Froch ordered to face Groves in rematch

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The International Boxing Federation has ordered a rematch between Carl Froch and George Groves.

It means Froch must defend his super-middleweight crown against the Hammersmith man within 90 days or risk being stripped of the IBF title.

It comes after champion Froch, who also holds the World Boxing Association’s version of the championship, suggested he was likely to fight Julio Cesar Chavez Jnr in Las Vegas rather than face Groves in his next bout.

Groves, 25, was almost immediately reinstalled as the IBF’s mandatory challenger – a position he held prior to his clash with Froch in November.

Groves was furious when the first fight was halted.
Groves was on top before being stopped.

That fight ended in a controversial defeat for the previously unbeaten challenger, when referee Howard Foster halted the contest in the ninth round in what was widely seen as a premature stoppage.

Despite being an underdog going into that fight, Groves floored the Nottingham man in the first round and wobbled him on several occasions before Foster abruptly stepped in after a flurry of shots from Froch.

Groves would be in line to fight another opponent for the vacant title should Froch, 36, opt to relinquish the belt rather than agree to a rematch.

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