This is the UK’s version of Ayittey Powers v Bukom Banku – and it happens on May 31.
George Groves believes Carl Froch will “struggle” to cope with a hostile crowd at Wembley Stadium in their rematch on that Saturday.
Around 80,000 are expected to watch the fight at Wembley – the biggest audience in British boxing history – and Groves feels IBF and WBA super-middleweight champion Froch will find it difficult in unfamiliar territory in London.
“I think in this fight it is going to be a massive, massive advantage for me,” Groves told Sky Sports.
“Carl Froch never really does too well away from home and he is very settled and comfortable in Nottingham.
“He is not doing many appearances lately, we haven’t heard much from him, he’s sort of trying to hide away. It’s very spiteful I think of his promoter Eddie Hearn to send him to London for this fight. He is already in a fight he knows he can’t win but he is also going to have to face a London crowd.”
The Hammersmith-born fighter insists he is currently the fans’ favourite following the controversial end to their first clash in November when referee Howard Foster stopped the bout in the ninth round.
“For the first time in Carl Froch’s career, on home soil he is going to be facing hostile fans, people who have paid money to come and see him lose,” Groves said.
“I have faced that and I’ve dealt with it. Carl Froch I feel needs it, he certainly needs reassurance from people and to seek approval from people. I see that behind the cameras and in front on the cameras.
“Come fight night he is going to struggle with that. He will have a core fan-base who will be supporting him but there will be a lot of people who will be there to see him get beat and we will see how he deals with that.”
Source: ESPN UK