Sound of bell will bring best out of Carl Froch

Carl Froch cannot wait to get his hands on arch-rival George Groves again as the WBA and IBF super-middleweight champion cut a mean and moody figure ahead of their rematch.

Carl Froch wont enjoy the build-up to Saturdays fight against George Groves in London. Picture: Getty

The Nottingham veteran has made no secret of the fact he is already sick of the hyperbole surrounding the blockbuster all-British scrap at Wembley on Saturday. The fight has broken records as 80,000 will flock to the national stadium to witness the two men going toe-to-toe six months after their nine-round cracker in Manchester last year.

Froch, 36, beat his young rival on that night but had to drag himself up from a first-round knockdown and weather a severe storm before controversially stopping the Londoner in the ninth. The two-time world champion admits he took the 26-year-old lightly on that night, fuelling even more feverish anticipation for the rematch. Froch has little interest in the buzz around the fight, however.

“I don’t enjoy this,” he said. “I enjoy it in the ring but I don’t enjoy the build-up to it. Once I’m in there and that bell rings, I’m doing the business. But, if you’re asking me whether I enjoy the build-up, stood here now, then no. When that bell goes I’m going to enjoy it greatly. It is going to be a fantastic fight because we’ve got such a big crowd behind us and everybody seems to be watching around the world.”

Froch believes he has the advantage now he knows Groves better. “I know what to expect now,” he said. “I know what tactics Groves brings. He tries to wind his opponent up. He was successful the first time but I don’t listen to him now. I’ll use this as a chance to show everybody how good I am.”