Fight Night Thread.

[hampo17]

First topic message reminder :

Massive night of boxing ahead. Whose in for the long haul and staying up for the Pacquiao vs Rios fight?

Rocky Fielding is up first on SBO at 6pm.

[Rick James]

I've had enough of this corrupt sport. Can't say I'll never watch a fight again, as I may tune in as a casual fan at some point in the future.

Even on these boards, you have you go through 80% wummery, waffle, idiocy to get some half decent content. It's not worth the effort.

Would just like to congratulate Groves in my final post.

He showed us to tonight that with a good heart, skills, hard work and determination, a single man can stand up to a multimillion pound PR juggernaut and unveil a great deception.

Well done Groves! We could all learn from what you achieved tonight.

It reminded me of Rocky IV when he entires the Russian arena being booed, and leaves with everyone cheering him.

[Champagne_Socialist]

Froch has looked slow since 2011 when he lost to Ward. Yes he has won fights but that is with power not speed. Froch has no chance against Ward in a rematch so what next for Froch?

[Champagne_Socialist]

I've had enough of this corrupt sport. Can't say I'll never watch a fight again, as I may tune in as a casual fan at some point in the future.

Even on these boards, you have you go through 80% wummery, waffle, idiocy to get some half decent content. It's not worth the effort.

Would just like to congratulate Groves in my final post.

He showed us to tonight that with a good heart, skills, hard work and determination, a single man can stand up to a multimillion pound PR juggernaut and unveil a great deception.

Well done Groves! We could all learn from what you achieved tonight.

It reminded me of Rocky IV when he entires the Russian arena being booed, and leaves with everyone cheering him.  

Problem is some people on these boards are big froch fans and they also hate groves so they see things with rose tinted glasses. Groves was clearly winning and the stoppage was premature. Hopefully there is a rematch.

[Guest]

rematch but that's another 6 months down the line, aint getting froch any closer to a ward fight, which was his plan. dont see the point in rematch, no point in kesslerIII, so i'd just call it a day. got outboxed all night really, just power saved him. he's slowed down too. ward n golovkin superior on all levels.

[Hammersmith harrier]

Golovkin is a small middleweight without the speed to make up for the size difference, I doubt very much he punches harder than Groves either. Ward yes is superior in each and every way but lets not start including relatively unproven middleweights, I remember a time when Abraham was highly thought of.

[Champagne_Socialist]

rematch but that's another 6 months down the line, aint getting froch any closer to a ward fight, which was his plan. dont see the point in rematch, no point in kesslerIII, so i'd just call it a day. got outboxed all night really, just power saved him. he's slowed down too. ward n golovkin superior on all levels.

Problem is the rematch would be massive in terms of PPV numbers.not sure he could turn that down.

[PPVxHOTTY]

rematch but that's another 6 months down the line, aint getting froch any closer to a ward fight, which was his plan. dont see the point in rematch, no point in kesslerIII, so i'd just call it a day. got outboxed all night really, just power saved him. he's slowed down too. ward n golovkin superior on all levels.

Dont even mention Froch and Ward in same category, on this fight Groves will give Ward more a fight. My take on Froch v Ward in UK..... Ward wins 11 rounds out of 11 in 12th Froch lands a flurry and ref will jump in and stop it.

[Guest]

Froch doesn't have anything left to prove.  He has shown himself to be the second best super-middleweight - he is probably the best warrior, has a granite chin, tends to get stronger in the second half of fights, knows how to finish fighters off, but he doesn't have the skill sets to beat a technician such as a Ward.

I am wondering whether Groves might be someone who could develop to challenge Ward - but I was disappointed with the punishment he started to take in the latter rounds, when maybe the smart thing to do was to cover up and go for a walk around the ring - at least to get a breather round in.

[hogey]

I am not even gonna bother to watch the Manny fight now, that bullcack stoppage has sickened me to the point i cant be bothered with anymore tonight.
Well done George Groves its a shame that you were not given the same chance to recover that Eddies international superstar was when hurt.

[PPVxHOTTY]

Imagine if Warren was promoter tonight many on this board would boycott following boxing.

