Carl Froch: “I should have known better”

Interview – Declan Warrington

BN: Would this tour happen – would you guys become friends like now – if he won that night at Wembley?

CF: If I lose it will probably be my last game – I ended my career in a loss. Will George do this tour if it’s his last fight? Sure is not. In the same way I probably wouldn’t have. But he was young enough to go and eventually win the world title, so he got his defining moment away from Wembley. If I lose and don’t fight anymore, will I get over it and think, ‘He’s okay, I’ll go on tour with him’? Maybe not. I do it for my website and in return for something for the fans, and I love it. Would I love to sit there and listen to me being snubbed in front of 80,000 spectators at Wembley a million times? No, I don’t think I will. It’s hard to empathize and put yourself in that position. But I can understand why George did it because it wasn’t his last game and he had a good career after that.

BN: How much harder would it be to be with him, and revisit it to the extent you do, if you lose?

CF: It will be [particularly] hard the first time or two, and then it’s like, “We’ve been here, seen it, done it now; We’ve talked about it a million times.” It will be a lot harder; and I think it was actually harder for him than it was for me. I take these tours and I don’t feel like it brings back any bad memories, but for him, sometimes I look at him and feel a little bad when I’m a little bit angry. Like his podcast – it’s me that’s a little funny and a little dig. But it [the knockout] Happened. It’s 100 percent, really, nothing personal.

patient: How much do you appreciate the end of your career, given how very few boxers retire after winning?

CF: I’m really grateful. For myself, for my hard work and dedication, for Rob McCracken for believing in me and the support I have received from my family – mainly my wife [Rachael]. It’s hard for her – there’s a lot of time she’s alone. My brother [Lee’s] my biggest fan and always support me; obviously my mother; my dad doesn’t really give a shit. He’s a wretched old man. I didn’t even talk to him, which is a pity, because my dad brought me to boxing – he loves the sport – but he’s become a bit reclusive since his remarriage. I miss my old man, I love him little by little, but I have not met him, and he has never met his seven grandchildren – those are also his two other sons. To finish on top of the wave – that’s a real opponent; it’s fair to say we probably hated each other – with that one-punch takedown on stage like that, it’s never going to get any better. Who else goes out on top?

David Haye is a good friend; to see him end his career with his ass face up in the air, being crushed by someone [Tony Bellew] cruiser class would not be suitable. To see him lose… He gets paid; he was also injured.

That’s one of the reasons I don’t box anymore. “Imagine losing now. It will never be this good or this big.” Going out at a loss; knocked down. Don’t fancy it. I’ve only lost twice, in points, against the top fighters. I finished at a high level. I’ve earned a few boards along the way. Really, you couldn’t ask for more, right?

BN: How often do you think about that night at Wembley?

CF: Probably almost every day. Because I always anger myself by saying “80,000”; I have my running joke. When you meet people, it always ends with: ‘Your last game at Wembley,’ so I think about that all the time. I can’t imagine thinking of it as my last battle and getting knocked down every day. It will be frustrating.

patient: What does he rank among the best you’ve fought?

CF: Jean Pascal is a fierce king. Jermain Taylor was a bit too fast and too dexterous for me but he couldn’t keep up with me in the following laps – I was always steady with my fitness. Andre Ward is clumsy and horrible – but he knows how to win. [Mikkel] Kessler is a real asshole; skillful; quite slick. Arthur Abraham was very tough; I hit him 12 rounds and he kept going. Andre Dirrell is mustard, but he has no heart when it comes to fighting me. [Groves is] in the top five – I wouldn’t put him in the top three [but] – that’s credit to George.

Carl Froch is crucified by a remaining George Groves during Groves’ ninth round stop in 2013 (Tom Jenkins/Getty Images)

patient: What’s the most personal moment you’ve shared since you’ve known each other?

