will froch give up his IBF belt

[stevedoc]

i woundn't be surprised if froch gave up the IBF belt and kept his WBA belt instead of fighting groves

[ALI]

I would'nt be surprised either, I dont think he wants any part of Groves.

Hopefully he proves me wrong.

[The_Don1]

If he gives up the IBF he'll be left the with WBA 'runners-up' belt, Froch has a massive decision on his hands which could irrevocably tarnish his legacy.

[ScottDetonator]

Seems like Groves wants Froch to vacate. Easier fight for him and the chance of getting a belt. He's shooting himself in the foot if it goes to purse bids and Matchroom loses, Carl would simply vacate then and the vacant belt would be fought for, for a lot less money than now. Double bluff for a bigger offer from Eddie, they all knew the outcome of the IBF hearing before the first offer was made.

They could just say, let's forget about Groves for now and go for Bika and his WBC belt. Plus don't you think that Chavez Jnr is one fight away(Vera) from fighting for the WBC belt at SMW anyway? Froch could take another fight inbetween, similar to the Mack one before meeting Chavez in Las Vegas for a unification bout. Froch has plenty of options other than this.

[chad]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/boxing/25888443

"The International Boxing Federation ruled "inappropriate conduct" by referee Howard Foster contributed to Groves losing to Froch in November."

"The IBF agreed, and said in a statement: "The panel determined that the referee gave appropriate warnings to both fighters but did not choose to deduct points. "The panel felt that in the ninth round, Groves should have been allowed to continue as he did not appear to be seriously hurt - and was counter-punching and attempting to move the action away from the ropes at the time of the stoppage. "In addition, the referee waved off the fight from behind Groves instead of in front of him and did not look into his eyes. Groves showed no signs of being hurt after the stoppage. In sum, the panel felt it was an improper stoppage."

[crusader]

Good decision by the IBF.

The stoppage was laughable and so were the defenses of it.

[sendo]

Good decision by the IBF.

[ScottDetonator]

And guess who rank #5 with the IBF is? James DeGale...

[Autobarn]

froch'll keep the title & defend vs groves who'll get less than the offer he was made before.

both guys will do well not to show how unhappy they are about circumstances, pre fight, and will have to channel it into the rematch itself.

froch corrected some errors in the Kessler rematch. he has a chance to do the same vs groves after his win is now officially "suspect."

[ThereByTheGrace]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/boxing/25888443

"The International Boxing Federation ruled "inappropriate conduct" by referee Howard Foster contributed to Groves losing to Froch in November."

"The IBF agreed, and said in a statement: "The panel determined that the referee gave appropriate warnings to both fighters but did not choose to deduct points. "The panel felt that in the ninth round, Groves should have been allowed to continue as he did not appear to be seriously hurt - and was counter-punching and attempting to move the action away from the ropes at the time of the stoppage. "In addition, the referee waved off the fight from behind Groves instead of in front of him and did not look into his eyes. Groves showed no signs of being hurt after the stoppage. In sum, the panel felt it was an improper stoppage."

Ok so the Sanctioning Board agree it was a improper stoppage. Not asking for a witch hunt but Howard Foster should be suspended from World Title fights for a year as a minimum. If he is not, then where is the incentive to be a better official.

The bother Howard Foster has caused is unreal! If it had went on for another minute or 2 this forum would be all the better for it! Froch would have stopped him.

[Autobarn]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/boxing/25888443

"The International Boxing Federation ruled "inappropriate conduct" by referee Howard Foster contributed to Groves losing to Froch in November."

"The IBF agreed, and said in a statement: "The panel determined that the referee gave appropriate warnings to both fighters but did not choose to deduct points. "The panel felt that in the ninth round, Groves should have been allowed to continue as he did not appear to be seriously hurt - and was counter-punching and attempting to move the action away from the ropes at the time of the stoppage. "In addition, the referee waved off the fight from behind Groves instead of in front of him and did not look into his eyes. Groves showed no signs of being hurt after the stoppage. In sum, the panel felt it was an improper stoppage."

Ok so the Sanctioning Board agree it was a improper stoppage. Not asking for a witch hunt but Howard Foster should be suspended from World Title fights for a year as a minimum. If he is not, then where is the incentive to be a better official.

The bother Howard Foster has caused is unreal! If it had went on for another minute or 2 this forum would be all the better for it! Froch would have stopped him.

well, we got post fight drama & debate, plus a potentially great, blockbuster of a rematch.

[lillywhite14]

Be left with the runner up belt?

Newsflash - EVERY belt not owned by Andre Ward is a runners up belt.

We can all be pedantic. Carl beat Bute who was a paper champion, he beat Berrio who was a paper champion before him. Calzaghe gave the IBF up many years ago, which led to Berrio vs Stiglietz for the vacant title.

Let me guess, Froch drops the IBF, Groves beats ( insert terrible vacant belt challenger here ) and becomes the bestest, most grandest worldest champion of champions? Eff off. Anyone who wins a vacant strap when there are at least two others with much better claims on being number one in the division can't be viewed as anything other than a strap holder.

I don't think Carl will give up his IBF belt. I hope he don't anyway because it means we will see the rematch with George and all this palava can be settled once and for all!

[expe]

If he gives it up Groves will win the vacant belt, then if Degale beats Bika, we have Groves-Degale II for the WBC and IBF belts, or we get Froch-Groves II for the IBF belt, it's a win-win situation for us really.

[orbtastic]

Isn't DeGale right behind Groves in their rankings? With the number 2 and 3 spots empty? I recall that's how it looked when checking earlier this week.

[boxfan3]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/boxing/25888443

"The International Boxing Federation ruled "inappropriate conduct" by referee Howard Foster contributed to Groves losing to Froch in November."

"The IBF agreed, and said in a statement: "The panel determined that the referee gave appropriate warnings to both fighters but did not choose to deduct points. "The panel felt that in the ninth round, Groves should have been allowed to continue as he did not appear to be seriously hurt - and was counter-punching and attempting to move the action away from the ropes at the time of the stoppage. "In addition, the referee waved off the fight from behind Groves instead of in front of him and did not look into his eyes. Groves showed no signs of being hurt after the stoppage. In sum, the panel felt it was an improper stoppage."

Ok so the Sanctioning Board agree it was a improper stoppage. Not asking for a witch hunt but Howard Foster should be suspended from World Title fights for a year as a minimum. If he is not, then where is the incentive to be a better official.

The bother Howard Foster has caused is unreal! If it had went on for another minute or 2 this forum would be all the better for it! Froch would have stopped him.

I've heard Howard Foster has resigned from the IBF because they critized him in public, still think his a great referee, just a bad night.

[sweetscience]

FW will win the purse bids, Froch will vacate,

FW winning the purse bids being the reason for vacating

[JimJim2009]

I've heard Howard Foster has resigned from the IBF because they critized him in public, still think his a great referee, just a bad night.[/quote]

He is a top, top referee and I am certain he acted honestly and with the best of intentions on the night. However, he is not above criticism and he is in the line of work where sometimes a controversial decision may require public statements from the organisation employing him. He should take it on the chin like the fighters he is in charge of, not resign. We live in a very transparent world, Groves was entitled to appeal, and the IBF were entitled to comment.

Unlike everyone else who has the benefit of action replay and time to consider things, Howard had to act in a split second and any of us could have done the same thing. If we did his job long enough, sooner or later we would. It is a split second judgement call.

He's a great ref but he is not above being publicly criticised.

[stujones]

I'm slightly torn on this, when I read the IBF statement I thought it sounded like a statement from Groves' team very harshly worded. Yet, it would be hypocritical of me to say I didn't think the same.

Having said that, I've seen equal or as worse refereeing incidents that the sanctioning body have stuck up for the ref. As been said, Foster is not above criticism, but that statement and the phrasing has tarnished him permanently. How will any sanctioning body chose him for a world title fight after such a public condemnation.

Didn't see the WBC complain about IJL ridiculous refereeing for Briggs vs Klitchsko.

[jackukmma]

It won't go to purse bids and Froch won't give up his belt. A lot of what both Froch and groves do and say in the press is too sell the fight. They'll agree terms

[lefthook82]

Don't think he will give up

Currently, he holds the most illegitimate WBA belt in boxing in my opinion and Im sure he knows it as well

He earnt that IBF title and he wont want to give it up

Besides, he needs the belts, he is not at that top tier of fighters where the fighters make the belts

[Crazyboy]

Don't think he will give up

Currently, he holds the most illegitimate WBA belt in boxing in my opinion and Im sure he knows it as well

He earnt that IBF title and he wont want to give it up

Besides, he needs the belts, he is not at that top tier of fighters where the fighters make the belts

On top of that, i'm sure i have heard him say many times he would never give up a belt, i'm confident this will happen and despite all the politics, pre fight bollox, i can't wait for it

[palooka]

To give Froch his due he has worked and fought hard for his belts, they shouldn't be taken away like that - I imagine it is gratifying for Groves that the IBF stated that the stoppage was unsatisfactory.

[DMA1987]

I'm pretty surprised the IBF felt the need to get involved with this one, and by how they have thrown Foster under the bus.

I hope Froch doesn't vacate and, now the result is officially out there as dubious, I guess the only real reason he would vacate is because he thinks he has a very good chance of losing the belt. I thought he would have won the first, and would favour him heading into a rematch this year - but I must admit he doesn't seem overly confident judging by his actions (or lack of).