George Groves Still Willing To Take On All Comers

By Jake Donovan

Despite three losses at the championship level, George Groves insists he’s still a major player in the super middleweight division.

In fairness, he performed well in both fights with Carl Froch prior to being stopped (the first fight in highly questionable fashion) and barely missed in dethroning Badou Jack last September. The aforementioned loss was viewed by some as perhaps his last chance at putting a title around his waist, but Groves – still two months shy of his 28th birthday - leaves the criticism to those who don’t necessarily have an informed opinion of what it takes to perform at this level.

With that comes his first step towards efforts to return to the top. The Brit takes on Italy’s Andrea Di Liusa this Saturday at the Copper Box Arena in London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Sky Sports will air live what the three-time title challenger views as an audition for what he’s still capable of accomplishing in the ring.

“I'll fight anyone that is put in front of me,” said Groves. “Right now, it’s January, it’s my first fight since the Jack fight and it's Andrea di Luisa. He's boxed at a high level and has wins and losses at that level, he's here to present problems and he has a style that if you are not switched on he will take advantage of your mistakes.

“I believe he'll ty and set traps for me but at the same time I think he'll give me openings and I will take them and get a good knockout win to kick-of 2016 in style.”

Groves (21-3, 16KOs) acknowledges that it will take more than a win or two in order to receive another crack at a major title. Given the current landscape, however, it’s not inconceivable to land the type of fight where a win would put him closer to the head of the class.

The United Kingdom has long served as a chief exporter of prime super middleweight talent. That trend continues in the form of unbeaten titlist James DeGale MBE – widely viewed as the best active fighter in the division – along with top contenders Callum Smith and Martin Murray in the mix.

To date, Groves is the only pro fighter to hang a loss on DeGale, outpointing the 2008 Olympic Gold medalist when both were still unbeaten prospects at the time of their May ’11 clash. It was billed at the time as a bitter rivalry, but there now exists a level of respect – at least from Groves’ viewpoint.

“I've got nothing but good will to James DeGale. He's had his own tough times, but right now he's riding high. A lot of people have said his last fight with Lucian Bute was closer than the six rounds he was given it by, but I didn't see it. As long as he's still winning, good luck to him. My time will come and I am not worried about him, I just have to concentrate on myself, get the win this weekend to kick 2016 off in style.”

With that came the decision to face Di Luisa (18-3, 14KOs), who is by no means a world beater but who does boast experience at the top level. It hasn’t always produced positive results, with his three losses coming at the hands of Mouhamed Ali Ndiaye, Christopher Rebrasse and most recently Bute in their PBC on NBC Sports Network headliner last August.

Still, he represents a better option than Groves feasting on a no-hoper unbefitting of TV coverage.

“I could've come back and had a fight down the bottom of an undercard and knocked out some nobody inside two or three rounds, but I haven’t done that. I'm topping the bill live on Sky Sports against an opponent that is going to be hungry, he's live and he's here to ask serious questions. Di Luisa is a good fighter and the perfect fight for me to get myself back into the mix. I want to get two or three fights before the summer and then we can look at where we are at ranking-wise and see what opportunities are open to me.

“I should be in contention for another World title in the summer because I have the profile and the performances to match. If James is still World champion then maybe our paths will cross, but I am just focused on getting myself into range of a World title shot and that's what I want.”

Jake Donovan is the managing editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox