Boxing: Carl Froch vows to shutting George Goves up once and for all after British pair agree eagerly-awaited rematch

Groves shocked Froch with a first round knockdown but the reigning WBA and IBF champions fought back to take a controversial stoppage, which he says will be much clearer this time around

Froch unleashed a flurry of punches in the ninth that brought an end to the fight (GETTY IMAGES)

Carl Froch has vowed to remove George Groves as a credible contender for his WBA and IBF world titles once and for all after finally agreeing to a rematch.

The British super-middleweight rivals will clash for a second time on May 31 with Old Trafford and the Emirates Stadium favourites to host the eagerly-awaited showdown.

A thrilling first encounter saw underdog Groves floor Froch in the opening round and seize a scorecard lead when referee Howard Foster intervened as the resurgent Froch fired a barrage of shots.

Although the tide appeared to have turned against Groves, Foster's decision to step in as the 25-year-old came under pressure during the ninth round was widely condemned for being too early.

Now Froch wants to remove any controversy over their rivalry by destroying Groves in the rematch.

"I'm looking forward to shutting George Groves up once and for all and putting him behind me," Froch said.

"I've already beaten him, I've already got the win, so I'm chilled and relaxed. He's going to get another pasting.

"I was poor in the first fight. I didn't give him the respect as a fighter and lacked the drive that I had against Lucian Bute and Mikkel Kessler.

"Well, now he has my attention but ultimately it's not going to get any better for George from here.

"He threw the kitchen sink at me that night and I still found a way back in the fight to win."

Groves was jeered as he entered the Manchester Arena last November, but left to wild applause having dominated much of the fight until Foster ended a pulsating nine rounds of action.

"I'm really, really chuffed. I didn't think for one second that Carl Froch would take this fight," Groves said.

"I systematically beat him from round one until round nine and as soon as he had an inkling of beating me, the referee jumped in.

"He's on a hiding to nothing. There's nothing he can take from the last fight that's a positive."

PA