The fight will be the first staged at the new national stadium in
North London, which reopened in 2007 and seats 90,000.
"I think we have got the product to fill stadiums like this. When
you get an opportunity to do so, you have to grab it with both
hands," promoter Eddie Hearn told the BBC.
"This is the ultimate, in my opinion — steeped in history — and this
is the first fight at the new stadium. And what a fight."
The two Britons first clashed at the Manchester Arena in November
when Groves, 25, was controversially stopped by 36-year-old Froch in
the ninth of 12 scheduled rounds.
Groves had floored Nottingham-based Froch in the opening round and
was ahead on the judges' cards when referee Howard Foster stepped
in.
"I don't want to fight in Nottingham. Nottingham's not big enough,"
Froch told Sky Sports news. "It only holds the best part of 30,000.
"I am just so excited that I am going to give George Groves an
absolute pasting in front of such a big crowd."
[to top of second column] |
The current highest attendance recorded at a British bout was 55,000
who watched local IBO light-welterweight champion Ricky Hatton take
on Mexican Juan Lazcano at the City of Manchester stadium in 2008.
The last fight at the old Wembley stadium was the WBC heavyweight
title clash in 1995 between Britain's Frank Bruno and American
Oliver McCall which the home favorite won on points to become
champion at the fourth attempt.
Henry Cooper and Muhammad Ali, then known as Cassius Clay, fought a
non-title bout in front of 35,000 at the stadium in 1963.
England are due to play a pre-World Cup friendly against Peru at
Wembley on the night before the fight but Hearn was confident any
logistical difficulties could be overcome.
(Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Justin Palmer)
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