• Super-middleweight

Froch hits out at 'pathetic' Groves

Carl Froch has slammed "disrespectful" George Groves and labelled the Londoner "pathetic" after he was quoted in the press as saying that Froch is avoiding a fight with him.

Groves claims Froch will not step into the ring with him to "protect his legacy", but Froch believes Groves has not earned the right to go toe-to-toe with him just yet.

Speaking on Steve Bunce's ESPN boxing podcast, Froch said: "I paid zero attention to [Groves' claims] and it's impossible for him to bother me.

"I think it's quite pathetic. Everything George does is driven by the puppet master which is (manager) Adam Booth. George is just told what to say and what to do and he does. He's a bit of a non-entity at the minute is George Groves; I don't pay him any attention.

"He tickles me actually, he makes me laugh quite regularly."

Froch also claimed that Groves should take a leaf out of James DeGale's book, after he recently said he would "love to fight Froch" and that if he can "continue to progress and keep on winning" then he would earn the right to take on the champion.

"DeGale has been very respectful," Froch added. "He's been talking like a guy should talk about the current champion and he's showed some manners and respect which is a lot more than I've had from Groves.

"George is going to shoot himself in the foot. I'm in a position where I could freeze him out, and if he carries on being disrespectful I'll just say 'You know what, I don't even need to fight you. I've got that many options you can just go away and not even get your chance just on principle.'

"He's got to watch his mouth, has Grovesey-boy."

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