Froch-Groves II set for record-breaking British boxing attendance

Wembley Stadium has been confirmed as the venue for the rematch fight between English rivals Carl Froch (odds-on favourite at 1/2) and George Groves (13/8) on May 31st.

England’s national football stadium has a 90,000 capacity, although the fight attendance is reported to be around 60-70k. It is set to beat the previous post WW2 British attendance record (55k) at the City of Manchester Stadium in 2008 that hosted Ricky Hatton’s victory over Juan Lazcano.

The original fight between ‘The Cobra’ and Groves finished with unsatisfied feelings, with the latter believing he was stopped too early after a ninth round onslaught by his Nottingham opponent.

Groves did floor Froch in a frantic first round, and will hope to take confidence from that moment in their next battle. Back the Londoner at 9/2 to inflict a first ever knockout, technical knockout or disqualification on his opponent, or a Coral special 10/1 to do so in the opening round.

You can back Froch at 11/10 to win by knockout, technical knockout or disqualification, while a price of 14/1 says he can repeat his ninth round stoppage. Groves has odds of 7/2 to win on points.

Muhammad Ali – then Cassius Clay – and the late Henry Cooper fought at the renowned arena, where the Englishman at one point even knocked his famous opponent to the floor in the fourth round, before being stopped in the next due to cuts.

The last fight to be contested at Wembley was in 1995 between Frank Bruno and Oliver McCall, where the former won a heavyweight title in the process, but the stadium has never seen boxing action since it re-opened in 2007.

On the venue and fight, Froch said: “It needs to be held at a big stadium because it is such a good fight. I want to beat him and put closure on this whole Carl Froch v George Groves saga. It doesn’t get any bigger than this for British boxing.”

Whereas his rival compatriot confidently stated: “The fight being at Wembley is brilliant news. I’ve never boxed anywhere close to the capacity of Wembley. To be crowned world champion in my home town of London will be an amazing feeling.

“I was at that record-breaking Hatton fight, wow what an atmosphere,” he added. “It was a great night of boxing and I think we’re going to have the same this time round, except I’m going to put Carl Froch to sleep as well. They’ve got that to look forward to as well.”