By Jake Donovan
Regardless of what you thought of Badou Jack’s potential prior to his showdown with Anthony Dirrell, there’s no denying now that he belongs among the best super middleweights in the world. The once-beaten boxer—born in Sweden but who now fights out of Las Vegas—rose to the occasion, claiming a well-earned decision to claim a super middleweight title in a mild upset this past April.
There’s no rest for the weary, as Jack is met with a dangerous first title defense as he faces mandatory contender George Groves. The two will headline an August 22 card live on Showtime from The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas.
“This is a perfect opponent for my first fight as champion,” Jack (19-1-1, 12KOs) told BoxingScene.com as the fight was finalized.
Not many fighters would say that about a challenger like Groves (21-2, 16KOs). The 27-year old Brit who owns a win over current super middleweight titlist James DeGale and has also been to hell and back—twice—with then-unified titlist and top super middleweight Carl Froch. His pair of wars with Froch serve as the lone two losses of Groves’ career, though fighting on even terms with the future Hall of Famer before suffering knockout losses, the first coming under highly questionable circumstances which led to their rematch last May.
Groves has since won two straight and enjoyed a ringside view for the biggest win of Jack’s career to date when he wrested the title from Dirrell. Negotiations begun shortly thereafter, with the two sides able to come to terms and avoid a purse bid hearing for a fight Jack has openly embraced.
“He’s the number-one contender and is proven on the world level,” notes the 31-year old. “These are the challenges I want, it’s what I expected going into the Dirrell fight. I’m champion now, there’s no sense in going backwards.
Jack took training to the next level heading into the biggest fight of his career earlier this year. It worked so well, that he’s carrying a similar mindset heading into August 22.
“I know that Groves coming to get what I want, so I’m training like I’m the challenger, like I have to take the world title from him,” Jack reveals. “As far as I’m concerned, I’m training like this will be a tougher fight than Anthony Dirrell.”
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox