Carl Froch says he was misquoted after claims attributed to him urging Amir Khan to retire were broadcast.
Froch, the International Boxing Federation's super-middleweight world champion who faces a rematch with Lucian Bute in Montreal early next year, insisted he backed Khan to return better than ever despite being stopped by Danny Garcia.
Khan had been drawn into a spat with Froch after the Nottingham fighter appeared to suggest the Bolton light-welterweight should retire immediately.
"Amir was reacting to a misquote that was put to him. What I actually said was that if that happened to me I'd retire, but I'm 35 years old," Froch said.
"If I was Amir of course I'd be regrouping. I turned professional at 25, it's a totally different ball game at that age.
"At 25 he's still got some of his best years ahead of him physically. Mentally it's a tough defeat to get over, but he's done it before following a devastating knockout by (Breidis) Prescott.
"He knows he's got a vulnerability and that his punch resistance isn't very good, so what he needs to do is adjust his style.
"He should use his range, fast hands and fitness to move around like he used to do. I don't know why he seems to get involved in tear-ups."
