Eddie Hearn Exclusive: "No result in Froch - Groves II would surprise anyone" - Pt. 1 Video Interview
 By Jonathan Shrager, MaxBoxing (May 14, 2014)
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Above Video: Eddie Hearn interview from Doghouse Boxing's sister sites: MaxBoxing & SecondsOut..
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Recently MaxBoxing / SecondsOut UK Northern Boxing Correspondent Jonathan Shrager seized an opportunity to sit down with the UK's leading promoter, Matchroom's Eddie Hearn, to delve into the specifics surrounding the highly-anticipated rematch between reigning IBF/WBA Super Middleweight champion Carl Froch and challenger George Groves.
In Part 1 of a 4 part interview (Parts 2, 3 and 4 will be posted over the next 10 days), numerous topics are broached, including Groves' promotional situation, Eddie's allegiances and fight prediction, Froch's numerous options following the first epic encounter, the politics entailed in negotiations, and finally Froch's legacy, national profile and popularity heading into one of British boxing's biggest ever bouts.
As British fight fans, we can sometimes get consumed by the quasi-romantic notion of domestic dustups, disregarding the bigger picture. It can be a myopic, insular perspective, but with regards to this particular case involving Froch and Groves, I actually think the British fight fans are right to feel that romance.
Carl, as outlined by Eddie in the interview, had multiple options. Both he and Eddie were aware of this. After all, Carl has earned the right to go out as he pleases. But I feel that on this occasion, Eddie did well to listen to, take heed of, and even indulge in the British public. He’s currently in the process of giving British boxing a facelift, and he didn’t want to leave any unwanted wrinkles. A perceived lack of effort on his behalf to formalize Froch-Groves Mark II might have been construed as a case of prioritizing short- over long-term gain.
Hence, in some ways, October's original fight may have put an almighty spanner in the works with regards to Hearn’s 2014 plans for Froch. But Hearn is a pragmatic businessman who’s relishing the public satisfaction and financial reward that the rematch will yield. He knows where his bread is buttered, and what’s more, he’s a boxing man at heart; failure to make the rematch would have rankled with him. He understands that the public ultimately desire “bang for their buck,” or punch for their pound, as is apt for the “Battle of Britain.”
Alas, we were spared of a resolution in the first encounter, but I’d like to conclude on a resoundingly positive note, befitting of the fight itself. It’s all too easy to acquiesce in negativity, and let it detract from the spectacle for which no superlatives suffice. That was the biggest travesty; not the stoppage.
Lest we forget that, controversial conclusion aside, Froch-Groves I was yet another great advert for British boxing, a sentiment echoed by multiple esteemed boxing authors and prominent luminaries within boxing circles over this side of the pond. It ranks atop the list of awe-inspiring UK domestic Super-Middleweight dustups to unfold on our shores, alongside contests involving Watson, Benn, Eubank, Collins et al. And in terms of sheer magnitude, Froch-Groves II is poised to eclipse these folkloric duels inscribed in the canon of British boxing, by playing out in front of an 80,000 strong capacity crowd at Wembley, the national football stadium.
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