
The Beltline: When did you first watch a fight become a tragedy?
Once you have witnessed a fight go wrong, you start to look at the sport differently, writes Elliot Worsell.
Eduard Gutknecht: record, next fight and profile →

Once you have witnessed a fight go wrong, you start to look at the sport differently, writes Elliot Worsell.

George Groves returns to the scene of his tragic fight with Eduard Gutknecht acknowledging that that night has changed him as a fighter. He makes the first defence of his WBA super-middleweight title against Jamie Cox at Wembley Arena in his first fight of the 12-stone edition of the World Boxing Super Series. Victory will secure a semi-final against Chris Eubank Jnr in early 2018, but even if Groves can be expected to fight with greater confidence having finally won a world title, he could yet be coping with further mental baggage.

George Groves has revealed that Eduard Gutknecht's family has absolved him of any blame surrounding the fighter's condition, allowing him to concentrate on his fourth world-title fight later this month.

Eduard Gutknecht, who was seriously injured in the fight against George Groves in November, will never make a full recovery, writes German website boxenplus.de. Julia Gutknecht, Eddie´s wife and the mother of their three children, indicates that the message from the doctors is that the damage to the brain is severe and that it's a miracle that Eddie even survived.

George Groves' opponent Eduard Gutknecht has undergone surgery after falling ill after their fight last night. Groves beat the 34-year-old super-middleweight by unanimous decision at Wembley's SSE Arena, following which Gutknecht was taken to hospital.

SSE Arena,Wembley - In a battle for the WBA International super middleweight title, George Groves (25-3, 18KOs) dominated Eduard Gutknecht (30-5-1, 13KOs) for a twelve round unanimous decision. The scores were 119-110, 119-109, 119-109.

The undercard action is underway at the SSE Arena, Wembley. Peckham's Johnny Garton (18-1-1, 6KOs) ticks over with a six round points win over late stand-in Geiboord Omier (3-10-1, 2KOs). The referee scored the contest 59-55.

George Groves Video Interview on Return - George Groves will defend his WBA International super middleweight title against Germany’s two-time world title challenger Eduard Gutknecht at the SSE Arena, Wembley on Friday November 18, live and exclusively on Channel 5, sponsored by Maxi-Nutrition.

Groves vs. Gutknecht - Face To Face Video - George Groves will defend his WBA International super middleweight title against Germany’s two-time world title challenger Eduard Gutknecht at the SSE Arena, Wembley on Friday November 18, live and exclusively on Channel 5, sponsored by Maxi-Nutrition.

George Groves will face Germany's Eduard Gutknecht next month knowing that his opponent once recorded a rare victory over the fearsome Gennady Golovkin.