Groves will face Froch in Manchester

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George Groves’ world title challenge against Carl Froch will take place at the Manchester Arena on 23 November.

Nottingham’s IBF super-middleweight champion Froch, 36, has long been mooted as a possible opponent for the unbeaten Groves, 25, who is currently Commonwealth champion and has also held the British title.

Groves, from Hammersmith, was initially expected to take on WBO title holder Robert Stieglitz ahead of a possible showdown with Froch next year.

But he was installed as the IBF’s mandatory challenger and Eddie Hearn, who promotes both men, subsequently revealed that talks were taking place with a view to the pair meeting sooner rather than later. 

And last month Hearn confirmed that the fight would be taking place before the end of the year.

Froch is also billed as the WBA champion, a title he effectively shares with American star Andre Ward, who beat him in 2011 and has the official title of the organisation’s ‘super’ champion.

That defeat is one of only two suffered by Froch in his 33-fight career, during which he has been world champion three times.

The step up to world level will come in Groves’ 20th professional fight and the Londoner insists he is ready for the challenge.

Groves said: “If you look at good world champions – current, present and previous – they usually step up around the 20-fight mark and at around the age of 25.

“We know what we have to do. I’ve been written off and been the underdog before and I relish it.

“It’s the perfect fight for me. There will be a massive British audience and it’s against an established British world champion.”

Hearn said: “I’m delighted to bring this event to Manchester on 23 November.

“This ‘Battle of Britain’ is a fascinating fight between a true legend of British boxing in Carl Froch and a superb young talent in George Groves.

“It’s going to be some atmosphere, some occasion. Phone lines, Twitter and e-mails haven’t stopped for tickets since we confirmed the fight.

“We are expecting another instant sell-out when we go on sale on 17 September.”

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