George Groves has brushed off suggestions that being knocked down by Carl Froch during sparring three years ago will have any bearing on their upcoming super middleweight bout.

The 'Cobra' has not let his opponent forget being bested by him as he prepared for his first clash with Mikkel Kessler, although the Hammersmith fighter claims that he got the upper hand two days later.

"We did spar, we went out to Sheffield one week and he caught me with a right hand over the top," Groves told Sky Sports News.

"Two days later I came to his gym in Nottingham, sparred him and took him apart. I got out of the ring and he sat there staring at his trainer (Rob McCracken) bemused.

"I think he was looking for a bit of confidence sparring and he didn't get it that day and then he went on and lost to Kessler, his first loss."

Groves then delivered a warning to the IBF super middleweight champion, should he be thinking that their tussle will be anything like their session.

"I never read too much into sparring, firstly because I don't spar that great," the 25-year-old added.

"If I'd dropped Carl Froch I never would have mentioned it. Because what does it matter in sparring? I'm only going half speed most of the time, if he does rely on that sparring he is in trouble.

"I'm a little better now and I'll be a little bit better on the night as well."

Groves and Froch clash in Manchester on Saturday,