How to beat Carl Froch and George Groves

grudge matches

HOW TO BEAT CARL FROCH

FORGET THE PRESSURE, GET INSIDE AND WORK HIM

JIMMY MONTOYA, the trainer of Frochโ€™s great rival Mikkel Kessler, said, โ€œThe only thing that heโ€™s 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 heโ€™s smart enough to get under and work against his jab. But I think Carlโ€™s a little awkward for him, will make him miss a lot. Heโ€™s too experienced for him too I think.โ€

For someone to beat Froch, Montoya believes โ€œheโ€™s got to jab, put combinations together, get inside and work. If he stays outside, Carl will beat himโ€. Frochโ€™s resilience is a significant asset.

โ€œWhen we fought him the last time, we got the best punches in there, the hardest punches,โ€ Montoya said. โ€œThat man can take a shot.

โ€œBe aggressive and stay on his ass,thatโ€™s all. Put the combinations together.โ€ Be wary of overtraining and peaking too soon in training camp. โ€œYou get sluggish, you get slow,โ€ Jimmy said. โ€œIf Mikkel hadnโ€™t been over the peak, he would have thrown a lot more punchesโ€ฆ I blame myself for that one.โ€

Regarding Groves, Montoya added, โ€œThe only thing heโ€™s got going for him, heโ€™s got youth. If he can get in real good condition, heโ€™s good enough. The problem is the other guyโ€™s got a lot of experience. But heโ€™s getting older.โ€œForget the pressure, get inside and work him.โ€

YOUโ€™VE 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 Frochโ€™s 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.

โ€œCarl Froch is a tough cookie,โ€ said Leon, who had Groves in to spar Dirrell. โ€œGroves 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 canโ€™t reach him or be all the way in where heโ€™s not on the end of Carl Frochโ€™s punches and land the better inside shots. Stay tight because Carl Frochโ€™s punches are a little wide. Youโ€™ve got to stay inside his punches. I donโ€™t think George Groves has the tools to do it. Itโ€™ll be a good fight, itโ€™ll be exciting but I donโ€™t 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 Frochโ€™s rangy punches โ€“ and theyโ€™re awkward punches.โ€

Many interpret Frochโ€™s low lead as a technical flaw but Lawson has a warning for them.

โ€œThatโ€™s tricky though because he sets you up with that,โ€ Leon said. โ€œHeโ€™s been doing that for a long time and heโ€™s used to guys thinking heโ€™s keeping his left hand down and he gets you reaching and he catches you coming in. Heโ€™s a crafty dude. It looks easier to fight him on TV but when you actually get in front of him in the ring itโ€™s different. Iโ€™ve seen that happen to a lot of guys.โ€

HOW TO BEAT GEORGE GROVES

DONโ€™T 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. โ€œYou do get things in your mind. When he walks to the ring on the night, he wonโ€™t want to get blown away early. The first few rounds heโ€™ll move and try to grow into the fight and gain confidence as the fight goes on. I donโ€™t think Carl will allow that to happen, if he was more inexperienced maybe,โ€ McDonnell said.

โ€œI donโ€™t think heโ€™s going to let George get comfortable. Heโ€™s going to put heavy pressure on him and slowly, slowly chip away to break him down.

โ€œGeorge is a quality fighter. Heโ€™s 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.

โ€œIf 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 canโ€™t โ€œdance to George Grovesโ€™ actโ€ as McDonnell says. โ€œJames 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, ainโ€™t going to work against Carl Froch. He will cut the ring down.โ€

A boxer canโ€™t let emotions alter his performance and on November 23 we will see if Groves has managed to rile Froch effectively. โ€œStick to what youโ€™ve got to do,โ€ McDonnell advises. He suggested that the pre-fight talk could also impact on George, saying. โ€œAs [Groves] walks to the ring and he feels the hatred and the animosity of the crowd, I think heโ€™s going to get booed. Because theyโ€™re looking at him as the bad guy.

โ€œItโ€™s the perception, disrespecting a world champion, he ainโ€™t really earned the right to say the things heโ€™s been saying.โ€

MAKE HIM MOVE WHERE HE DOESNโ€™T WANT TO MOVE

JOE GALLAGHER has seen Groves up close from Paul Smithโ€™s corner, in the stoppage loss the current British supermiddleweight champion suffered in 2011. โ€œGeorge Groves likes to move and slip and move, go for walks and he likes to do a lot of feinting,โ€ said Gallagher. โ€œHeโ€™s got a bravado about him, he might want to trade off. I do feel when George does get involved in exchanges thatโ€™s when you can catch him.

โ€œI 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, youโ€™ve got to catch him as he comes in. I donโ€™t think chasing George Groves is the best thing because youโ€™re playing into his game. I think you need George Groves to come on to you.

โ€œI think George is predominately a backfoot fighter. He likes people to come on to him, he likes to drop that overhand right.

โ€œKeep him busy with the jab and mirrorimage him a little bitโ€ฆ Youโ€™ve got to outthink him. Make him move where he doesnโ€™t want to move.

“Youโ€™re 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, youโ€™ve 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€

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