that and has been the bedrock for his success. Even as a fan who prefers technical proficiency (boxing is a craft after all), I give him all the respect in the world for what he's achieved and brought to the sport. He's a bit like Malignaggi. Despite his glaring disadvantages he's found a way to succeed at world class level. This time round I don't think his toughness will be enough to see him last the distance, let alone get a victory.
From round one Groves timed the counter jab and right hand. So that's already down, Froch is at a disadvantage fighting on the outside. Because of the way Froch slips his right hand onto the inside of his chin when he throws the jab he's wide open to have his jab countered with a left hook. Groves has re-watched the fight enough to see that. That's going to be a problem for Froch. From the six round Groves was able to time his counter hooks on the inside. I'm surprised it took him that long, I think he gave Carl too much respect from a technical standpoint.
He's easy to counter on the inside. He plants his feet, stands square on, and bombards away without picking his shots, with his hands low, and his chin exposed. Left-right-left-right-left-right-left-right, with no variation. As soon as you feel his right hook touch your arm that's the cue for you to cover with your own right and fire off a tight left hook and vice versa to counter the left because you know what punch is coming next before he's even thrown it. Groves had success doing that later on in the fight and he'll apply that from round one. Froch will get clocked on the inside.
From the opening bell there is nowhere for him to go. All the loose threads in this game that he's gotten away with, will be picked apart, and he will unravel. I see him shipping so much punishment that even with his fighting spirit he'll be in no fit state to drag Groves out into deep water. I'll take my hat off to him if he lasts the distance, but his skill set doesn't make that likely.
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