Groves: Froch is wrong, I’m ready for him

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George Groves has told Carl Froch he has no intention of boxing on the back foot when he faces him for the world super-middleweight title.

Groves has been widely tipped to adopt similar tactics to those that paid off when he upset the odds to beat local rival James DeGale on points in 2011.

Champion Froch predicted that Hammersmith’s unbeaten challenger would “run for his life” on Saturday night.

But Groves, 25, had a simple message for his opponent at the final press conference before they meet in the ring in Manchester.

Speaking directly to the 36-year-old, Groves said: “He believes I’m going to run from him. Carl, you’re wrong.

“I’m going to come out and meet you in the centre of the ring in the first round.

“I’m going to win the jab exchanges and I’m going to hit you with two right hands – just two – just to let you know that whenever I want I can hit you with a right hand.

Paddy Fitzpatrick and George Groves
Groves has been trained by Paddy Fitzpatrick.

“Second round I’m going to come out and do the same. I’m going to win the jab exchanges but hit you with more right hands.

“Third round I’m going to push you onto your back foot. And after the third round, Carl, you’re going to have to see what’s coming next.”

Froch’s vast experience at the top level means he is strongly fancied to successfully defend his WBA and IBF belts.

He has lost only twice in a 33-fight career and avenged one of those defeats by beating Denmark’s Mikkel Kessler on points earlier this year.

But Groves, a product of the Dale Youth Boxing Club in Notting Hill, is rated as one of the best emerging talents in the sport and insists he is ready to prove himself as a world-class operator.

“I’m very excited. This is my opportunity to be a world champion and I’ve put a lot of hard work into it,” he said.

“He says I’m chinny but I’ve never been knocked out and I’m unbeaten. He’s fighting himself psychologically and he’s losing.

“I know I’m ready. It’s my time. I cannot wait for Saturday night so that I can show everybody this is where I belong.  I’m going to be world champion.”

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