George Groves: record, next fight and profile →
Callum Smith has promised to up his game ahead of his all-British showdown against George Groves in the summer. The WBC Diamond super-middleweight champion booked his place in the Ali Trophy showpiece against WBA Super titlist after beating late stand-in Nieky Holzken.
Eddie Hearn has said that he doesn’t care when the World Boxing Super Series final is. The promoter of Callum Smith, the WBC Diamond champion who booked his place in the Ali Trophy showpiece at super-middleweight on Saturday with an underwhelming display against late replacement Nieky Holzken, believes it doesn’t matter when it happens –– as long as right fighters are in it.
George Groves wasn’t particularly impressed while watching Callum Smith secure his spot in their World Boxing Super Series final. England’s Groves sat ringside Saturday night to watch his British rival fend off a tougher-than-anticipated challenge from late replacement Nieky Holzken in their WBSS super middleweight semifinal in Nuremberg, Germany. Liverpool’s Smith won by large margins on all three scorecards (118-110, 117-111, 117-111), but he often had difficulty dealing with Holzken’s right hand and was forced to hold the former kickboxing champion several times during their 12-rounder.
George Groves, Callum Smith face to face photos gallery - Callum Smith booked a place in the Ali Trophy Super Middleweight Final after defeating Nieky Holzken on points in Nuremberg. The judges scored it 118-110 and 117-111 twice all in favour of the English WBC Diamond Champion. The Liverpudlian was due to fight German veteran Jurgen Braehmer but he was forced to pull out early in the week due to illness.
By Keith Idec - If boxing fans didn’t know Nieky Holzken before Saturday night, he definitely made them take notice. Holzken, a late substitute, gave England’s Callum Smith trouble at times in their 12-round semifinal in the World Boxing Super Series’ super middleweight tournament in Nuremberg, Germany. Smith managed to beat the former kickboxing star by unanimous decision...
Callum Smith has promised not to look past Nieky Holzken as he looks to book himself a showdown with George Groves. The 27-year-old faces the undefeated Dutchman in the second super-middleweight semi-final of the World Boxing Super Series at the Arena Nürnberger Versicherung in Nuremberg, Germany, with a win setting up an all-British showdown against the Hammersmith man.
Veteran trainer Dave Coldwell ate a bit of crow with last Saturday's outcome in the semi-final bout in the World Boxing Super Series super middleweight tournament. WBA super middleweight champion George Groves won a twelve round unanimous decision by outboxing Chris Eubank Jr. at the Manchester Arena.
Tony Bellew has backed Callum Smith to win the World Boxing Super Series. The former cruiserweight world champion, who is preparing for his May 5 rematch with David Haye at the O2 Arena in London, exclusively live on Sky Sports Box Office, believes the 27-year-old has all the tools to lift the Muhammad Ali Trophy.
George Groves has relinquished the IBO title –– just days after picking up the belt. The Hammersmith fighter, who added the lightly-regarded trinket to his WBA Super world title at super-middleweight with a win over Chris Eubank Jr. last weekend, is understood to have refused to pay the sanctioning fee to the International Boxing Organisation in order to keep the belt.
Back in 2011, George Groves shocked the odds when he handed James DeGale the first defeat of his pro career. At that time, DeGale was being groomed as a rising star who captured Olympic gold. After a years went by, DeGale captured the IBF middleweight crown and put in several performances that rose his status above Groves, who suffered a few defeats over the years.