BOXING
George Groves threatens to pull out of blockbuster Carl Froch fight over referee concerns
CONCERNS: Groves doesn't want a British referee when he meets Froch at Wembley Stadium this summer [PA]
Groves, 25, does not want a British referee or judge involved when he squares up to Carl Froch again on May 31 at Wembley.
But
bitter rival Froch has told him to stop moaning ahead of their £20m
mega-fight, claiming he is making a ‘mockery’ of the British Boxing
Board of Control.
He said: “It is conditional that there are no UK officials refereeing or judging on the night otherwise I don’t ring walk.
“I have respect for the British Boxing Board of Control, but they failed me in the first fight.
“This fight is a huge fight and it has to take place. But if they insist on instating one of their officials, who will be susceptible to the hype and the build-up because how can you not, then I won’t ring walk.
“I want a referee who maybe might be in touch with the build-up, but who won’t be here watching it live on Sky Sports and following everything.”
CONTROVERSY: Groves was furious with the referee in his first bout with Froch [GETTY]
But defending IBF and WBA super-middleweight champion Froch has told Groves he is paranoid.
Froch, 36, said: “He is worried that if he gets another British referee or judge, that maybe it will be Howard Foster’s friend or he will get a backlash from his complaints.
“It looks like that part of his contract is we don’t have British officials and I personally can’t believe it, and I’m not happy about it, because the British board do a fantastic job.
“It is possibly paranoia. I think it’s bad for British boxing and the board won’t be happy.
“To say you don’t want them involved in the biggest fight in British history almost makes a mockery of the board. I don’t think it will mean the fight doesn’t happen but it needs to be ironed out.”
DIFFERENCE OF OPINION: Froch and Groves discuss their issues on the Wembley turf [PA]
Froch seemed calm as he spoke about his mentality being a big problem last time while Groves portrayed himself as bored as he played with a Rubik’s Cube when his rival spoke.
Groves got in a heated confrontation with Froch’s brother Lee as the press conference came to an end after months of slagging each other off online.“Carl, as a puzzle, is too simple so I’d rather sit there and do a puzzle which is worth doing”George Groves
Froch himself eventually lost his cool when he shoved Groves as they posed for pictures on the pitch at the national football stadium with a staggering 60,000 tickets snapped up inside an hour.
Groves added: “Carl, as a puzzle, is too simple so I’d rather sit there and do a puzzle which is worth doing.
“Those guys [Froch’s brother and friends] are a pain in the backside to say the least. They are his cheerleaders."
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