GEORGE GROVES SAID he believed it was his destiny to defeat Carl Froch in their eagerly anticipated 80,000 sell-out world title re-match at London’s Wembley Stadium tonight (around 9.45pm).
The first fight between the two English boxers was back in November when Froch, the International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Association super-middleweight champion, won on a hugely disputed ninth round stoppage of Groves having been stunningly sent to the canvas by the challenger in the first round.
Groves, ahead on the judges’ scorecards at the time, was left stunned by referee Howard Foster’s intervention and so were many fans.
The IBF ordered a re-match and now Groves, a Londoner, has the chance for revenge in one of the biggest fights, certainly in terms of paying spectators, modern British boxing has known.
“Maybe it’s written in the stars that after not getting the win the first time, I’ll win the world titles at Wembley in my home city in front of a huge crowd,” Groves said at Friday’s weigh-in.
I’ll only be able to be at peace with the first fight and put it to bed after I’ve won on Saturday because there is unfinished business.
“This fight picks up where the last fight left off. I feel that I deserved to win the first fight and now I plan to go out and become world champion on the biggest stage,” he added.
“It’s going to be an awfully sweet feeling and a great experience. It’s going to enhance my career and boost my public profile.
“Until the rematch is done I can’t say ‘I’m happy’ but everything happens for a reason.”
Froch, at 36 a decade older than his opponent, said he faced a “career-defining” fight even though this will be his 12th successive world title bout.
“I perhaps didn’t ever think that such a career-defining fight for my legacy would come against George Groves, to be honest,” said Froch.
“But strange things happen and domestic tear-ups are always the big events,” added the champion from Nottingham, in England’s East Midlands.
My career is hanging by a thread, my legacy rests on this fight. It’s very, very important for my career.
“I haven’t got a clue what it will feel out to walk out in front of 80,000. I’ve never done it. It’s going to be good. I’ve done it in front of 20,000 so it will be like that times four. It’ll be electric.”
Froch has won 32 of his 34 professional bouts, with Groves’ lone defeat in 20 contests his defeat by the ‘Cobra’ in their initial encounter.
Froch weighed in heavier than the naturally bigger Groves, scaling 11 stone 13 pounds and 9 ounces in front of a crowd of around 5,000 at Wembley Arena. Groves tipped the scales at 11st 12lbs 4oz.
