Froch vs. Groves Match Overshadowed by Controversial Referee Stoppage

Carl “The Cobra” Froch (32-2, 23 KO) scored a TKO victory over George Groves (19-1) on Saturday night, but the match was marred by a controversial stoppage that many felt was far too early in the fight.

Referee Howard Foster decided to call the fight in favor of Froch after the champion unleashed a furious combination of punches that sent his opponent spiraling to the mat.

While Groves was definitely stunned by the onslaught, it was only his first trip to the canvas.

Considering the 25-year-old challenger had knocked “The Cobra” down in the first round, Foster’s decision to end the fight then was reprehensible.

Froch was able to keep his super-middleweight title as a result of this stoppage, but the fans were clearly upset about the result and cheered on the upset Groves—who they mercilessly booed at the onset—after the victor was announced.

Had the fight gone the distance, it seemed inevitable that Groves—approximately a 2-1 underdog according to Oddschecker.com—would have walked away with another “W” under his belt.

Mike Dawes of The Daily Mail noted that the underdog was ahead on every scorecard prior to the stoppage. Fortunately, Groves still has a long career ahead of him after one controversial defeat.

A rematch should certainly be in order, hopefully one that doesn’t feature a referee quick to end the contest in a controversial manner.

There is clearly no love lost between these two English boxers, and this terrible ending only fuels the fire to pit them against each other in a second bout.

Hopefully, the powers that be in boxing can rectify this situation and get Froch and Groves back in the ring in the near future to fight to a proper finish.