George Groves Set To Name Shane McGuigan as Trainer

By Elliot Foster

Shane McGuigan is set to be named as the new trainer of George Groves.

Boxing Scene’s UK News Editor Shaun Brown reported last week that Groves, a former three-time world title challenger, was still trialling coaching candidates, but we now understand that the man who trains IBF super bantamweight champ Carl Frampton will take over the day-to-day training of the 27-year-old (21-3, 16 KOs).

McGuigan, whose finest hour came with aforementioned Frampton in September, 2014 when the Ulsterman claimed the world title with a points victory over former holder Kiko Martinez, recently added former world heavyweight champion David Haye –– who makes his comeback at the O2 Arena in London on January 16 –– to his roster and it is believed that he will now be in the corner of Groves who is a long time friend of the Bermondsey man.

Groves is set to return to the fray on January 30, just over four months after his third unsuccessful world title challenge against Badou Jack at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

He’ll face Italy’s Andrea Di Luisa (18-3, 14 KOs) over 12 rounds at the Copper Box Arena, live on Sky Sports, as part of a co-promoted show being put on by his promotional company, Team Sauerland, and Sky’s principle promoter Eddie Hearn and his Matchroom Sport outfit.

Di Luisa, 33, is known for his stoppage defeat at the hands of ex-IBF super middleweight king Lucian Bute in April, but he has since returned to win, stopping Gabor Zsalek inside two of six scheduled rounds in his home country only last week.

Elliot Foster is part of Boxing Scene's UK team. Follow him on Twitter @FreelanceFoz