The Boxing Thread

[Adrock]

There was no experience involved in Thompson, it was his durability, much like Froch tonight. Froch never once used his nouse in that fight, it was an all out brawl.

Groves can definitely feel aggrieved at being stopped too early but I think the contest had already turned and Froch was on his way to victory, still doesn't make the ref right though.

I'm surprised at how slow Froch looked tonight, that was the thing that threw me. As for a rematch, I think it's fair to say Froch has never ducked a fight and the way this has captured the imagination you're looking at multi million figures.

The manner of his victory was disappointing tonight but once Froch got Groves past the 6th round you always felt his indistinguishable courage and that famous stamina would drag him to victory and it did.

Immense fight, one of the best I've seen.

[Nu-Eclipse]

There was no experience involved in Thompson, it was his durability, much like Froch tonight. Froch never once used his nouse in that fight, it was an all out brawl.

His durability allied to experience and nous as the older fighter who refused to engage the much younger and harder-hitting Haye in a toe-to-toe brawl by going on the defensive, covering up and countering until Haye was exhausted.

Citing Froch as an example doesn't work at all. Froch has always brawled as a professional. The likes of Andre Ward and (to a lesser extent) Andre Dirrell have shown that Froch has no nous.

[Adrock]

I'll have to watch the fight again but my understanding of the Haye vs Thompson fight at the time was that Thompson was constantly in trouble until he knocked Haye out and he was on the floor a number of times. All of that doesn't point to using experience, it was more his ability to soak up punishment. Just like his stunning victory in the fight preceding against Rothman.

Edit: I'd also question Haye being the harder hitter at the time. Thompson was famous for the heavy hitting he produced.

[Nu-Eclipse]

I'll have to watch the fight again but my understanding of the Haye vs Thompson fight at the time was that Thompson was constantly in trouble until he knocked Haye out and he was on the floor a number of times. All of that doesn't point to using experience, it was more his ability to soak up punishment. Just like his stunning victory in the fight preceding against Rothman.

Edit: I'd also question Haye being the harder hitter at the time. Thompson was famous for the heavy hitting he produced.

Did Haye have Thompson hurt early doors? Sure. Don't recall him actually dropping Thompson during their bout though.

[Adrock]

Just watched the fight again, I was wrong about Thompson getting knocked down but it still stands that Thompson wasn't using experience, that was just raw natural durability.

[DANGEROUS-3]

Froch v Groves was imo the best all British contest since Eubank v Watson II in 1991.
An all time classic.

Groves gave Froch the beating of his life and the the ref saved Froch.
Total BS, just shows how corrupt the sport is- just comes down to Eddie Hearn protecting his fighter by paying off the ref and judges. How could two of them only have Groves ahead by 1 point?

Myself, like Sky, scored the bout 5 rounds to Groves- the first being a 10-8, and the most rounds you could give Carl was 3. The stoppage was way too soon, Groves was still fighting back and was not even allowed to take a standing 8 count. I don't understand how anyone (other than blind fanboys) can say Froch was on the way to victory based on the first successful combo he had after Groves had been teeing off on him for round after round.

Froch's ego is out of control, this was evident from the post fight speech.
Where does he go from here? Ward would box his ears off again, GGG wants to fight him and he looks way too powerful, and in a rematch Groves would not make the same mistakes and instead get the win.

Also the Pacman fight was great and I hope Floyd finally agrees to fight him.
There is just too much money to be made for it not to happen.

[VR46]

Pacman looked the best I've seen him for a couple of years I thought. Maybe he can fight Mayweather this time next year, they're both getter older and it's a shame we didn't already have one fight between them and were waiting for the rematch.

Really gone off Froch since the Groves fight, let him get his wanted big Vegas payday, win, lose or draw and then retire.
Totally agree with your summary of the fight, seems in boxing and UFC only by knocking the opponent out nowadays you can be assured of a correct result. Is amazing how these so called experts can see a fight totally differently.

[DANGEROUS-3]

I think the rematch with Groves will have to happen because Froch will never hear the end of it if he does not agree. There's too much demand for it not to happen.

As for Pacman v Mayweather, Floyd has been ducking Manny for years, which sucks cause it could be one of the greatest fights of all time. But maybe, just maybe.. with the combined PPV audience of US/Europe and China(!) and a possible two hundred million to be donated to the Philippines, that would be enough to make Floyd agree. We live in hope.

[DeathAdder]

I had no idea that Gary Mason had died two years ago.

Sad to read that. I liked him. Enjoyed his bout with the Shadow on celebrity gladiators too.

[DANGEROUS-3]

If you've not seen em check these videos out-

Carl 'The Contraction' Froch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jpq_ZAhbRwU

George Groves promise

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeA4EO6R-hc

[VR46]

I had no idea that Gary Mason had died two years ago.

Sad to read that. I liked him. Enjoyed his bout with the Shadow on celebrity gladiators too.

Yes he was killed while cycling if I recall, just checked, seemed a decent guy. Can't believe that was almost three years ago, God time flies

[VR46]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-25157007

Herbie Hide locked up for 22 months for selling coke, not the fizzy drink variety.

[Nu-Eclipse]

As for Pacman v Mayweather, Floyd has been ducking Manny for years, which sucks cause it could be one of the greatest fights of all time. But maybe, just maybe.. with the combined PPV audience of US/Europe and China(!) and a possible two hundred million to be donated to the Philippines, that would be enough to make Floyd agree. We live in hope.

I get that Floyd is unlikeable enough to get all the blame for his superbout with Manny not happening years ago when it should have, but this popular view that Floyd ducked Manny is nonsense.

The reality is that both camps played their fair parts in making sure that it didn't happen. Manny had the chance to meet Floyd halfway on it but instead chose to fight bloody Marquez FOUR times instead (and Bob Arum has the audacity to imply that they might meet a FIFTH time!).

They are both equally to blame for their fight not happening when it should've.

[Nu-Eclipse]

Just watched the fight again, I was wrong about Thompson getting knocked down but it still stands that Thompson wasn't using experience, that was just raw natural durability.

Again - you're wrong. The veteran (and yes, experienced) Thompson deliberately went defensive for the majority for fight and soaked up the punishment, leaving Haye to tire himself out and vulnerable to stoppage, which is exactly how it played out. It was almost rope-a-dope-esque.

To adopt those tactics certainly calls for durability and stamina, but experience was definitely needed by Thompson to pull it off on the night against a young and dangerous power-punching Haye.

[DANGEROUS-3]

I get that Floyd is unlikeable enough to get all the blame for his superbout with Manny not happening years ago when it should have, but this popular view that Floyd ducked Manny is nonsense.

The reality is that both camps played their fair parts in making sure that it didn't happen. Manny had the chance to meet Floyd halfway on it but instead chose to fight bloody Marquez FOUR times instead (and Bob Arum has the audacity to imply that they might meet a FIFTH time!).

They are both equally to blame for their fight not happening when it should've.

This ain't true dude.

Manny agreed to taking less of a pay day than Floyd, and Floyd still insisted on ridiculous random blood testing all the way through Manny's training camp, right up to fight night which Manny initially said no to. Later, Manny agreed to Floyd's ridiculous blood testing demands and taking less money than Floyd, but by this point Floyd was once again making excuses as to why he does not need to fight Manny. Again recently Manny has said 'I am willing to fight him'.