Former world champion Carl Froch will be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2023, and one of his biggest rivals, George Groves, has given his opinion.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Groves had kind words for his former bitter rival, claiming the ‘Cobra’ deserves his place in the Hall of Fame, and that the pair have spent a lot of time together since both retiring.
“I’m really happy for him. He deserves it rightly so.
“I’m very happy for him.. we was enemies, that’s boxing I suppose. You’re in the thick of it. It’s life and death.
“But once you retire, we’re in the same boat. We’ve got a lot in common now. We’ve spent a lot of time together so I like Carl.
“I’m genuinely happy for him.”
Froch and Groves met twice in the ring and both fights ended in TKO victories for the ‘Cobra.’
Their first encounter in 2013 ended in controversial fashion, as Froch overcame a knockdown in round one to rally back and win by stoppage in round nine. However, the stoppage was disputed by Groves and his team, as they believed referee Howard Foster stepped in prematurely.
The rematch would be the first fight to take place in the new Wembley Stadium. 80,000 fans flocked in to see Froch definitively close their rivalry with a vicious right hand in round eight which ended the fight, Froch would retire following this.
It’s great to see two bitter rivals turn friends at the end of their careers, as both are regularly seen together doing punditry for fights across the UK.