[Dass]

I went into this fight not really knowing who I wanted to win, it was one of those weird fights where I wanted both guys to come out on top. Regardless of the outcome I got 9 rounds of tremendous action and when so many big fights can fail to deliver this certainly didn't.

At the time of the stoppage I had it 77-74 Groves, still close enough for the fight to swing either way as a points decision and as for the action in the ring still close enough that either fighter could have been stopped in those remaining rounds.

That's where I feel the ref spoiled the fight by not giving us that satisfying conclusion of seeing which man would have had the bigger reserve to win the fight via points or stoppage. Groves certainly was on his way down for me when the stoppage came so that would have been a 10-8 to Froch and made my cards that much closer with only 3 more to go, it was a fight on a knife edge.

I did feel even if the fight had been allowed to reach its natural conclusion and Froch even managed to win Groves would have come out the fight better. Experience and the ability to manage his stamina over the course of a fight cost him a bit tonight but thats something you learn and come back better from.

Fantastic fight from both though and much credit needs to go to Froch for just still being in there cos in those rounds he lost for me h shipped some massive punishment. Groves boxed superbly and will learn massively from tonight knowing he deserves to be in with the top guys of the division.

In the end its just a shame a premature refereeing decision overshadowed a wonderful fight and two boxers who each gave us a great fight.

[ShahenshahG]

Aye. Same for me. Good night. Gents

[Strongback]

Milky,

Groves was all at sea, maybe he could have absorbed it and came back but looking at the fight honestly do you think the greater certainty from that position was Froch closing the show or Groves coming back???

Its a real shame we didnt get to find out for sure but for me I think Groves was going sooner rather than later..

Haito, at that moment in time you'd say froch closing the show was more likely, but far from a certainty. Like I'd have fancied Castillo to close the show against corralles half way through the tenth. It doesn't matter who would probably have won, what matters is it was a terrible stoppage.

It was a disgusting stoppage that reeks of corruption. The ref was a disgrace throughout the fight and looked like he was in the pocket. The judges who had it 76-75 the same.

It terms of Groves I see it that it was within his control to win the fight after his great start but he showed a lack of composure and experience in the face of the Froch comeback. It was clear after the 6th that Groves punches had lost their pop as Froch was happy to take Groves' right hand to land his own punches, this certainly wasn't the case earlier in the fight when Groves was sickening Froch with hard punches. Froch's experience of being in tough fights eventually stood to him.

From the 6th round I though Groves was significantly slowing down. Before that his hands were so fast Froch couldn't see the punches coming.

To me and I posted it at the start of the 7th the fight was turning Frochs way and I could only see him winning it.

Groves demonstrated enough to show he has the beating of Froch. I see it that Froch has faded. He'll get beaten again soon and quite possibly by Groves if they rematch.

[tunes666]

Degales narrowly loss to Groves doesn't look so bad now.  Froch v Degale next?

to be honest where else can Froch go?

Groves rematch, ok
Ward Rematch, after how slow he looked tonight I would say it would be a bad move
step up a weight?, dont think he wants to do that...
Kessler 3?, I personally think that one is done.

To be honest he could retire while his record is decent. Groves will get better and Froch will get slower.

Degale may be an option, would be quite interesting to see how Degale raises to the occasion, he does not have Georges power but think he can also make Froch look slow and he has the ability to sustain out boxing Carl and getting a points win. That being said he has struggled with pressure fighters and if he hangs around the ropes like he has done then he would also probably get stopped late on as well.

[ShahenshahG]

I feel sorry for jeff and chris more the former than the latter as he was gutted to miss out on bute fight and now this.

[tunes666]

Milky,

Groves was all at sea, maybe he could have absorbed it and came back but looking at the fight honestly do you think the greater certainty from that position was Froch closing the show or Groves coming back???

Its a real shame we didnt get to find out for sure but for me I think Groves was going sooner rather than later..

Haito, at that moment in time you'd say froch closing the show was more likely, but far from a certainty. Like I'd have fancied Castillo to close the show against corralles half way through the tenth. It doesn't matter who would probably have won, what matters is it was a terrible stoppage.

It was a disgusting stoppage that reeks of corruption.  The ref was a disgrace throughout the fight and looked like he was in the pocket.  The judges who had it 76-75 the same.

