:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/15770209/169492701.0.jpg)
The IBF has ordered super middleweight titlist Carl Froch to face Matchroom Boxing stablemate George Groves, in what would be Groves' first world title shot, and a big-time domestic fight in the United Kingdom. The question now is whether or not the fighters and Matchroom Boxing will make it happen.
Froch (31-2, 22 KO) could always give up the IBF title, as he also now holds the WBA belt, meaning he'd still be in prime position as far as making big fights for world titles, and even if he gave up both belts (he wouldn't, but let's just say "if") he'd still be the top draw in the division in terms of live gate, and one of the clear top two fighters out there at 168 pounds.
Groves (19-0, 15 KO) has stated repeatedly that he's ready for the big fight. He had a shot at Robert Stieglitz lined up last year before he pulled out, back when he was still promoted by Frank Warren. The Froch opportunity is obviously much, much bigger.
Matchroom's Eddie Hearn has spoken of the fight frequently, in part because it keeps coming up, and he purposely had Groves on the Froch-Kessler II undercard on May 25 in order to keep the fighters lined up for a potential future bout. The plan to date, though, has been Groves fighting in September, and after that, maybe challenging Froch.
If Froch were to drop the IBF belt, that would free up Groves to fight for the vacant title, very possibly against a lesser opponent, and give Matchroom a pair of world titleholders at super middleweight. I'm not saying that's what will happen, or what I suspect will happen, but it's a possibility worth noting. That would keep Froch-Groves in the hopper for whenever everyone is truly ready to make the fight happen, and in a way, probably make it a bigger fight, a world title unification with two guys holding belts on the poster, rather than Froch facing an up-and-coming contender.
Do you expect the fight to happen next for these two, or will it continue to simmer and marinate and whatever other food words?