Tweet
George Groves believes he has a strong case to get his defeat to Carl Froch declared a no-contest, but admits he is not expecting his bid to be successful.
The Londoner lost his unbeaten record when he was controversially stopped in nine rounds by IBF and WBA super-middleweight champion Froch in November.
Howard Foster was widely criticised for his decision to end the fight and the IBF subsequently ordered a rematch, ruling "inappropriate conduct" by the referee contributed to Groves losing.
The 25-year-old has now asked for the result to be amended by the British Boxing Board of Control.
“I’m well within my rights to contest it, I feel,” said Groves, speaking to Hawksbee and Jacobs.
“The fight was more than a premature ending. The fight was not finished. The IBF agreed and they did everything they could in their power, which was to force an immediate rematch.
“I’d like my last fight to be amended to a no-contest because I didn’t lose that fight. The IBF agreed I didn’t lose that fight, therefore it shouldn’t count."
Groves, however, is not holding out much hope that the British Boxing Board will rule in his favour.
“I don’t expect much because the British Boxing Board of Control have already done their upmost to stand by Howard Foster, the referee, although he has gone on to resign from the IBF, which I’m assuming was because of his performance in the fight," he continued.
“It will be interesting to see what they come up with. I certainly have a very strong case and a good argument.
“They are having a meeting about it in the middle of February, I understand, and that’s when I will hear back from them.”
Groves is yet to thrash out terms with Froch over a rematch, but insists he is not the one holding up the negotiations.
Froch hit out at his fellow Brit last week after claiming he had rejected a seven-figure offer.
But Groves said: "I have secured a shot at the IBF title. It's up to Carl Froch to accept that and not vacate.
"It is an interesting time. Anyone who thinks I have rejected a fight with Carl Froch is wrong. All I did was turn down the terms his promoter made in an offer."
The Londoner lost his unbeaten record when he was controversially stopped in nine rounds by IBF and WBA super-middleweight champion Froch in November.
Howard Foster was widely criticised for his decision to end the fight and the IBF subsequently ordered a rematch, ruling "inappropriate conduct" by the referee contributed to Groves losing.
The 25-year-old has now asked for the result to be amended by the British Boxing Board of Control.
“I’m well within my rights to contest it, I feel,” said Groves, speaking to Hawksbee and Jacobs.
“The fight was more than a premature ending. The fight was not finished. The IBF agreed and they did everything they could in their power, which was to force an immediate rematch.
“I’d like my last fight to be amended to a no-contest because I didn’t lose that fight. The IBF agreed I didn’t lose that fight, therefore it shouldn’t count."
Groves, however, is not holding out much hope that the British Boxing Board will rule in his favour.
“I don’t expect much because the British Boxing Board of Control have already done their upmost to stand by Howard Foster, the referee, although he has gone on to resign from the IBF, which I’m assuming was because of his performance in the fight," he continued.
“It will be interesting to see what they come up with. I certainly have a very strong case and a good argument.
“They are having a meeting about it in the middle of February, I understand, and that’s when I will hear back from them.”
Groves is yet to thrash out terms with Froch over a rematch, but insists he is not the one holding up the negotiations.
Froch hit out at his fellow Brit last week after claiming he had rejected a seven-figure offer.
But Groves said: "I have secured a shot at the IBF title. It's up to Carl Froch to accept that and not vacate.
"It is an interesting time. Anyone who thinks I have rejected a fight with Carl Froch is wrong. All I did was turn down the terms his promoter made in an offer."
Comment