The IBF has ordered IBF/WBA super middleweight champion Carl Froch to defend his IBF title against his mandatory challenger George Groves next, and Froch is debating whether that’s the best direction to take with his career or not. He’s in a position where he can get bigger fights, but he also doesn’t like the idea of losing his IBF title if he chooses not to face Groves next.
That’s what would happen. Froch would either get stripped of his title by the International Boxing Federation sanctioning body or he’s have to vacate if he decided he want to face Groves.
On Monday, the International Boxing Federation ordered IBF/WBA super middleweight champion Carl Froch (31-2, 22 KO’s) to start negotiations to defend his IBF title against mandatory challenger George Groves (19-0, 15 KO’s). The IBF gave a firm deadline by July 12th for Froch and Groves to come to an agreement for the fight unless he wants to lose his title by having it stripped from him. 
WBA middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin’s 3rd round destruction of the UK’s Matthew Macklin last Saturday night has Eddie Hearn, the promoter for IBF/WBA super middleweight champion Carl Froch, highly interested in staging a fight between Froch and Golovkin in 2014. 
Carl “The Cobra” Froch has been sounding a lot like Floyd ”Money” Mayweather in the days following his huge payback win over Mikkel Kessler, which was broadcast by HBO in the United States, and Sky Sports PPV live from the O2 Arena in London, England. In so many words, Carl Froch and his promoter Eddie Hearn are saying, “all roads lead to Carl Froch”. Like Floyd as well, he says he has 3 or 4 major fights before he calls it a day. 
If IBF/WBA super middleweight champion Carl Froch chooses to face Andre Ward in his next fight, he believes he now holds the knowledge of how to beat him this time. Froch’s plan involves him coming on late in the fight when Ward tends to tire out a bit and win by outworking him. 
Froch dominated Kessler, and will again if they have a third fight. Kessler’s style is too predictable and not busy enough. He lost because he failed to manage distance very well. He failed to take advantage of his hand speed and straighter punches. Ward did not and will not make those mistakes.
Carl Froch represents everything that fans typically admire in a boxer. He can fight, he can punch, he can take a hell of shot, he can brawl, he is not afraid to let his hands go, and his fights are usually of a very entertaining variety. Additionally, he is a proven warrior who consistently challenges himself against the very best in the world. He is, quite literally, ready to fight anyone anywhere. The Cobra is also an extremely dedicated and incredibly well conditioned athlete. Most importantly perhaps, however, he always gives it absolutely everything he has. All of this was on full display when Froch defeated Mikkel Kessler by unanimous decision, reversing the outcome from their first bout three years ago when Kessler beat Froch in Group Stage 2 of the Super Six Boxing Classic. Just like last time, Kessler and Froch once again both put on an amazing show, with each combatant exhibiting good punching power, a solid chin, and tremendous courage amid heated back and forth action. Froch steadily outworked Kessler over the long haul and was able to control a lot of the activity with his effective rangy jab. Carl and Mikkel have now won one apiece, each man holding a victory on his home turf, and each man having once traveled to the other’s backyard.
WBA super middleweight champion super middleweight champion Andre Ward says he’s open to a rematch with IBF super middleweight champion Carl Froch this year, whether in the UK or the United States, as long as Froch’s promoter Eddie Hearn shows him how badly he wants to make that fight happen.
It looks like if WBA super middleweight champion Andre Ward (26-0, 14 KO’s) wants a rematch with IBF/WBA super middleweight champion Carl Froch (31-2, 22 KO’s), then it’s going to have to be in the UK because Froch is making a big production about wanting the fight to take place there because Froch fought Ward in the United States two years ago in Atlantic City, New Jersey.