• Carl Froch v George Groves

Froch: Groves has blown his chance

Carl Froch has told Boxing News he is unlikely to grant George Groves a rematch after insisting the 25-year-old "blew his chance", and is instead looking to gain revenge against Andre Ward.

Referee Howard Foster controversially gave Froch a ninth-round stoppage win over Groves in their WBA and IBF super-middleweight world title fight in Manchester on Saturday.

Boxing is no 'Sweet Science'

Froch v Groves was a real battle © PA Photos

• Carl Froch's controversial world title fight with George Groves showed why boxing is a brutal business. But it is a business where the good, the bad and the ugly have to find a way to exist.
• Read more of Steve Bunce's thoughts here

Groves has called on Froch to accept a rematch, insisting he has no other choice for the sake of his credibility. Mutual promoter Eddie Hearn has even touted Wembley Stadium as a potential venue, with a June or July date mooted.

In the aftermath of the fight Froch appeared to be willing to take on Groves again, but seems to have reversed his standpoint with an eye on taking out Ward, the only man to have beaten him.

Froch told Boxing News : "I don't think I need to fight George Groves again to prove anything because he [was an] unbeaten, young, hungry fighter, the best in Britain other than me, but I'm world champion and I've given him his chance - a chance I wasn't given to fight the best when I was at his stage in my career. He's had his chance and unfortunately he blew it."

When asked who he would fight if he could pick anyone, Froch stated Ward would be "ideal", and admitted avenging his loss to the American was his motivation. "It's fair for Ward to come over here. In my 34-fight career, there's only one man I haven't beaten - Andre Ward.

"[A rematch with Groves] doesn't do anything for my personal goals. George Groves was on my hitlist and guess what? On my record it says Froch v Groves - Froch TKO round 9, that's what it says and that's a very satisfying result on my record for the history books. They're the facts. It's a bitter pill for George Groves to swallow. I took the victory from him by being the warrior and the strong ironman that I am."

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