The BBBoC have confirmed to BoxingScene.com that London's George Groves has lodged an appeal against his November 21 ninth-round stoppage loss to WBA and IBF Super middleweight champion Carl Froch.
Groves hopes to have the result overturned and changed to a No-Contest due to what Team Groves perceive to be a premature stoppage decision by referee Howard Foster, who jumped in at 1:33 of the ninth. The stoppage sent the crowd at Manchester's Phones 4U Arena into a frenzy, many strongly disagreed with it, and has been British boxing's main talking point ever since.
Groves, 19-1 (15), has submitted his appeal, which will be heard on the 12th of February. "We have received correspondence regarding the stoppage and will consider the matter on February 12th," said Robert Smith, the Board's General Secretary, when speaking to BoxingScene earlier today.
"We get these type of requests on a regular basis. We'll consider the solicitor's correspondence and evidence."
The IBF recently granted Groves an immediate rematch, citing a premature stoppage as the reason for their decision, but did not make Groves mandatory, which means he has to either accept a 85-15% split, if it goes to purse bids, or enter into private negotiations with Team Froch to thrash out a better deal. Smith said he is aware of the IBF's decision and stated that it will be taken into account.
"We will look at the whole picture and what other people have done," he said.
Groves has already appealed against the IBF's 85-15 split, but the governing body stood firm and have insisted that, should it go to bids, the normal split will apply due to the fact that Groves does not currently occupy a Top Three spot in their ratings and the rematch itself is not a mandatory defence.
