Sky Sports has confirmed it will showcase the rematch between Carl Froch and George Groves, one of the most eagerly anticipated events in world boxing, exclusively live via Box Office on Saturday, May 31.
Boxing fans around the world called for a rematch the moment the clash between Carl Froch and George Groves last November was stopped in the ninth round and Froch awarded victory by technical knock-out.
Froch will once again defend his WBA and IBF world super-middleweight titles against the young Londoner at a football stadium venue to be confirmed at a later date.
Should Groves win, he will become a world champion, take Froch’s titles, and propel himself to the forefront of the super-middleweight division.
“I know that George Groves was gone, even the people that thought the referee stopped the fight too early, still agree that the fight was only going one way which was George Groves being flat on his face,” Froch said.
“The British public are behind this and this was almost the only fight out there for me to reasonably take. I’ve given the British public what they wanted for years and years and I won’t stop doing it now.”
Groves, who sensationally put the champion down in the first round last time, added: “Carl has to fight me now because the fans demand it and because I am mandatory for the IBF title so that’s where we are at.”
Barney Francis, managing director of Sky Sports said: “It’s the fight that everyone is waiting for and it’s live only on Sky Sports Box Office.
“The first bout offered incredible drama and bravery from both men and I’m sure we’ll see something similar in May.”
The fight forms part of an incredible month of live sport on Sky including the end of the football season, Test cricket F1 Grand Prix, golf and Super League.
Promoter and managing director of Matchroom Sport, Eddie Hearn, said: “Quite simply, I believe this is one of the biggest fights in British boxing history.
“It was one of the most epic and exhilarating fights I have ever witnessed and I’m delighted the public are going to get a chance to see it all again.
“The unanswered questions from the first fight may now be answered. Get ready for a whirlwind of a build-up and an event and fight for the ages – Froch v Groves II is on!”
Sky Sports viewers can follow all the build-up to the event with weekly magazine show Ringside, plus documentary series ‘Behind The Ropes’ which will provide unique access to both boxers’ training camps and will also be available On Demand.
Sky Sports News will bring breaking news from both camps, interviews and analysis from top experts and those close to the fighters.
Additional interviews and blogs from our experts including former world cruiserweight champion Johnny Nelson plus the Ringside Toe-2-Toe podcast will also be available on skysports.com.
Froch v Groves II is also part of a busy May on Sky Sports that includes live coverage of golf’s Players Championship, the final day of the Premier League season, UEFA Champions League Final, Spanish and Monaco Grands Prix, Heineken Cup Final, Super League’s Magic Weekend, Sky Bet Championship and League 1 and 2 Play-Offs and Finals, and Scottish Cup Final.
The agreement is the latest in a series of long-term rights announcements made by Sky Sports, strengthening its unrivalled portfolio of live sport across six channels.
Sky recently announced it had secured a new seven year agreement for live US PGA Tour golf, plus British & Irish Lions, Super League, WWE, Scottish Football, Cricket New Zealand and speedway coverage.
UPDATE: Wembley Stadium has been confirmed as the venue for Carl Froch’s rematch with George Groves.
It will be the first boxing bout held at Wembley Stadium since the historic football ground re-opened in 2007.
Wembley appeared to be out of the running because England play a pre-World Cup friendly against Peru at the venue the previous evening.
A number of other venues were thought to be in the running, but Froch will face Groves in the capital for what many are calling Britain’s biggest boxing fight ever.
The last fight to be held at the old Wembley Stadium was between Frank Bruno and Oliver McCall in 1995, when 23,000 people saw Bruno win a heavyweight world title at the fourth attempt.
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It’s great that theres going to be a rematch between Froch/Groves. How about for once Sky,instead of being greedy DON’T put the fight on box office? I know its too much to ask but we pay enough as it is for Sky and then to be asked to pay another £15/£20 for this fight. Maybe,as we know Sky wont take it off Box Office they offer for a tenner say?