• Carl Froch v George Groves II

Groves: I'll pay Froch back for wasted time

George Groves has vowed to pay back Carl Froch for what he feels has been six months of his time wasted.

Froch and Groves go toe-to-toe for the IBF and WBA world super middleweight titles again at Wembley in front of 80,000 people on May 31, after a controversial ending to their first fight in November.

Howard Foster pulled Groves away as he covered himself in the ninth round before the IBF eventually deemed the referee had acted "inappropriately" in Manchester and ordered a rematch.

"My career has stalled for six months as far as I'm concerned. I should've beaten Carl Froch," Groves told Buncey's Boxing Podcast.

Referee Howard Foster pulled George Groves away while he covered himself in the ninth round against Carl Froch in November © PA Photos

Enlarge

Related Links

• Features: Buncey's Boxing Podcast: Macklin, Dan, Smith, Adolphe
  
• Features: Buncey's Boxing Podcast: Brook, Smith, Mainwaring
  
• Features: Buncey's Boxing Podcast: Wright, Askin, Conjanu
  
• Features: Buncey's Boxing Podcast: Butler, COyle, Maccarinelli
  
• Features: Buncey's Boxing Podcast: Fury, Murray, O'Sullivan, Burkinshaw
  
• Features: Buncey's Boxing Podcast: Murray, Burkinshaw, McKenzie Roundtable
  
• Features: Buncey's Boxing Podcast: Frampton, Kelley, May
  
• Features: Buncey's Boxing Podcast: Groves, Maxwell, Johnson
  
• Features: Buncey's Boxing Podcast: Hopkins, Dickens, Ayers, Briggs
  
• Features: Buncey's Boxing Podcast: Fury, Malignaggi, Spicer
  
• Features: Buncey's Boxing Podcast: Crolla, Ogogo, Sanigar
  
• Features: Buncey's Boxing Podcast: DeGale, Rodney, Fowler
  
• Features: Buncey's Boxing Podcast: Lee, Murray, Price
  
• Features: Buncey's Boxing Podcast: Eubank Jr, Fury, Charles, Whiteside, Ryan
  
• Features: Buncey's Boxing Podcast: Whyte, Crolla, Douglin
  
• Features: Buncey's Boxing Podcast: Booth, Couch, Butler
  
• Features: Buncey's Boxing Podcast: Cleverly, Ajisafe, Barrett
  
• Features: Buncey's Boxing Podcast: Campbell, Hall, Lee
  
• Features: Buncey's Boxing Podcast: Murray, Coyle, Katsidis, Smith
  
• Features: Buncey's Boxing Podcast: Brook, Price, Butler
  
• Features: Buncey's Boxing Podcast: Warrington, Woodhouse, Maccarinelli
  
• Features: Buncey's Boxing Podcast: Chisora, Galahad, Taylor
  
• Features: Buncey's Boxing Podcast: Gallagher, Fury, Macklin
  
• Features: Buncey's Boxing Podcast: Groves, Buglioni, Skeete, Wharton
  
• Features: Buncey's Boxing Podcast: McAuley, Mayweather, Burkinshaw
  
• Features: Buncey's Boxing Podcast: McGuigan, Selby, Moore
  
• Features: Buncey's Boxing Podcast: Groves, Fury, Gardner
  
• Features: Buncey's Boxing Podcast: Fowler, McCracken
  
• Features: Buncey's Boxing Podcast: Brook, Browne, Morgan, Edwards
  
• Features: Buncey's Boxing Podcast: Wepner, Chisora, Fury, Briggs
  
• Features: Buncey's Boxing Podcast: Chambers, Melfah, Buglioni
  
• Features: Buncey's Boxing Podcast: Haye, Rogan, Smith
  
• Features: Buncey's Boxing Podcast: Burns, Woodhouse, Crolla, Calzaghe
  
• Features: Buncey's Boxing Podcast: Murray, Fury, Radford
  
• Features: Buncey's Boxing Podcast: Katie Taylor, Copeland, Rose, Collins
  
• Features: Buncey's Boxing Podcast: Froch, DeGale, Butler, Jennings
  
• Features: Buncey's Boxing Podcast: Joshua, Catley
  
• News: Referee confirmed for Froch-Groves rematch
  
• News: Groves: Froch is a broken man
  
• News: Groves signs deal with promoters Sauerland
  
• News: Groves trainer warns of Froch 'fouling'
  
• Features: Buncey's Boxing Podcast: Groves, Ajisafe, Prince
  
• News: Froch camp object to referee for Groves rematch
  

"The rematch would've been there for me and I would've taken it, but I would've been champion walking into that ring and if he didn't want it, if he would've retired or whatever else, then I would've moved on to another challenge.

"I can't wait to put this to bed and become world champion."

Asked whether he would have granted Froch a rematch if he'd won the first right, Groves replied: "80,000 tickets and a lion's share? What do you think?

"This is a fight that I don't lose any sleep over. I can sit back and watch the first fight over and over again, see what I did well and didn't, ultimately knowing as long as I go out and perform I can't lose.

"Carl can't win this fight as long as I perform and I will perform, that's the reason I want this fight."

Groves is also predicting a third round to the saga and would happily take it, but as long as another rematch doesn't come at the expense of progressing.

"I'd give Carl a rematch if it made sense, if it didn't prevent me moving further on in my career," Groves added.

"You don't want to spend your whole career fighting the same guy. I know Matchroom would love a trilogy, they love a bit of controversy. Barry Hearn speaks about it all the time and how it's great for boxing.

"But I want to go on and become a sports star one day, to become the very best I can be. That means I've got to go out there and box everyone I can and beat them all."

Groves also admitted he has harboured doubts about the fight going ahead ever since it was ordered back in January and is still not 100 percent certain it will go through.

"It wasn't until we were signed that we were on our way but even then it's been a bit of a bumpy road," Groves added.

"The last time I saw Carl I had to ask him to promise me not to pull out because I was getting strong indications that could be the case, because of the things he's doing and the way he's behaving.

"But I'm confident... 80,000 tickets sold, it's a fantastic night, it's going to be an amazing event. It's great for boxing and for everyone involved. I can't wait to get out there and strut my stuff."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd