Froch-Groves rematch to be staged at Wembley

Promoter Eddie Hearn has labelled Wembley Stadium the “ultimate” venue for Carl Froch’s May 31 rematch with George Groves.

The two Britons will meet for Froch’s IBF and WBA super-middleweight titles in the first bout to be contested under the arch of the new Wembley.

Froch stopped Groves in the ninth round of their last contest, but controversy followed with many experts suggesting referee Howard Foster stepped in when Groves was able to continue.

Froch kept hold of his belts despite being knocked to the mat by Groves in the opening round but, earlier this year, the IBF ordered a rematch.

Since then, Matchroom promoter Hearn revealed he has been in negotiations with several venues for what he has dubbed the biggest fight in British boxing history.

“When I walked out here [at Wembley] the first time I remember ringing Carl Froch and George Groves and saying ‘this is the place’,” he said.

“We wanted to make a real statement, and ultimately we needed the seats for a fight of this magnitude. To walk out here today with the posters up and around, knowing it will be full of boxing fans on May 31, is a wonderful feeling.

“We were talking with the City Ground [Nottingham], the Millennium Stadium, Old Trafford and the Emirates — all fantastic stadiums but this [Wembley] is the one.

Now the deal has been struck, Froch is looking forward to being part of history as he takes part in the first fight at Wembley in 19 years.

“For me to be involved in an event like this is a very proud moment,” he said. “With it being in the capital city as well, it just makes the whole history of the event phenomenal. It’s fantastic because Wembley Stadium’s massive.

“What’s it going to hold? Potentially 70,000, 80? If we did sell that, that would be phenomenal.

“Talk about making history, to go to a stadium like Wembley for such a big boxing match.

“I’m really looking forward to putting on this fight and putting him [Groves] behind me in this fabulous stadium.

“I’m just so excited that I’m going to give George Groves an absolute pasting in front of such a big crowd.”