George Groves: I am a nightmare for Carl Froch

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George Groves believes he has the measure of Carl Froch ahead of their clash for Froch’s WBA and IBF World Super Middleweight titles at the sold-out Phones 4u Arena in Manchester on Saturday (November 23), live on Sky Sports Box Office.

Unbeaten Groves fights in his first World title contest in the North West, as Froch dons the gloves for his 11th fight in a row with a coveted strap on the table. ‘The Saint’ has been bullish in the build-up and has been awarded victory by many in the verbal battle between him and the champ – and the popular Londoner says the time is right for him to defeat Froch.

“This is the fight I have always wanted,” said Groves, speaking at his public work-out at the Westfield Shopping Centre in Shepherd’s Bush. “I respect Carl Froch for achieving what he has in the sport, and I know he’s a tough fighter, but I also believe he is beatable and that I have the style to cause him nightmares.

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Roach: Rios won’t last past the 4th against Pacquiao on Saturday

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Based on trainer Freddie Roach’s recent mitt workout with his fighter Manny Pacquiao, he’s moved his original prediction of Pacquiao stopping Brandon Rios (31-1-1, 23 KO’s) by the 6th round to Pacquiao stopping him by the 4th round. Roach brags that Pacquiao was hitting the mitts so well that he had to stop the mitt work after just four rounds.

It sounds good but Roach was also bragging about how Pacquiao had his best camps in his last two training camps, and we saw what happened with Pacquiao with him losing to Tim Bradley and Juan Manuel Marquez. It just gives you the impression that Roach is like a promoter with the way he builds up Pacquiao, and he ends up with egg on his face when Pacquiao fails to look like the fighter that he once was 4 years ago.

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Tyson Fury Calls Out Deontay Wilder!

deontay5698Ladies and gentlemen, I don’t know about you, but I think the heavyweight division can be exciting once again. The idea is to begin matching up the young guns and letting them go at each other.

There is one thing I’ve noticed in quite a few recent fights involving heavyweights not named Klitschko. The heavyweights are letting their hands go and producing interesting and entertaining fights. It started a few years back on NBC, NBC Sports, and CBS where some up and coming prospects decided to do something that has been missing in years… a thing called PUNCHING! The results of those fights were that the networks signed up for more fights.

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Timothy Bradley Warns Rios About Pacquaio: “He Is Very Difficult To Hit”

rios777The most difficult part for Brandon Rios in facing Manny Pacquiao, is not the physical or even psychological portion of it all, but the significant difference in Pacquiao versus any other opponent that Rios has ever faced. The unexpected surprise that Rios might encounter during the fight, the revelation that Pacquiao is significantly faster and stronger than team Rios had anticipated, may force Rios to abandon any fight plan, and try to swing hard in hopes of landing a “Marquez” punch.

Timothy Bradley, the first man in a long time to claim a victory over Pacquiao, suggests that Pacquiao is very hard to land on, and that Rios needs to be ready to deal with frustration:

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Left-Hook Lounge: Is Ward the New P4P King?, Is This Pacquiao’s Last Fight?, Who Next for Andre Ward?

433Dexter R. (Tampa, FL): I think it’s time Andre Ward gets serious consideration in the P4P discussion. Is it far-fetched (in your opinion) to label him as the best P4P fighter in the sport?

Vivek W. (ESB): I’ve been a huge Andre Ward fan from day one, and back in 2009 when people were laughing at me and questioning him, I said with confidence, (feel free to check the archives), that he would not only win the Super Six Tournament, but in my estimation, was already viewed as the #2 P4P fighter in the sport, trailing only behind Floyd Mayweather. That being said, perspective should always be measured down the center, with few emotions attached. Bottom line, Ward’s performance was as brilliant as you can ask, coming off such a major injury and lengthy layoff. He performed to perfection with poise and brilliance. I have nothing but praise for him, but when we speak along the lines of perspective, it’s important to note that this victory came over Edwin Rodriguez. Think about that!

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Fury Vs. Haye is off. Again! Haye has shoulder surgery, career may be over

haye7It looks like those fight fans who remained interested in seeing Tyson Fury get it on with David Haye will be disappointed on a permanent basis. The heavily hyped British heavyweight showdown, that was postponed from September due to a cut suffered by Haye in some late sparring, has been called off for a second time – this time due to shoulder surgery Haye underwent in Germany this past Thursday.

And now, with some experts telling Haye he must retire from the ring, Team-Fury are searching for a replacement foe for the February 8th date the Haye fight was rescheduled for at The Phones 4U Arena in Manchester (the fight set to go out live on Sky Box Office).

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Carl Froch or GGG: Who Would Make More Sense For Ward To Face Next?

froch673When it comes to leaving no doubt in the eyes of the boxing press and the fans, ‘Son Of God’ is a virtuoso. Being a second best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, Andre Ward has to not only sweat bullets when it comes to training, but perform in a way that suggests his absolute dominance from bell to bell.

Yesterday, after the longest layoff in his career paired with a shoulder surgery, Andre Ward left his ring rust at home, dominating the previously unbeaten Edwin Rodriguez in a fashion that proves his ownership of being a true pound-for-pound champion, dictating that Ward is a force that just might plow through the rest of the top rated competition in a similar fashion.

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Ward – Rodriguez Post Fight Quotes and Photos

423Two days ago defending WBA and Ring Magazine Champion Andre “S.O.G”. Ward (27-0, 14 KOs) declared that he would come back better than ever after a 14-month layoff, and he lived up to his claim on Saturday night by dominating challenger Edwin “La Bomba” Rodriguez (24-1, 16 KOs) in earning a lopsided unanimous decision victory at the Citizen’s Business Bank Arena in Ontario, Calif.

Scores were 118-106, 117-107, 116-108.

Billed as “THE RETURN”, the HBO® World Championship Boxing televised main event was the headliner of a nine-bout card presented by Goossen Tutor Promotions and sponsored by Toyota, Morongo Casino Resort & Spa, and the City of Ontario. The Ward-Rodriguez bout was presented in association with S.O.G. Promotions and DiBella Entertainment.

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14 mo’s off, no problem – Andre Ward dominates Edwin Rodriquez

433When the last time you saw an 8/7 round? That’s what happened at the Citizens Business Bank Arena, Ontario, CA when referee Jack Reiss got very angry at both Edwin “La Bomba” Rodriquez and Andre S.O.G. Ward. A lot of punches were flying in the fourth round. The problem was quite a few of then came after Reiss called “break”. One of those shots caught him, and Reiss was pissed! He halted the action and angrily signaled both men to neutral corners. Then he advised each of the three judges to deduct two points from each man. He also explained he was hit and wanted both men fined, emphasizing he would leave it up to the commission as to the amount. When he finally waved both men back to center ring, he cautioned them he wasn’t going to put up with the dirty tactics, and if it continued he would DQ one or both and they wouldn’t get paid!

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Tua v Ustinov round by round – Ustinov Beats Tua

tua432323Hamilton City, Claudelands Showgrounds: Ringside: Chants of Tua! Tua go up! The ring announcer gets an A plus for animation. Never quite seen or heard a ring announcer throw himself around the ring with so much vigour and enthusiasm in introducing fighters. Fair to say he is an excitable type of chap.

Alexander Ustinov ring walk: All you can really say about the man is he is one very big piece of humanity. His ring walk music of the Russian variety is music not often heard in this part of the world. He leaps the top rope of the ring with ease and that impressed the hell out of the crowd. At 6ft 8 and 139 kilograms (according to ring announcer) his immensity makes him a proposition for the sheer fact of his immensity – he carries no excess weight and appears in exceptional condition.

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