• Boxing

Froch wants to be Las Vegas showman

Rob Bartlett at Wembley Stadium
May 31, 2014
Carl Froch has been told to take a break from boxing before deciding on another fight © PA Photos
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Carl Froch says he wants to fulfill his ambition of fighting in Las Vegas but will listen to the advice of his trainer on the question of his retirement.

The 36 year old retained his IBF and WBA super middleweight titles with a thunderous knockout blow to George Groves at Wembley on Saturday night, but doubts surrounding his future were still raised at the end.

Froch stops Groves with thunderous knockout

Carl Froch landed the punch in the eighth round © Getty Images
  • Carl Froch gave a champion's performance to knock George Groves out in the eighth round of their highly anticipated world title rematch at Wembley Stadium.
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Trainer Rob McCracken will have a significant influence on what Froch does next and has advised the fighter to take a break from the ring before coming to any decision.

"I would love to box in Las Vegas," Froch said. "It ticks a really special box for me. It's the fight capital of the world."

He would certainly not be short of opponents keen to take him on and, after the huge commercial success of his victory against Groves, promoters would be falling over themselves to stage another big event.

The argument against Froch pursuing one final fight is that he could go out at the top. However, it is an argument that has been made - and failed to convince fighters - many times in boxing before.

At least Froch appears ready to listen - and is aware how special Saturday night was. "The next opponent? Who knows, I will listen to my trainer Rob McCracken," he said. "I will never top boxing in the national stadium in front of 80,000 people. To put boxing on this platform is special - I'm very proud. My children will look back and say: 'That was my daddy in there.'

"That was a great right-hander [that knocked out Groves]. I timed it perfectly. I was trying to close down George, at times the crowd were getting a bit bored but I was not going to force it. I was biding my time and I knew as soon as I landed it correctly, on the chin, on the jaw section of cranium it would be all over and it was. It must be the best punch I have ever thrown and landed in my life. It is not going to get any better than this. It was absolutely fantastic."

Froch has often talked about leaving a special legacy and what that would mean to him. It is bound to be something he discusses with McCracken when they decide on the future - but not before they have celebrated their victory

McCracken said: "I want him to have a break; we will have a chat and see what he wants to do. He lives like a monk, he is thoroughly dedicated to the sport. He will want to do a big one, he will want to do one in Vegas but we will have a chat. He will have a month off from listening to me. He loves the sport, he is a gladiator."

Groves' newly-appointed promoters Sauerland believe they can sell another fight for him and that he will become a champion but he was criticised by former trainer Adam Booth for opening himself up and becoming vulnerable to the knockout blow.

The fighter himself proved a dignified loser after the combative build-up, but his body language suggested it might take him a while to get over his defeat.

"I am fine - it is boxing," he said. "Fair play to Carl, he caught me. I thought I was doing very well in the fight but it is boxing. I have to hold my hands up and I'll come back bigger and better and stronger. I feel like I let myself down but congrats to Carl, he got the punch."

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