It terms of Groves I see it that it was within his control to win the fight after his great start but he showed a lack of composure and experience in the face of the Froch comeback.  It was clear after the 6th that Groves punches had lost their pop as Froch was happy to take Groves' right hand to land his own punches, this certainly wasn't the case earlier in the fight when Groves was sickening Froch with hard punches.  Froch's experience of being in tough fights eventually stood to him.

From the 6th round I though Groves was significantly slowing down. Before that his hands were so fast Froch couldn't see the punches coming.

To me and I posted it at the start of the 7th the fight was turning Frochs way and I could only see him winning it.

Groves demonstrated enough to show he has the beating of Froch.  I see it that Froch has faded. He'll get beaten again soon and quite possibly by Groves if they rematch.

I agree with most of that, although "disgusting"? "corruption"? really? .. Groves had taken three shots, two of them flush, his hands where down he was hanging forward and trying to run away, and Froch was coming forward for more. Yes he was not unconscious and yes he had the right to try and weather the storm, But looking at the reply George showed no signs of doing so at that point... It was early yes but no way corrupt IMO

its a shame the reff did not let him take a count so at least when Froch did go on to finish him it would not be such a tarnished ending, and iot was a bloody good fight.

[Strongback]

Milky,

Groves was all at sea, maybe he could have absorbed it and came back but looking at the fight honestly do you think the greater certainty from that position was Froch closing the show or Groves coming back???

Its a real shame we didnt get to find out for sure but for me I think Groves was going sooner rather than later..

Haito, at that moment in time you'd say froch closing the show was more likely, but far from a certainty. Like I'd have fancied Castillo to close the show against corralles half way through the tenth. It doesn't matter who would probably have won, what matters is it was a terrible stoppage.

It was a disgusting stoppage that reeks of corruption.  The ref was a disgrace throughout the fight and looked like he was in the pocket.  The judges who had it 76-75 the same.

It terms of Groves I see it that it was within his control to win the fight after his great start but he showed a lack of composure and experience in the face of the Froch comeback.  It was clear after the 6th that Groves punches had lost their pop as Froch was happy to take Groves' right hand to land his own punches, this certainly wasn't the case earlier in the fight when Groves was sickening Froch with hard punches.  Froch's experience of being in tough fights eventually stood to him.

From the 6th round I though Groves was significantly slowing down. Before that his hands were so fast Froch couldn't see the punches coming.

To me and I posted it at the start of the 7th the fight was turning Frochs way and I could only see him winning it.

Groves demonstrated enough to show he has the beating of Froch.  I see it that Froch has faded. He'll get beaten again soon and quite possibly by Groves if they rematch.

I agree with most of that, although "disgusting"? "corruption"? really? .. Groves had taken three shots, two of them flush, his hands where down he was hanging forward and trying to run away, and Froch was coming forward for more. Yes he was not unconscious and yes he had the right to try and weather the storm, But looking at the reply George showed no signs of doing so at that point... It was early yes but no way corrupt IMO

its a shame the reff did not let him take a count so at least when Froch did go on to finish him it would not be such a tarnished ending, and iot was a bloody good fight.

Froch got 4 or 5 warning and no point deduction. Groves would not have got away with that. The stoppage was ridiculous in my opinion. Groves should have been given the benefit of the doubt but as happens all too often in the UK the main event promoters fighter benefits from an early stoppage. They call them "British Stoppages" over on ESB. The opposite was the Cleverly v Kovalev fight were Wazzer was the promoter. The ref waved the fight off in the 3rd then changed his mind and ended up carrying Cleverly back to his corner. When Cleverly came out in the 4th he was like a drunk man but still allowed to continue. The ref's in the UK appear easily influenced to me and they have real power because they can stop a fight or allow it to go on.

In saying that I believe Groves had lost his composure from the 7th and was fading which Froch took full advantage of. Groves was going to lose anyway imo as I said.

I had the fight 78-73. 76-75 like two judges had it were well more than a little favourable in my view. A lot of people in this thread have used the word "corruption" and in my personal opinion that type of language is justified in the context of this fight.

[hogey]

I just watched the whole fight again and on second viewing the stoppage was even worse, i am not sure Groves was even in any real trouble at the time of the stoppage without a doubt one of the worst have ever seen and the fans and Groves have been robbed tonight.

[88Chris05]

Got back about an hour ago. Have to say, I'm amazed that anyone could be a) anything less than completely disgusted with that stoppage, or b) think that the fight was somehow close before the stoppage, or that Groves was "definitely" about to be stopped legitimately in any case.

Where is that latter idea coming from? Sure, Groves was hurt. But he wasn't as badly hurt as Froch was in the very first round. There is absolutely nothing on which to base this idea that the referee merely saved us all a bit of time before Groves was inevitably stopped. Nothing. He still had his gloves up to protect himself. I'm not saying there's no chance of Froch getting a legitimate stoppage had the fight been allowed to run its course, but how can anyone even suggest it was some glaring and obvious thing which was on the cards?

As for the action itself. Well for me, Froch got something very close to a lesson for the most part tonight. I had it 78-74 to Groves after eight and, to be honest, I kind of knew that I'd been a shade generous to Froch there.

For me, Groves was the victim of a big, big injustice. Fair play and all the credit in the world to him as well, as I really wasn't sure he had that in him beforehand. Superb stuff. As for Froch, well you simply have to admire his fighting heart, fitness and determination, and as he rightly said himself, you can't hold him accountable for the referee's decision.

Sadly, that was just about the only thing he said in the post-fight interview which was right! Think he should definitely have been a bit more tactful and careful with his words.

To me, what should have been a great advert for the sport has become a bit of a poor one. Can't understand how anyone could be anything other than royally pent up over this one.

[Champagne_Socialist]

Got back about an hour ago. Have to say, I'm amazed that anyone could be a) anything less than completely disgusted with that stoppage, or b) think that the fight was somehow close before the stoppage, or that Groves was "definitely" about to be stopped legitimately in any case.

Where is that latter idea coming from? Sure, Groves was hurt. But he wasn't as badly hurt as Froch was in the very first round. There is absolutely nothing on which to base this idea that the referee merely saved us all a bit of time before Groves was inevitably stopped. Nothing. He still had his gloves up to protect himself. I'm not saying there's no chance of Froch getting a legitimate stoppage had the fight been allowed to run its course, but how can anyone even suggest it was some glaring and obvious thing which was on the cards?

As for the action itself. Well for me, Froch got something very close to a lesson for the most part tonight. I had it 78-74 to Groves after eight and, to be honest, I kind of knew that I'd been a shade generous to Froch there.

For me, Groves was the victim of a big, big injustice. Fair play and all the credit in the world to him as well, as I really wasn't sure he had that in him beforehand. Superb stuff. As for Froch, well you simply have to admire his fighting heart, fitness and determination, and as he rightly said himself, you can't hold him accountable for the referee's decision.

Sadly, that was just about the only thing he said in the post-fight interview which was right! Think he should definitely have been a bit more tactful and careful with his words.

To me, what should have been a great advert for the sport has become a bit of a poor one. Can't understand how anyone could be anything other than royally pent up over this one.

Agree 100%, very bad stoppage and smells of corruption.

[tunes666]

admitedly looking at the reply someone sent here allthough not the best angle to see the punches and what the reff saw, did show it in another light...

Groves was throwing back but missing, while Froch was starting to land flush.. And just as the reff grabbed Geroge his hands where by his side which to me means it should have at least been a standing count...

[John Bloody Wayne]

Sorry if it's already been pointed out (and make no mistake, I agree it was a bad stoppage) but after the ref stopped it, Groves fell back into the ropes, then forwards to his knees for no apparent reason. There's no doubt he was hurt.

Still, a rematch would be well tasty. Froch looked so nervy and uncoordinated in the first round. He's so delusional he'll no doubt find a way to take confidence from this win!

[Champagne_Socialist]

Sorry if it's already been pointed out (and make no mistake, I agree it was a bad stoppage) but after the ref stopped it, Groves fell back into the ropes, then forwards to his knees for no apparent reason. There's no doubt he was hurt.

Still, a rematch would be well tasty. Froch looked so nervy and uncoordinated in the first round. He's so delusional he'll no doubt find a way to take confidence from this win!

