VIRGIL HUNTER NOT SURE IF IT'S SAFE FOR CARL FROCH TO FIGHT ANDRE WARD: "HE WOULD JUST GET BEAT ON AND STOPPED"
By Ben Thompson | November 27, 2013
"I don't dislike anyone to the point where you have to really stop now and say wait a minute, this man's got two kids, he's got a lovely partner, he's got a mother, father, brothers and stuff; I mean, you know, look, you might just have one more left in you. You really need to start implementing an exit strategy because the punishment in that fight is not good, and these hard fights that he's had over the years, you would hate to see this take effect on anybody, you know, who has children and things like that. So I'm almost right now, man, maybe we don't even want to fight him no more, you know, because it would just be devastating because he would never have an opportunity like he did against Groves. He would just get beat on and stopped," stated world-class trainer Virgil Hunter, who spoke more about Carl Froch's performance against George Groves and whether or not Team Ward was still interested in a potential rematch with him. Check it out!
BT: After seeing Froch's performance against Groves, is a rematch with him something that you guys might still be interested in?
VH: I think Froch underestimated the kid, you know, in his cocky way and just couldn't see that coming. And when it came, you know, it shook him. But you gotta give him credit for hanging in there, taking a beating, and turning it around, but I don't dislike anyone to the point where you have to really stop now and say wait a minute, this man's got two kids, he's got a lovely partner, he's got a mother, father, brothers and stuff; I mean, you know, look, you might just have one more left in you. You really need to start implementing an exit strategy because the punishment in that fight is not good, and these hard fights that he's had over the years, you would hate to see this take effect on anybody, you know, who has children and things like that. So I'm almost right now, man, maybe we don't even want to fight him no more, you know, because it would just be devastating because he would never have an opportunity like he did against Groves. He would just get beat on and stopped. You know, it's just hard to say. But I thought that he showed great courage. Sometimes he can hurt himself saying some of the stuff he says after the fight was over. What he really should've said was, "Look man, this man whooped on me, but, you know, I hung in there and found a way to turn the fight around." But, you know, people remember the horse that crosses the finish line, not the one who started.
BT: Was there anything about Froch that looked different to you or did he look like the same guy that you guys already beat?
VH: No, I saw the same guy, but what I saw was a guy who was fighting George Groves 4 years ago when they were sparring, and he didn't take heed to who George Groves was now. You know, he trained hard, that's probably true, but in his mind, he had no example of what Groves was capable of other than him throwing his weight around with lesser competition. So that's what happens when you elevate yourself to this godly status, like Froch elevates himself, setting yourself up for a hard fall. And it almost happened, you know; it almost happened. Just like he says, "I challenge any man to take the right hand I took and get up from it." You know, and I'm like, what kind of statement is that? First of all, you shouldn't have took that right hand (laughing). First of all, you should've done your homework and jabbed him and not even let him land the right hand. You see. So I mean, that's really arrogant to say, "I challenge any man...nobody else could've took this punch and got up but me." That's absurd. Do you know how many journeyman and lower ranked guys that have gone the distance with George Groves? Okay, so he hit some of them with it and they didn't go down, you know. You're making some off-beat comments there. I think a rematch is in order for them. I don't think he wants to rematch; he has a hard time with guys with speed.
BT: So you think Froch would rather fight Groves again instead of fighting Dre?
VH: He already said he didn't want to fight him. He said the only way he would fight him is if the media pushed it, the networks pushed it, and even then he said, "I would try to knock him out; there's no way I can win a decision." You know, so he's basically saying, "I don't want this fight." That's what he's saying. You know, I would pick him in the rematch [with Groves] if they made some adjustments. I mean, his defense should be better. It's not that Groves...Groves is faster than Froch, but Groves is not quick; he's fast. You can always make adjustments with a fast fighter. A quick fighter is a little harder, but Groves is just fast, so he can make certain adjustments in that fight and win the rematch. You know, I know Groves would come in with a lot of confidence and things like that, but he has some things that he really needs to work on. I'm not going to say them because we might one day fight him ourselves.