Former super middleweight champion turned respected pundit and podcaster George Groves has mused about what would have happened if his old rival Carl Froch had ever have taken on Joe Calzaghe.
Froch and Groves had a rivalry that ignited British boxing. Their back-to-back fights in 2013 and 2014 involved the first sell out of Wembley for a boxing match in many decades and were arguably the catalyst that put boxing back onto the front pages.
Groves lost the first fight on a controversial stoppage and was stopped in more conclusive fashion the second time around but years on, he and Froch have found friendship and often appear together on the after-dinner speaking circuit.
Froch does not enjoy the same relationship with Calzaghe, who was still active at the start of The Cobra’s career and often touted as an opponent. The fight never materialised for reasons that they have argued over since.
Groves was asked by Grosvenor Casinos to predict how it might have gone and picked against his old mate, but did give him credit for his power and fitness.
“Even Froch would say that he couldn’t match Joe Calzaghe for hand speed, punch output, or endurance. He’d have to punch with him and he’d back himself to do so. Calzaghe got off the floor to win in the past, so if you can catch him, he can go.”
“Also Froch is an underrated boxer, he had a very good, long job and he was awkward with his hands low. There was no quit in him and he carries power to the late rounds.
“On their best nights you’d say Calzaghe could keep him off, but it wouldn’t be a foregone conclusion, l’d pick Calzaghe on hand speed and footwork, creating angles and never letting Froch set.”