Groves doubts Froch’s promise to grant challenger a rematch
FORMER British champion George Groves fears he will not get the rematch he deserves against Carl Froch, despite words of encouragement from the world super-middleweight champion following the contentious end to Saturday’s fight.
Froch made a successful defence of his WBA and IBF titles when referee Howard Foster stopped the fight in the ninth round, despite Groves appearing able to carry on after receiving two quickfire punches in a contest he had otherwise dominated.
Immediately after the contest Froch urged promoter Eddie Hearn to arrange the rematch, delighting the packed Manchester Arena crowd, then reiterated that sentiment yesterday, saying: “I’ll fight anybody. If George really wants the rematch, which he sounds like he does, and the fans want it, then why not?”
Yet Groves doubts whether he will get another shot at the 35-year-old.
“Carl sat down at ringside for his post-fight interview and said ‘let’s have a rematch’ but after watching it back, I think he said it just to get a cheer from the crowd,” said Groves, who had floored Froch in the opening round.
“He probably doesn’t believe he wants a rematch. I deserve one after everything I put up with. It was an unfair and unjust decision and if Carl does decide to box on, his next fight should be a rematch against me.
“It would be the biggest fight for him out there so there’s no reason not to have it, apart from the fact he knows that he got more than a lottery ticket on Saturday night. I’ve got the beating of him.”