• Super-middleweight

Hearn wouldn't advise Groves to fight Froch... yet

Eddie Hearn does not feel George Groves is ready for Carl Froch © Getty Images

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Promoter Eddie Hearn insists he will be open to putting on a fight between two of his major fighters, Carl Froch and George Groves, when the time is right - but claims Groves would be foolish to demand the bout right now.

Groves recently signed an agreement with Hearn's Matchroom company, making a potential showdown with Froch substantially easier to put together.

The two super-middleweights are set to appear on the same card in May, with Froch rematching Mikkel Kessler. Groves' opponent is yet to be named, but he recently called for a big fight that would give him the necessary reputation to lure Froch.

As a promoter, Hearn could be forgiven for keeping the pair apart in order to keep both men winning, but he insists that is not his plan. The only reason, right now, for not making the fight is that Hearn does not believe Groves is ready.

"People are talking about Groves v Froch as a potential fight, and that could be a huge fight for 12-15 months' time. It's a huge fight for British boxing," Hearn told Sky Sports News.

"The stable we're building at the moment, the guys are going to have to end up fighting each other. That's fine, if the time's right and everybody is happy, the contracts will get signed.

"At the moment Froch would be a huge favourite and it wouldn't be my advice to George to take that fight right now. But he's showing extraordinary talent, he'll be a world champion - one of the best Britain has had - and George already fancies the job against Froch.

"Carl would be very comfortable taking that fight too, but the moment I hear from George and Adam Booth that they seriously want that fight, it's something we would definitely consider."

Hearn was speaking hours after announcing his latest capture, Ricky Burns, the WBO lightweight champion. Burns terminated his agreement with Frank Warren to make the switch, prompting Warren to threaten legal action, but Hearn insists he is not worried.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.