Carl Froch
Unbeaten George Groves is eager to step in the ring with the Cobra. (Reuters)

An eagerly anticipated clash between Carl Froch and George Groves will happen, promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed, but not until next summer at the earliest.

Unified IBF and WBA super-middleweight champion Froch has been inundated with challenges for his next fight after defeating Mikkel Kessler in their brutal rematch at Wembley Arena at the end of last month.

With the scores now level between the Nottingham fighter and Kessler after the Dane came out on top in their first bout in 2010, there has been much talk of a third and final decider between the two, something Froch has spoken positively about.

Andre Ward, the only other man to defeat the Cobra in his professional career is also keen to meet him on the canvas, with Froch eager to avenge his 2011 loss to the Californian fighter.

Groves, who has accused Froch of dodging his challenges in a bid to maintain his legacy in the ring, is eager to get involved. The unbeaten super middleweight has been told he will get his chance to meet the four time world champion - but he must wait.

"We [Froch] will look to fight this winter and then lead into a big stadium fight next summer," Hearn, who looks after both Froch and Groves" told Sky Sports.

"I believe by then George will be world champion which would make this fight one of the biggest the country has ever seen.

"Now that the dust has settled after a memorable night for Carl and British boxing, it is time to start looking to the future. Every man and his dog have been calling Carl out, that comes with the territory, but commercially, Froch vs Kessler III is just a huge fight.

"The first two were stunning nights and everyone knows what they would get from the decider.

"Each one has been brutal so we will give Mikkel and his body time to see if he wants it again."

In addition to Kessler, Ward and Groves, Bernard Hopkins and Nathan Cleverly have also spoke of challenging Froch, but it would appear they too will have to wait for their opportunities to test themselves against the 35-year-old.