Wathing the replay it looks like he did that out of shock at the ref stopping it.

[tunes666]

Got back about an hour ago. Have to say, I'm amazed that anyone could be a) anything less than completely disgusted with that stoppage, or b) think that the fight was somehow close before the stoppage, or that Groves was "definitely" about to be stopped legitimately in any case.

Froch was by all means outboxed up until the 8th...  apart from 2 or 3 rds

Im not disgusted with the decision at all, even though it was too early, that being said if you look at the reply he had taken some big shots and was hurt.... so for me it was not a scandal like some are saying.

And I think Froch was looking quite strong and Groves looking spent, So had the reff not stopped it im not sure what else would have happend other than Groves keep taking more of Froches shots.

I think people like the idea of making out Groves would have been ok in the last three rounds and the rest of round 9, when clearly that was not the case.

I think the stoppage in the end has probably done Groves a favor, as he was saved getting really hurt, was hailed for his performance and can say he was robbed. Where if the reff had left it he would have been stopped and would have had to admit he lost the fight.

[Champagne_Socialist]

admitedly looking at the reply someone sent here allthough not the best angle to see the punches and what the reff saw, did show it in another light...

Groves was throwing back but missing, while Froch was starting to land flush.. And just as the reff grabbed Geroge his hands where by his side which to me means it should have at least been a standing count...

Don't think a standing 8 count is allowed.

[Champagne_Socialist]

Got back about an hour ago. Have to say, I'm amazed that anyone could be a) anything less than completely disgusted with that stoppage, or b) think that the fight was somehow close before the stoppage, or that Groves was "definitely" about to be stopped legitimately in any case.

Froch was by all means outboxed up until the 8th...  apart from 2 or 3 rds

Im not disgusted with the decision at all, even though it was too early, that being said if you look at the reply he had taken some big shots and was hurt.... so for me it was not a scandal like some are saying.

And I think Froch was looking quite strong and Groves looking spent, So had the reff not stopped it im not sure what else would have happend other than Groves keep taking more of Froches shots.

I think people like the idea of making out Groves would have been ok in the last three rounds and the rest of round 9, when clearly that was not the case.

I think the stoppage in the end has probably done Groves a favor, as he was saved getting really hurt, was hailed for his performance and can say he was robbed. Where if the reff had left it he would have been stopped and would have had to admit he lost the fight.

I didn't know boxing matches were ended when fighter looks a little hurt. Also we don't know what would have happened in the last 3 rounds so don't predict froch would have punished groves. Froch had 15 seconds where he looked good the whole fight and that was the last 15 seconds of the fight where the fight was stopped.

[John Bloody Wayne]

The camera angle from just behind the ref makes it a little more understandable, as from his angle the shots looked pretty bad. Still not ok.

I hope Pacquiao v Rios is half as entertaining as hearing Bob Sheridan trying to pronounce Zou Shiming's name.

[88Chris05]

Again, Tunes, nobody is denying that Groves was hurt. But it's easy to deal in equivocation and speculation. A fighter being hurt doesn't suddenly make a stoppage a must, particularly in the context in which Groves was hurt. If it did, then surely it would have been justified to stop Froch in the opener when he stumbled backwards after rising from the knockdown as well in your eyes?

Bottom line is, arguing that Froch was somehow a sure-fire bet to get the stoppage in any case is both redundant and nothing more than just speculation. I'm not saying it definitely wouldn't have happened of course, but likewise you could just as easily say that Groves would have survived the moment of panic like Kessler did in round 12 six months ago (and let's be honest, Kessler was hurt worse there than Groves was).

Ultimately, for me it just comes down to a simple question - was Groves badly hurt enough at THAT MOMENT to justify a stoppage? Forget what might have happened in the next round etc, and focus on that question. To me, there is no way anyone could answer "yes" to it.

[John Bloody Wayne]

In fairness, Chris, Kessler has bags of experience. Groves was there in his first title fight, having thrown everything at Froch but losing the ability to keep him honest. Although he fought like a veteran for the first six, his inexperience was starting to show in the last couple.

[John Bloody Wayne]

I was watching with a non boxing fan who literally didn't know what was happening when the ref stepped in.

[compelling and rich]

Only Bothered reading few posts on here and soon realised what rubbish people talk. Anyone who thought froch was winning and the deserved the stoppage is talking utter rubbish and letting groves trash talk cloud there judgement

[88Chris05]

I don't see how or why experience should come in to it though really, JBW. The referee is supposed to officiate the fight with impartiality, and without any preconceptions about the fighters etc. He can't go in to the bout thinking about how many title fights Groves has had compared to someone like Kessler, or start officiating the fight based on how he's imagined the fight unfolding in his own head beforehand.

I'll repeat, Carl may well have forced a proper stoppage. But that's only one possible scenario. I think people almost seem to be almost forgetting that there were other possibilities (ie, Groves buying time and clearing his head, pulling out a get-out-of-jail shot or catching Froch out while in the middle of an exchange as he did in the first etc).

You have to judge the stoppage against where the fight was at that stage. So far, while they might try to explain the stoppage away or justify it on what might possibly have happened next, I don't think I've heard or seen a single soul saying that they think Groves had had enough at that stage, which says a lot to me. After all, that's the very essence of forcing a stoppage, isn't it? Either putting your man down for the count or, in this case, completely removing them from their senses and rendering them defenceless and unable to continue. Froch just didn't do that in there, no matter how many times I watch it back.

That was the first time that Groves had really been hurt (properly hurt, I mean) in the entire fight. Foster didn't allow him to show what powers of recuperation he had (if any), allow him the chance to weather the storm, to launch a counter offensive etc. How can anyone justify that?

[Herman Jaeger]

Horrendous stoppage, one of the worst I've ever seen, that has left most people feeling a bit sickened. I'd be absolutely livid if I was Groves.


Froch gave the impression he may just about have been on the verge of stopping him but it wasn't set in stone, and a complete disgrace that Groves, after dominating so much of the action, wasn't given the benefit of the doubt.


It's about winning ugly sometimes and once again Froch, whose post fight interview is probably best forgotten,  had to show that amazing grit for which he is so well known. He can feel aggrieved too that a great come from behind win has been tainted by what was an appalling lapse of judgement by the referee.


Groves stays on his feet he wins. But in all honesty, I think Froch was about to steamroll him. Rematch essential imo, Groves deserves nothing less. What a great fight he put up.

[John Bloody Wayne]

Wasn't my poiunt chris, you said Kessler was more hurt and Froch didn't finish it, and I was offering an explanation as to why that didn't necessarily mean he wouldn't stop Froch. I agree the fighters' backgrounds should be ignored by the ref.

[John Bloody Wayne]

The ring walks in Macau are making the K bro's ring walks look understated and humble!

[88Chris05]

Ah right, apologies then JBW. Must have got the wrong end of the stick there amongst all this back and forth, mate. Guess we'll just have to agree to (kind of, ever so mildly) disagree on that one.

[John Bloody Wayne]

Ever so mildly.

Sheridan and Merchant are a Statler and Waldorf impersonation.

[RanjitPatel]

Something I must say is what a chin on Froch. The amount of right hands he took after the knockdown were astounding.
That being said he was out thought and out fought all night. I had my mates around and I said that ref has always been dodgy. Bellew v McKenzie rings a Bell. The breaking from the clinch was non existant so one could see early on that there was a favourite of the ref.

I can understand that there are a lot of Froch fans on here that may not want to see that but you can't stop a fight for that. Absolute disgrace and the fans at the end told their story. Groves gained 20000 fans tonight and Froch lost them.

Ruined a decent night.

[John Bloody Wayne]

If pacquiao's lost owt it's yet to show.

[tunes666]

That was the first time that Groves had really been hurt (properly hurt, I mean) in the entire fight. Foster didn't allow him to show what powers of recuperation he had (if any), allow him the chance to weather the storm, to launch a counter offensive etc. How can anyone justify that?

i dont think anyone is justifying it, i think its more a case of assessing it beyond the fact it was an early call...  an early call is not always a disgrace, a mistake yes.  I dont think Groves looked like he was going to recover despite him being very brave... Froch was going to keep hitting him Groves and Groves tried to push carl back and slumped forward, had the reff not been there to stop it he would have got hit more and hit hard... Yes maybe Groves could have dragged him self to the bell, who knows, but the reff decided not.

[John Bloody Wayne]

If Rios is here to make Manny look good he's doing his job excellently. Tough dude.

[John Bloody Wayne]

Ref getting Rios' and my nerves.

[John Bloody Wayne]

Shut out.

[Champagne_Socialist]

That was the first time that Groves had really been hurt (properly hurt, I mean) in the entire fight. Foster didn't allow him to show what powers of recuperation he had (if any), allow him the chance to weather the storm, to launch a counter offensive etc. How can anyone justify that?

i dont think anyone is justifying it, i think its more a case of assessing it beyond the fact it was an early call...  an early call is not always a disgrace, a mistake yes.  I dont think Groves looked like he was going to recover despite him being very brave... Froch was going to keep hitting him Groves and Groves tried to push carl back and slumped forward, had the reff not been there to stop it he would have got hit more and hit hard... Yes maybe Groves could have dragged him self to the bell, who knows, but the reff decided not.

Stop trying to predict the because you are a fan of froch. fact is Froch never knocked groves down or hurt him enough to justify the stoppage.. What MIGHT have happened is unknown and we will never know. Groves might recover, he might take a knee, he might pull a massive counter out the draw, who knows..but please just accept it was a bad stoppage and put your liking of froch to one side.


Fact is the stoppage was premature and you should stop trying to justify it on what you think ight have happened in the future.

[Duty281]

Not sure what the rules are on libel, but a few posts on here may breach any such rule.

Looked a poor stoppage though - more likely to be as the result of a poor refereeing decision though than corruption.

[Haito]

Most are not questioning it was a stupid stoppage or saying Groves was "definately" going to get stopped Chris but some like myself are saying Groves looked in alot of trouble in that round and he was.

Its true the ref robbed us the chance to see if Groves could recover and go on or wether infact Froch could manage to close the show. In my opinion Froch finishing Groves looked the most likely outcome as he smelt blood....the fight should not have been stopped at that point though as Groves was still able at that point.

[Hammersmith harrier]

You're right Duty any accusations of corruption should be backed up with fact not guess work.

At the end of the day the fight has split opinion, it wasn't a shut out, Groves was tiring and hurt while Froch was coming back into.

[ShahenshahG]

Froch was also wild and tired himself. Its ok for froch to be given a chance even though he's taken a beating, the first time groves is in any real trouble - though still throwing back and has his guard up the little toady grabs him in a headlock and ends the fight. Complete utter Love sacks. Also find it incredible that people who predicted groves to get flattened now claim that froch was on the way to knocking him out anyway.

[Hammersmith harrier]

It's no different to those claiming Groves was robbed of a victory when he may have been legitimately stopped later on. I must have been watching a different fight Shah because Froch was no where near as shattered as Groves. He threw the kitchen sink in the 6th to no effect and even half way through that round he looked a quickly tiring man.

[Reborn-DeeMcK-Reborn]

If Froch had of dropped Groves in the first round and Groves got up wobbly like Froch did, the ref would have stopped that fight. I would put my house on it.

Both guys were tired and that clampet of a ref jumped in AFTER Groves threw 2 punches back!!

Yes he was a bit all over the place, but it was the last few rounds of a tough fight, so we are stopping fights when fighters get tired now.

Its funny the wums are out trying to defend it, when 22'000 people boo'ed the house down and thousands of others (including fighters and journos) took and are taking to social media to say it was a ridiculous stoppage.

The stoppage is just one thing, the fact Groves was being set up for a split decision loss just shows once again that Matchroom cards are fast becoming set up on the old German model. Well done Eddie.

He says that Froch was unconscious when Froch hit the floor but that the Groves stoppage was right.

I wonder how long he performed sucky sucky on Carl for after the fight.

British officials are a joke. Howard Foster, Ian John Lewis, Terry O'Connor....these lot shouldn't be allowed to ref an under 13s amateur sparring session never mind a title fight.

Anyway, the fact Froch is now a figure of ridicule is good enough for me, couldn't happen to a nicer bloke

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