Referee Howard Foster should be claiming some of the profits from the upcoming rematch. It was Foster’s premature stoppage of the first fight which has led to so much interest in the second. No one can be certain how that fight would have ended. Was Froch coming on with his typical late surge and ready to stop Groves in the next few rounds? Had Groves saved enough gas in the tank to withstand the coming onslaught? Sadly, we will never know for sure. However, mainly due to this controversy, interest in the second fight has reached unprecedented levels.
I really have no confidence in picking a winner in this fight. I am of the view that Groves would have survived the crisis he was facing in that fateful ninth round and gone on to win the fight on points. Even then, had the fight gone the distance the judges may have caused a similar furore to the referee, having the fight ridiculously close at the end when Groves had clearly dominated. Somebody who knows Froch very well recently told me that Carl had badly underestimated George in the first fight and that he would put things right in the rematch. However, I think Groves has taken a huge amount of confidence from the first fight and will go on to win a points decision, possibly sending Carl into retirement. Even more important than the result is the fact that this fight has put British boxing back into the world spotlight, even if for one night only. Both of these gallant fighters, along with the promoter, Eddie Hearn, deserve all our appreciation for that.
@RachelAylett1
