• Super-middleweight

Froch in line to face Groves after Kessler or Ward

Promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed Carl Froch could fight fellow Brit George Groves next summer - but only after 'The Cobra' has taken on either Mikkel Kessler or Andre Ward.

The WBA and IBF super-middleweight champion defeated Kessler at the O2 Arena in a bruising war of attrition to exact his revenge on the Dane, and a third and final contest has been talked up by both camps.

And Froch's promoter Hearn believes the third encounter will take place given the way the first two bouts went.

"Now that the dust has settled after a memorable night for Carl Froch and British boxing, it's time to start looking to the future," Hearn said.

"Every man and his dog have been calling Carl out, that comes with the territory but commercially, Froch v Kessler III is just a huge fight. The first two were stunning nights and everyone knows what they would get from the decider.

"Each one has been brutal so we will give Mikkel and his body time to see if he wants to go again."

Froch has targeted a rematch with Ward - the only other boxer to inflict a defeat on him in his career - and Hearn says a fight with the American would have to take place on Froch's home territory,

"I have made contact with Ward's promoter and we are ready to begin discussions with them and HBO," he said. "For us, the fight would have to happen wherever it would make the most financial sense and that's the UK."

Whilst a fight against Kessler or Ward has yet to be finalised, Hearn also revealed Froch could take on Groves, only after the latter has participated in a fight before the end of the year.

"We will look to fight this winter and then lead into a big stadium fight next summer," Hearn said. "I believe by then George will be world champion which would make this fight [with Froch] one of the biggest the country has ever seen."

Groves may have to be a bit more respectful if he wants that fight, however, with Froch recently suggesting he will "freeze out" the Hammersmith fighter if he continues his war of words in the press.

Froch told ESPN: "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.'"

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