By Gregory Stangrit

George Groves (19-1, 15KOs) believes IBF/WBA 'regular' super middleweight champion Carl Froch (32-2, 23KOs) is refusing to take part in their rematch because of the damage that might be involved in such a contest. They had a grueling fight last November in Manchester, where Froch was dropped hard and hurt several times in the contest.

Froch stopped Groves in the ninth round, but many felt the stoppage was premature. The IBF agreed and ordered a rematch, but the two sides have been unable to reach an agreement on the money.

"He knows that he not only can lose to me, but he can also take some serious damage. And he doesn't want to put himself in a fight like that. He can go into a fight with Andre Ward and lose every round, but he won't take any serious damage, but there will be serious damage involved with me. I think he's scared for this reason. There is nothing wrong when your opponent, which you have lost to, is from another country, because your fans at home will always support you. But when that opponent is your countryman, it puts you in an awkward position. Then this is not such a simple situation. This is one of probably many reasons why he does not want to fight. But I was kept as the IBF mandatory challenger, so he has no other choice but to take the fight. Either he has to fight or drop the title in disgrace," Groves said.

Gregory Stangrit covers boxing for Allboxing.ru