Monday 22 September 2014 17:20, UK
George Groves believes he should fight Carl Froch for a third time because there is a huge public demand for it.
Groves made a winning return to the Wembley ring, where he was knocked out by Froch in a May contest, by beating Christopher Rebrasse on a unanimous decision on Saturday night to become the new EBU European super middleweight champion.
The mandatory challenger for Froch’s IBF title is James DeGale but Froch says the prospect of a fight against a British contender does not get him ‘excited’ and he would prefer a Las Vegas bout against Mikkel Kessler or Julio Chavez Jr.
Groves, however, wants to fight Froch for a third time - despite being beaten in the previous two contests – because of the way the second match captured the imagination of the British public.
“I was shocked that he came (to the fight) and I think he wants to keep a close eye on me,” he said. “He certainly doesn’t like me, he bit straight away and I was being nice to him.
“He said it was 2-0 but nobody is counting the first fight, that goal wasn’t over the line and the second fight was summed up by one punch.
“He wasn’t dominating or controlling that fight in the slightest, it was a punch from the Gods, as someone said, and I quite like that expression.
“I know I belong at world level and I know I can beat Carl Froch. There’s a demand for a third fight, people are talking about it and asking me about it and we know his thoughts on the situation because he doesn’t really like me still.
“He still wants to fight Chavez and Kessler and I think the British public which much rather see him fight another Brit. He’s got a mandatory against James DeGale but nobody is talking about that, they’re talking about me and him.”
Groves delivered a controlled performance to beat Rebrasse at Wembley and as a result becomes mandatory challenger for WBC champion Anthony Dirrell.
While the Hammersmith fighter retains a focus on Froch, he was relieved to be celebrating a first win for 16 months, in which he has twice been beaten by ‘the Cobra’.
“The past year has been a frustrating period,” he said. “We’ve trained so well as a whole team and we haven’t had a win to show for it.
“To get that last night has lifted a weight off my shoulders and off their shoulders and only a win was going to do that.
“Hopefully now we can plough on because there are some exciting times ahead and I can’t wait.”