By Terence Dooley
Sky Sports News has revealed that Charlie Fitch will definitely referee the WBA and IBF Super middleweight title rematch between titlist Carl Froch, 32-2 (23), and challenger George Groves, 19-1 (15), at Wembley Stadium this weekend.
Eddie Hearn, the show's promoter, informed Sky Sports - who will air the fight live in the U.K. - that the American referee remains the man in charge despite a late objection to his appointment from Groves's team, which was widely reported earlier today.
"There was another objection over the referee from Team Groves but the IBF made the decision last night that Charlie Fitch will referee the fight," Hearn told Sky.
A late request was made for a change of third man, but BBBoC rules clearly state that the officials have to pass a strict medical so a late replacement would have been infeasible this close to the contest due to the practicalities involved when bringing in a foreign official.
Groves successfully lobbied for the replacement of a Polish judge, Leszek Jankowiak, due to Froch's Polish ancestry. The super middleweight contender originally requested a foreign referee due to what he believe was a premature decision on the part of Doncaster's Howard Foster in the first fight, which was dominated by Groves early only for Froch to come back and register a ninth-round TKO win.
The win was deemed premature by many fans and pundits, prompting the International Boxing Federation (IBF) to order an immediate rematch.
"The judges are now in place. No more dramas. Probably a few little mind games going back and forth but we're all set, the fight's on and we're ready to go," Hearn states.
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