Booth: Groves Still Far Away From a Froch or Ward Clash

By Edward Chaykovsky

British and Commonwealth super middleweight champion George Groves (14-0) is a rising hope in the UK ranks. After his close points win over domestic rival James DeGale, the 23-year-old boxer began to hear his name being mentioned in potential fights against the best at 168, like countryman Carl Froch and WBA/WBC champion Andre Ward.

Not so fast, says trainer Adam Booth. The trainer of Groves does not see either of those fights in the near future. He continues to see a lot of mistakes being made by his boxer and wants to develop him slowly, without making a serious error by rushing him to a fight with a world class opponent.

 “George has got a lot to learn, but as long as he’s winning while he’s learning then I’m happy. It frightens me how little he knows and how much he’s got to do,” Booth told West London Sport. “I’ve got no problem stating what his weaknesses are at the moment. I’m telling everyone that if you fight George, look for him with the right hand because you find him.

“I guarantee that if you do find him you won’t hurt him, but it might help me do my job because I’m telling him things and working in training and then he gets caught by Paul Smith with the right hand in the first round. George has got a lot to learn, but as long as he’s winning while he’s learning then I’m happy I’ve no doubt he’ll get there, but go into a fight against someone like Ward or Froch at this stage? No."