Trainer Shane McGuigan believes three-time world-title challenger George Groves can reach the summit of the super-middleweight division by the end of 2016.

Earlier this month, the former Commonwealth, British and European champion Groves resumed his latest quest for a tilt at global honours when he blew away unbeaten but largely untested Scot David Brophy on the undercard of the IBF heavyweight title showdown between Charles Martin and Anthony Joshua at the O2 Arena in London.

The 28-year-old was controversially stopped by Carl Froch in Manchester in November 2013, before being emphatically knocked out by his rival at a sold-out Wembley Stadium the following May.

A lacklustre split decision loss to WBC ruler Badou Jack in Las Vegas last September persuaded Groves, a protege of David Haye's former mentor Adam Booth, to part company with coach Paddy Fitzpatrick and join forces with McGuigan, the son of Irish featherweight great Barry.

McGuigan, who now also helms Haye's resumed career along with that of unified super-bantamweight champion Carl Frampton, ran Groves' corner for the first time in January's five-round win over limited Italian Andrea Di Luisa.

"You're only as good as your opponent and Di Luisa was a sub-par opponent," McGuigan told Omnisport. "[Groves] will raise his game. He's been in with some great sparring partners since then. It's a work in progress but I'm extremely confident in him becoming a world champion by the end of this year."

Now Groves will return once again on a Joshua undercard at the O2, when the Olympic gold medal winner makes the first defense of the IBF heavyweight title against Dominic Breazeale.

Groves will collide with Martin Murray in a very tasty showdown where fireworks are expected.

“I'm very excited to be defending my WBA international belt against Martin Murray back at the O2,” said Groves. “I've had two great performances this year, both in London and the latest one back at The O2. It's always a happy hunting ground for me.

''Martin is the perfect fight for me at this stage. He's a seasoned campaigner, who's boxed at the highest level for quite some time. He is a world level opponent and I'll have to be fully focused and prepared to beat him.

''A win against Murray on the biggest stage, will open a lot of doors and bring me a step closer to achieving my goal of becoming world champion. I'm fully expecting it to be a war, I can't wait.''