Carl Froch bout may come too soon for George Groves

A much-mooted British super-fight between IBF and WBA super middleweight boss Carl Froch and undefeated mandatory challenger George Groves looks to be going ahead later this year. They man they call ‘The Cobra’ is a heavy favourite for the clash and with good reason.

Groves is an unbeaten prospect in an era of unbeaten prospects, with many of his ilk shepherded towards the upper echelons of the sport through a list of manageable foes.

The quality of Groves’ 19 victims – 15 of whom were sent packing inside the distance – is on the whole fairly debatable and veteran former IBF light-heavyweight king Glen Johnson and James DeGale are by far the most notable names on a low key résumé.

It was the same Johnson – beaten by Groves on a wide-margin decision – that Froch had beaten in less convincing fashion the previous year, but a look at the opponents the world champion has fought since demonstrates that he’s been operating on a far higher level than Groves.

World champions Andre Ward, Lucian Bute and Mikkel Kessler have all done battle with the Nottingham warrior since the Johnson bout, with only the supremely gifted ‘Son of God’ inflicting defeat on him during that period.

Froch has an absolutely cast-iron chin, which in combination with his indomitable spirit has meant he has never come close to being stopped in his 31-fight career so Groves will need to have his mind on boxing for the full 12×3 rounds. Against a fighter of his opponent’s quality this will be his sternest test yet by some distance.

The challenger is undoubtedly an up and coming fighter and both he and his team should be commended for stepping up to the plate to take this opportunity, when in truth it may have come a little too soon for their fighter.

That it will is something 31-2-0 Froch is convinced of, telling The Sun: “The guy’s not ready for me. He might be ready one day, but I doubt it. If he fights me, he’s going to get beaten.”

Froch is 2/9 to dispose of Saint George when the pair meet inside the squared circle.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.