Former foes George Groves and Carl Froch will team up at the Manchester Arena on January 21st, where they will be working together as part of the broadcast team for Chris Eubank Jr. vs Liam Smith.
The two were once bitter rivals and enemies. They have now buried the hatchet, and they even tour the country together in a dinner show that has been enjoyed by thousands across the UK.
Froch stated to Sky Sports that Smith vs Eubank was the fight that had excited him more than any other British fight in recent years.
“Liam Smith, he knows what he’s doing. He’s been in the with the best. He’s fought Canelo. He’s had some top fights and he was a genuine world champion in my eyes. He’s earned his stripes.”
“Eubank Jr is tough as well, like his old man. He’s shown that he’s got a real good solid 12 rounds in him. When he comes, he comes to win.”
“He’s very tough, he can take a punch and he’s got quite a ferocious work rate when he puts his shots together.”
“But this is a serious business and Liam Smith is a serious operator. So I think he’s got his hands full. This for me is the biggest British fight that I’ve been looking forward to in ages.”
Groves – who defeated Eubank Jr back in 2018 – expressed a similar view when asked for his thoughts on the contest, and was unable to pick between the two men when asked for a prediction.
“It’s one of those fights where the more you know the harder it is to make a solid prediction.”
“Eubank has made massive improvements throughout his pro career. I wouldn’t really try to box Smith, because Smith being the lighter, smaller, more experienced guy, that will probably suit him.”
“It is a good match up. Eubank will want to drag him into a fight and then we’ll see how Liam Smith copes with that. Smith is strong. He’s got a lot of tenacity, a lot of spite.”
The two legendary former super middleweights’ words echo those from the wider boxing fraternity, which is seemingly split right down the middle ahead of the pay-per-view bout.
Eubank has a rematch clause should Smith lose. However, the same luxury has not been afforded the way of the Liverpudlian, who knows he will only get one crack at toppling ‘Next Gen.’