Groves grounded going into Froch fight II

It has all gone quiet on the Carl Froch front. George Groves meanwhile, has engaged in a subtle and strategic war of words.

Sun Tzu, the great Chinese military general, strategist and philosopher once said: “Every battle is won before it’s ever fought.”

Ahead of the much anticipated rematch between the two boxers at Wembley stadium, Groves has capitalised on Froch’s silence after it emerged his opponent was seeing a psychologist.

“He really needs to see a psychiatrist,” Groves said.

“There’s really nothing that can help him. He’s not coping.”

Stinging sentiments if ever there were any. London-born Groves is aiming to bounce back after a controversial premature stoppage defeat to Froch last time out, although he was losing at the time. Groves is currently 3/1 to overturn that, and win on points in his home city.

Froch was sensationally seated in the early rounds of the first fight, and looked rattled before regaining composure, to come back and secure victory.

Groves’ trainer Paddy Fitzpatrick has recently raised concerns over Froch’s fouling, which arguably had an effect in the outcome of part one.

Fitzpatrick said: “I am extremely concerned about the fouling of Carl Froch in this fight. We need a strong referee to prevent what he has always done.

Expanding on Froch’s style, he went on to explain: “When he gets emotionally involved, he fouls with shots behind the head, he uses rabbit punches and he barges into his opponent with his shoulder and forearm. Barging a man in the shoulder I can live with.

“When Froch is frustrated, he wants to assert himself. But hitting repeatedly on the back of the head can kill a man. Hitting a dude in the nuts will hurt him, but it won’t kill him.

“Hitting a man on the back of the head is dangerous stuff. We have seen fighters badly injured from falling and hitting their neck on the bottom rope. They’re never the same again. This is a big deal to me and a major concern, and it was one I brought up before the first fight.”