By James Slater: Unbeaten super-middleweight star George Groves, the reigning British and Commonwealth champ, is a level-headed person, not in the habit of talking any trash. Still, the 23-year-old is certainly thinking big with his career.
Next up for Groves, 14-0(8) will be a return match with Kenny Anderson, the man who floored him and came close to bursting his bubble back in November of 2010 – but Groves is already thinking about bigger fights in the coming 12 months. Not too interested in facing one-time archrival James DeGale again (Groves does look at DeGale as a man who will “always be loosely on the radar”), Groves has told BBC Sport that he would love to face former two-time WBC 168-pound champ Carl Froch in 2013.
“One of the biggest fights in a year’s time would be me and Carl Froch with a world title on the line,” he said. “The styles gel and we’re both always in exciting fights. That would be a great British match.”
It very possibly would be. However, will “The Cobra,” already 34, still be fighting in a year’s time? Last seen losing a wide decision to “Super Six” winner Andre Ward, Froch has yet to sign for his return fight (there are ongoing talks about Froch fighting IBF king Lucian Bute next – possibly singing a two-fight deal). If he is, and if he can still get motivated for a domestic opponent, Froch Vs. Groves could prove to be a big, big night – a classic changing of the guard perhaps (though I wouldn’t ever bet against Froch, no matter who he fights).
But Groves might have his hands full with Scotland’s Anderson, 15-1(11) when he meets him again on March 16th at Wembley. Guilty, by his own admission, of dropping his hands, fighting a slugfest and generally making mistakes against Anderson three fights ago, Groves can afford no slip-ups this time around. But has Anderson got Groves’ number; to a degree at least? Will the 29-year-old from Edinburgh get to the Londoner once again and make him fight a fight he doesn’t want to fight?
Anderson has won three since being TKO’d in the 6th by Groves, and he will be hugely motivated at the chance to avenge his only pro loss. Anderson sure will be ruining a lot of lofty plans if he beats Groves in March.
I pick Groves to score another mid-rounds stoppage, but there will be fireworks early on.