Carl Froch has withstood an all-out siege from George Groves to claim a ninth-round stoppage in a breathtaking IBF and WBA super middleweight title fight in Manchester.
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The 25-year-old challenger was ahead on all three of the judges' scorecards when referee Howard Foster brought a controversial end to the contest with the champion scrapping to save his titles.
Groves made a confident start, backing Froch up and landing with a few decent jabs and an overhand right, although the 'Cobra' seemed like he was coping with the younger man early on by landing with a few of his own.
However, any questions as to whether Groves had the power to trouble the champion were soon answered, as he landed a devastating right that scrambled Froch's senses late in the opener.
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His legs wobbled as he regained balance inside the ring for just the second time in his career, but the bell came to his rescue with the Manchester crowd whipped into a frenzy.
There were a few punches after the bell, adding extra spice if any was needed.
Groves continued to stalk the Nottingham fighter in the second round, finally rousing a response in the third when Froch pushed him back with a burst of punches.
Froch was trying to engage his opponent in his type of fight, although he seemed somewhat tentative in doing so, allowing the Londoner to dictate the pace of the bout through rounds four and five.
The fight reached Rocky-esque proportions in the sixth round when Groves landed with a series of thunderous shots that Froch defended with his chin, frighteningly undeterred.
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Groves gassed late in the round and dropped his guard willing Froch on. He bobbed and weaved on the ropes, avoiding a lot of what the 36-year-old was throwing.
By the ninth round, Groves had built a healthy lead on the scorecards, but it was now entering Froch territory, and he finally had his opponent in battling to hang on.
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Unbelievably, the referee stopped the fight at the first instance of weariness in the legs of Groves, grabbing him in a headlock and allowing Froch to land two more shots to the body.
Groves was disconsolate at the stoppage and seemed fine to continue. He left the arena to cheers after being booed into the ring, vowing to return "fitter and stronger".
Michael Penkman
