Groves: I’ll come back better and stronger

George Groves insisted he would come back “better and stronger” following his loss to Carl Froch at Wembley.

His first attempt to become super-middleweight world champion, in November, ended in controversy when he was stopped in the ninth round, having floored Froch early in the fight and continued to dominate.

But the rematch was a very different affair, with IBF and WBA title holder Froch, 36, performing much better in an even fight before knocking the Hammersmith man out with devastating shot in the eighth round.

Groves said: “It’s back to the drawing board. I’m 26 years old and I’ve just boxed in front of 80,000 fans.

“I didn’t get the result I wanted but I’m sure I’m going to have a long and successful career ahead of me.

“It was a split-second mistake. Up until that I was boxing very well. I got just it wrong in that split second.

“It’s very disappointing and frustrating. I feel like that fight was there for me to win. I made a mistake and need to eradicate that from my game.

“I can’t thank my supporters enough and I hope they’ll carry on supporting me. I’ll do them proud as quickly as possible.”

Groves’ promoter Kalle Sauerland added that they would assess their options following the defeat and that WBC champion Sakio Bika was “on the radar”.

“It will be a quick process. He’s just sold out Wembley in his 21st fight, at 26 years of age, and we’ll have him back very soon,” said Sauerland.

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