It seems like it's been a long while since Britain laid claim to a great boxing superstar, or hosted a really big fight Tomorrow night, the birthplace of modern boxing just might have the event it's been waiting for. With a rematch between Carl Froch and George Groves headlining, British fans have flocked to Wembley stadium, filling more than 80,000 seats with anxious prizefighting fans. The controversial ending to Froch and Groves' first fight, which was a truly epic back-and-forth affair, has conjured up a story the likes of which Britain hasn't seen since the early 2000s.
"Prince" Naseem Hamed was at the forefront of the last wave of British greats, alongside such men as Joe Calzaghe, Ricky Hatton, and Lennox Lewis, and he's got some thoughts on tomorrow's big fight. Who's he picking?
"A lot of people are saying it's gonna be hard to pick," Hamed tells FightHype.com, "But for some reason I just have this feeling that . . . George really, really wants this."
Hamed was sold on Groves chances the moment he saw him knock down the iron chinned Froch in the first round of their first fight. This time, he surmises, Groves will be even more determined to not let the fight slip through his fingers.
Hamed did give Froch, who has never given any boxer an easy win, his fair due.
"If Carl boxes, and boxes with his jab, and boxes cleanly, and throws straight shots instead of silly, daft hooks [he can win, but] he's gonna struggle if he comes out swinging, off-balance like . . . the first fight."
It's not exactly the most insightful analysis in the world, but it's always nice to check in with some of the sports true luminaries, and Hamed is certainly one of those. Stay tuned to Bad Left Hook for all of you Froch vs Groves 2 coverage, leading up to, during, and after the big event.