CF: We drank in Edinburgh. We were standing in the bar, and it was pretty lively, and people came and took selfies; it was a shot of Guinness and Tia Maria. The tour was almost over and I said, “Congratulations, George. I really enjoyed it – it’s great to get to know you. I consider you my life partner.” He said, “Me too—you and your brother—was amazing. You made it really comfortable for me. There was an acoustic guy playing some songs, and there were quite a few people there, and I think it was a really great moment. We had a “tour cheer”, and we actually became friends. I don’t drink much – I don’t think he does either. He’s reasonable, and I don’t drink enough [to get drunk].

He said, “Will you come and do a podcast for me?”; “Yeah, sure, I’ll be down soon.” It was a bit of a pain to hit the road three hours early but I made sure it worked out, because I didn’t want to disappoint him. If he asks me to do something, I want to do it for him. You want to take care of your partner, right? Do their right thing. That’s just how it happened to George. I really think he’s a sounding old man. I suitably get on with him. We have a lot in common. We both have wives and children; we both boxed. I really like George Groves. I wish he lived closer [to Nottingham], because I’ll give him a call. “Would you like to go out for a game of snooker or go out for something to eat with the ladies?” He will be a great company.

BN: He also became friendly with your brother Lee…

CF: Lee might be a bit harsh on him but he’s taking care of his little brother. Groves was always a little angry with him. I don’t think they really bother each other that much. Lee annoyed George more than “I can’t stand this Lee Froch, you son of a bitch”. He was always in and around me but he never really did anything… George stood right in front of Lee at the press conference for the Wembley rematch, and I knew that Lee had drunk all the vodka on way down. He disguised it in a water bottle. I only found out later because he used to hide his drinking. When George stood in front of him – Lee could fight. He had 13 illegal fights; Win them all and knock out 12. Tough men – hard doormen. People who fancy themselves on the street. He’s as strong as you want him to be; can take a punch. Looking back now, he was furious – if that had started it could have been messy. “Damn, that can be horrible.” The fight will be off. I don’t think Lee and George hate each other. I think they don’t like [by each other] by default of [him] Is my brother.

It was great when George met Lee for the first time [in retirement]. Lee actually tried to talk to George and say, “George. Okay buddy? Nice to meet you. I haven’t talked to you since the war but honestly I don’t have a problem with you. I think you’re very good – a great boxer – you’ve done a great job…” Lee had probably been sober for 5 years by then – he had already taken his 12 steps and he was completely doable, carry on and humble. I think George was attracted to that, and he relaxed. The two of them get on well. I usually look around and the two of them are chatting and laughing.

patient: How do you reflect on the photo before the first battle, which almost portrays you as a bully?

CF: Reality started when I was in the ring. I thought, “Damn, I’m so cold”. I don’t want to boot; I do not want to go. Now comes the man as they say. You can’t lie to yourself [at that point]. I thought, “I could be in trouble here”. As I stood in that corner with everyone around me, I thought to myself, “You’re all going to leave the ring in a minute, and I have to stay here.” There are only four or five people who really mean anything to me. Others are family wanting to be on camera or a few close friends already in the dressing room. “Take off your ring, you bastard. What are you doing in the ring?” I used to look around and think, “What the hell is he doing in the ring? Who brought him?” As long as Rob is there and I can talk him through the final tactic, that’s all I need.

I can remember looking over [Groves] think, “Cheeky.” shameless. Just standing there, full of confidence; full of confidence. Quite proud – chin in the air. I was thinking, “For the sake of f**k”.

patient: Are you overconfident before those skirmishes and are you guilty of underestimating Groves?

CF: I was overconfident the first time and sorry for not giving him the credit he deserves, that’s for sure. I should have known better because I had sword fighting with him; I know he’s a good fighter. But the rematch I’m not too confident. I am fully aware that I am fighting a very capable person; difficult; has quick hands and can punch a bit. I’m really confident that I’ll get the job done, but I’m not overconfident in a disrespectful way when it comes to making him go easy. I am confident because I have practiced very hard; had all the sparring I wanted. I am healthy; My diet was smack on. I walk into the ring very confident but completely respectful of my opponent, that’s the best way. I fully believe I’ve had a really hard night’s work and potentially a really tough fight. I was turned on. concentrate.