By Jake Donovan

The outcome of George Groves' showdown with Noe Gonzalez was never in doubt, as the unbeaten Brit stopped the visiting Uruguayan in five rounds Saturday evening at the O2 Arena in London, England.

The bout served as the chief support to the highly anticipated super middleweight rematch between Carl Froch and Mikkel Kessler. Groves is intimately invested in the bout, having served as Kessler's sparring partner and now the latest to draw the ire of Froch as a result. 

Groves and Froch both fight under the Matchroom Sport banner, but Froch took exception to his promotional stabelmate serving as a chief sparring partner for his current rival in preparation for Saturday's bouts.

No better way to settle the rivalry than in a boxing ring. With over 18,000 in attendance for Saturday's show, a win by Froch could set up a huge clash in the fall, when Groves is slated to return. Allegedly at stake in the main event is a rematch with Andre Ward, but Froch or Kessler taking on a fresh foe could be the more desirable option in the court of public opinion.

Hearn not only didn't rule out a potential future clash, but admitted it to be a strong possibility down the road.

"The plan is to bring him back in September, perhaps here (at the O2 Arena)," Hearn stated afterward. "He's ranked pretty much in the Top 5 of every sanctioning body. The winner of tonight['s main event] is certainly a possibility."

Groves is game for the cause - or for anyone else deemed next in line.

"I'm ranked #1 in the WBO, #2 in the WBA and #3 in the WBC. There ain't many guys in front of me and the guys they put in front of me, I put to sleep," Groves quipped.

Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of krikya360.com, as well as a member of Transnational Boxing Ratings Board, Yahoo Boxing Ratings Panel and the Boxing Writers Association of America. Twitter: