George Groves's trainer has criticised the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) over the way it handled the aftermath of the super middleweight star's world title fight against Carl Froch.
Paddy Fitzpatrick branded the governing body "unprofessional" for leaping to the defence of referee Howard Foster after he controversially called time on the match in the ninth round.
Groves was instated as the mandatory challenger to Froch's title after appealing to the International Boxing Federation (IBF), and is now lobbying for the BBBofC to have the defeat chalked up as a 'no contest'.
"George is doing what he feels is right. He has got a right and duty for himself and his wife to fight for everything that he should be getting," the Swindon Advertiser quotes Fitzpatrick as saying.
"Being as [the BBBofC] acted unprofessionally after the fight and made their decision before they received our information or evidence I don't see any reason why they would change their minds now. I think it might just get their backs up.
"With this one I don't think they will give it any credit. Going by the way they have dealt with things so far with the aftermath of the fight, I expect they will only pay George's petition lip service."
Fitzpatrick went on to say that he, as a BBBofC licence holder, and Groves feel let down by the organisation.
"The board have acted unprofessionally by making a decision to defend Howard Foster knowing that we were going to be contesting the stoppage and before receiving any of our own evidence," he added.
"That referee is a board of control licence holder, same as me, same as George and if you are a board of control licence holder then you should be represented and protected by the board.
"The board of control are their to protect licence holders and that means to stand up for what is right."
The IBF ruled on January 24 that a rematch between the British rivals must take place within the next 90 days.
