Exclusive – Froch promises Groves a world title re-match

Carl Froch has promised George Groves a re-match after their world title fight ended in controversy.

Referee Howard Foster stepped in to stop the contest in the ninth round, with most experts claiming he brought the bout to a premature conclusion.

Groves told talkSPORT he hopes Froch’s wounded pride would persuade the WBA and IBF champion to put his belts on the line against him again, and the Cobra insists it’s a challenge he won’t duck.

The Nottingham hero told Call Collymore: “Of course I’ll give George Groves a re-match, but it’s not my decision to make as to whether that’s my next fight.

“I’m happy to give him a re- match. I don’t need to convince anybody of that. I’ve fought anybody and everybody. I’ve fought the very best in the world. I’ve been in world title fights 13 times with numbers one to four in the world. I’ve fought the best of the best,  just have a look at my CV.

“So of course I’m happy to fight George Groves again. And does he deserve a re-match? Of course he does. He’s proven he belongs at world level and I’m not going to say he doesn’t. He gave me one hell of a fight. But the best man won on the night and did the job and you can’t take that away from me.”

Groves believes he should have been allowed to carry on in the fight and he has received widespread sympathy, but Froch claims he too feels hard done by at the fight’s conclusion.

“Groves feels he was robbed of the chance to finish the fight, but I was robbed of my glorious finish because I was going to knock him out,” he added.

“It was a controversial ending and maybe the fans felt they were robbed. They like to see a conclusion with no questions, but the ref is within six inches of the fighters and he saw Groves’ eyes roll into the back of his head.

“He turned his back and was in serious trouble. I can see the fans felt they were short changed, but it’s a fine line and a split second decision for the ref and I think he made the right decision. Howard Foster did what he’s paid to do and that’s to protect the fighters.

“The ref did him a favour and saved him from serious damage. If the ref had let the fight carry on it was going to the same result. George Groves was going to get knocked out, it’s as simple as that.”