Carl Froch and George Groves counted their bruises and considered a rematch after one of the most brutal and compelling all-British boxing matches in recent years ended in controversy in Manchester on Saturday night.
The puffed-up faces of both men bore testament to the war they had just waged, with Froch climbing up from a shock first-round knockdown to stop Groves on his feet in round nine and retain his WBA and IBF super-middleweight titles.
Referee Howard Foster’s intervention with Groves ahead on all three of the judges’ cards brought howls of protest from the challenger’s camp and led to inevitable talk about the pair doing it all again in the new year.
Promoter Eddie Hearn appeared to pave the way for a second meeting, admitting: “Fights are made through the demand of the broadcaster and the fans and I can’t see demand for any fight other than a rematch.”
Groves had entered the fight unbeaten but still performed way above expectations, taking the fight to Froch just as he said he would during an acrimonious pre-fight build-up, and dumping him on the canvas in the opening moments from a right hand.
It was only the second time Froch had hit the deck in his career and drew gasps from the resolutely pro-Froch capacity crowd.
Groves continued to take the fight to Froch, peppering him with stiff left jabs and getting the better of an uproarious sixth, before showing signs of flagging which brought Foster’s intervention.
Froch was getting the better of a series of increasingly fractious exchanges and when a pair of right hands left Groves sagging and seemingly helpless, Foster jumped in having deemed, as is his right, that a standing count was not necessary.
His decision sparked uproar and Foster was smuggled from the ring by six security guards while Groves insisted: “It was an unjust stoppage. His shots weren’t landing cleanly and I was nowhere near as hurt as he was in some of the rounds.
“I’d love a rematch and I’d take it tomorrow.”
Froch backed Foster’s call, insisting Groves could have been hurt had the action continued. He said: “In my opinion the referee stepped in to save George Groves’ career.”