Former super middleweight world champion George Groves has been discussing a fantasy fight between his old rival Carl Froch and British boxing legend Joe Calzaghe.
Calzaghe famously went his entire career unbeaten, becoming the division’s longest reigning world champion in history before then moving up to also claim belts at light heavyweight.
The Welshman beat the likes of Bernard Hopkins, Roy Jones Jr and Jeff Lacy and earned his place in the International Boxing Hall of Fame more than a decade ago.
For a short while, his career overlapped with the young Froch, whose championship campaign included wins over Mikkel Kessler, Jermain Taylor and Lucian Bute as well as, most famously, a pair of victories over Groves. One was controversial, one was much more conclusive, and both contests secured his place in the history books and Hall of Fame.
Speaking to Grosvenor Casinos, ‘The Saint’ was asked how the fight might have gone.
“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 jab 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.”
