George Groves Targets Fedor Chudinov For Vacant WBA Belt

By Edward Chaykovsky

George Groves (24-3, 18KOs) is eager to get his hands on the WBA's 'super' version of the super middleweight world title.

Groves will first go head to head with Eduard Gutknecht on Friday night at Wembley Arena. The London fighter is the WBA 'International' champion and makes the second defend of that title.

He picked up that belt with a one-sided drilling of David Brophy in April, and then retained the title for the first time with a dominant decision win over Martin Murray.

The WBA 'Super' title became vacant a few weeks ago after Felix Sturm dropped the belt due to a lingering elbow injury. Sturm captured the belt in February with a controversial points win over Chudinov.

Chudinov's loss to Sturm was even more controversial in the aftermath, after the German boxer tested positive for a performance enhancing drug. Because of the drug testing issue, Chudinov was promised a direct shot at the vacant WBA belt - and that title shot may come against Groves, who is ranked at number 3.

"The WBA is definitely my preferred route at the minute, especially when you look at the situation regarding all of the other belts. The IBF and WBC straps are tied up with James Degale and Badou Jack fighting with Callum Smith waiting in the wings for the latter, while the WBO have just announced eliminators which do not include me," Groves told Sky Sports.

"The WBA is the way that I'm going and there isn't a super champ at the minute, so my ideal plan is to face Chudinov for the vacant belt - that's what I will be pushing for."

If Groves is unable to get Chudinov in the ring, he would be more than happy to face Tyron Zeuge for the WBA's "regular" title at 168-pounds. Both Groves and Zeuge are promoted by Sauerland Event.

"If the 'Super' option doesn't go my way then I would love to fight Zeuge," Groves said. "I would beat him every day of the week. "We are both under the Sauerland banner so it is very easily made. I'm glad that he managed to win the title because it can only benefit my situation and gives me plenty of options going forward."