HOW TO BEAT CARL FROCH
FORGET THE PRESSURE, GET INSIDE AND WORK HIM
JIMMY MONTOYA, the trainer of Frochโs great rival Mikkel Kessler, said, โThe only thing that heโs really got that throws you off is sticking his jab out.
“The last time we could have beat him. But the problem is actually my fault, Mikkel peaked [in training]. Groves can beat [Froch] if heโs smart enough to get under and work against his jab. But I think Carlโs a little awkward for him, will make him miss a lot. Heโs too experienced for him too I think.โ
For someone to beat Froch, Montoya believes โheโs got to jab, put combinations together, get inside and work. If he stays outside, Carl will beat himโ. Frochโs resilience is a significant asset.
โWhen we fought him the last time, we got the best punches in there, the hardest punches,โ Montoya said. โThat man can take a shot.
โBe aggressive and stay on his ass,thatโs all. Put the combinations together.โ Be wary of overtraining and peaking too soon in training camp. โYou get sluggish, you get slow,โ Jimmy said. โIf Mikkel hadnโt been over the peak, he would have thrown a lot more punchesโฆ I blame myself for that one.โ
Regarding Groves, Montoya added, โThe only thing heโs got going for him, heโs got youth. If he can get in real good condition, heโs good enough. The problem is the other guyโs got a lot of experience. But heโs getting older.โForget the pressure, get inside and work him.โ
YOUโVE GOT TO BE ALL THE WAY IN, OR ALL THE WAY OUT
LEON LAWSON was the trainer of Andre Dirrell when the American put up one of Carl Frochโs trickier challenges. Froch got through that defence of the WBC supermiddleweight title in Nottingham with a split decision in his favour.
Lawson believes that the way for a fighter to beat Froch is to throw fast punches and then either stay out of range or get close inside.
โCarl Froch is a tough cookie,โ said Leon, who had Groves in to spar Dirrell. โGroves is an alright fighter but Carl Froch is another level.
“Basically [to beat Froch] land punches, land fast punches, then get away to where Carl Froch canโt reach him or be all the way in where heโs not on the end of Carl Frochโs punches and land the better inside shots. Stay tight because Carl Frochโs punches are a little wide. Youโve got to stay inside his punches. I donโt think George Groves has the tools to do it. Itโll be a good fight, itโll be exciting but I donโt think he has the tools to pull off beating Carl Froch. He either has to be all the way in or all the way out. Not on the end of Carl Frochโs rangy punches โ and theyโre awkward punches.โ
Many interpret Frochโs low lead as a technical flaw but Lawson has a warning for them.
โThatโs tricky though because he sets you up with that,โ Leon said. โHeโs been doing that for a long time and heโs used to guys thinking heโs keeping his left hand down and he gets you reaching and he catches you coming in. Heโs a crafty dude. It looks easier to fight him on TV but when you actually get in front of him in the ring itโs different. Iโve seen that happen to a lot of guys.โ
HOW TO BEAT GEORGE GROVES
DONโT LET HIM GET COMFORTABLE
JIM MCDONNELL is the trainer of Grovesโ long-time rival James DeGale. He suggests Groves’ apparent confidence may not last when it comes to the crunch. โYou do get things in your mind. When he walks to the ring on the night, he wonโt want to get blown away early. The first few rounds heโll move and try to grow into the fight and gain confidence as the fight goes on. I donโt think Carl will allow that to happen, if he was more inexperienced maybe,โ McDonnell said.
โI donโt think heโs going to let George get comfortable. Heโs going to put heavy pressure on him and slowly, slowly chip away to break him down.
โGeorge is a quality fighter. Heโs got a good mindset, he can stick to a gameplan. People forget when he was an amateur he was an aggressor. He can revert to the old George Groves and not get found wanting.
โIf Carl Froch is the enforcer and pushes the fight, the judges are going to lean towards Carl Froch.โ Though against someone boxing and moving, you canโt โdance to George Grovesโ actโ as McDonnell says. โJames followed him. James would never do that now. James knows how to cut the ring down and Froch certainly does. That gameplan, of running and moving and trying to nick it, ainโt going to work against Carl Froch. He will cut the ring down.โ
A boxer canโt let emotions alter his performance and on November 23 we will see if Groves has managed to rile Froch effectively. โStick to what youโve got to do,โ McDonnell advises. He suggested that the pre-fight talk could also impact on George, saying. โAs [Groves] walks to the ring and he feels the hatred and the animosity of the crowd, I think heโs going to get booed. Because theyโre looking at him as the bad guy.
โItโs the perception, disrespecting a world champion, he ainโt really earned the right to say the things heโs been saying.โ
MAKE HIM MOVE WHERE HE DOESNโT WANT TO MOVE
JOE GALLAGHER has seen Groves up close from Paul Smithโs corner, in the stoppage loss the current British supermiddleweight champion suffered in 2011. โGeorge Groves likes to move and slip and move, go for walks and he likes to do a lot of feinting,โ said Gallagher. โHeโs got a bravado about him, he might want to trade off. I do feel when George does get involved in exchanges thatโs when you can catch him.
โI do feel he leaves himself open in the exchanges. You have to play the patient game with him. You have to play him at his own game and sooner or later George will want to come in and throw and at that point, as he comes in, youโve got to catch him as he comes in. I donโt think chasing George Groves is the best thing because youโre playing into his game. I think you need George Groves to come on to you.
โI think George is predominately a backfoot fighter. He likes people to come on to him, he likes to drop that overhand right.
โKeep him busy with the jab and mirrorimage him a little bitโฆ Youโve got to outthink him. Make him move where he doesnโt want to move.
“Youโre cutting the ring off and using your feet very well. Once he feels threatened and he unloads, George likes to get in and get out, youโve got to be prepared that when George comes in, to keep it tight and catch him as he comes in and catch him again when he comes out and not give him a breather, step across him.โ