Carl Froch retains IBF, WBA titles by beating George Groves with 'controversial stoppage'

Three-time British world champion boxer Carl Froch has defeated his ninth-round opponent George Groves during in their WBA and IBF super-middleweight title fight at the Manchester Arena with a controversial stoppage.

Compared to fellow Englishman Groves' relative inexperience, which includes 19 wins and no defeats before Saturday, Froch was taking part in his 11th consecutive world title fight, arguably the most gruelling sequence by a British boxer in the modern era.

According to the BBC, although Froch was floored by Groves in the first round, he turned the fight on its head with a thunderous right hook, although the champion was warned for use of his forearm in the eighth given the signs that Groves was beginning to run out of steam.

The referee than decided that the challenger has taken enough punishment and according to the report, stopped the fight when Groves tottered and turned away from Froch.

However, Froch said that he would be open to a rematch, although he might not be able to avoid a return bout with Groves despite having other options, which include a rematch with American Andre Ward and hard-hitting WBA middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin.

The veteran fighter also said that the referee made the correct decision to halt the fight, saying that he had to put the safety of the fighter first as a dangerous situation was created with Groves' head low and he having a free shot.