• Super-middleweight

Khan: Froch is past it, he needs to retire

Carl Froch wants to avenge his defeat to Andre Ward but the American says he does not have to fight him again © PA Photos

Enlarge

Amir Khan has told the Daily Mail that Carl Froch should retire following his controversial win over George Groves.

Froch retained his WBA and IBF super-middleweight titles in contentious fashion on Saturday, after referee Howard Foster stopped the fight in the ninth round.

The decision sparked numerous debates, while Groves and trainer Paddy Fitzpatrick believing Foster ended the fight too early. At the time, Groves was ahead on all three scorecards and had already knocked Froch down in the opening round.

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

Khan stated Groves was the better fighter on the night, and thinks Froch should hang up his gloves while he is still top of the tree.

"He's past his sell-by date," Khan told the Daily Mail. "Froch should retire. He's on top at the moment with the belts, I really think in his next fight he'll lose those belts. He got a very close win against Groves because he was losing almost every round.

"The referee stopped the fight too soon, the fight would've gone the distance and Groves would've won on points.

"He [Groves] told me he fancied working on the inside, that's why he took a few shots getting in. That's why he got caught. He wanted to take a few shots, sometimes that drives a fighter. He didn't seem hurt. Even when the ref stopped the fight you could see his head was fine."

Meanwhile, Froch told Boxing News he is unlikely to grant Groves a rematch. The Nottingham fighter wants to avenge his 2011 defeat to Andre Ward.

While Ward is open to a rematch, the American told BBC Radio 5Live he is under no obligation to fight Froch again.

"From a legacy standpoint, Froch needs me more than I need him. I can go off to fight other guys and never mention Carl Froch's name again," Ward told BBC Radio 5Live. "I'm not concerned about fighting in front of his fans, but it is about not getting a fair shake. I've realistic concerns.

"Like I said, it's not my legacy at stake if he didn't beat me, but if something happens like in the Groves fight, then that is tough to live down. It's a lot of moving pieces."

Download ESPN's new UK sport app, a fresh and powerful new way to follow your favourite UK sports news, scores and video.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd