By Keith Idec

George Groves’ first two title shots resulted in technical knockout losses to British rival Carl Froch, but the resilient super middleweight contender is confident his third world title fight will produce a far different outcome.

The 27-year-old Groves (21-2, 16 KOs) will get that opportunity Sept. 12, when he’ll challenge newly crowned WBC super middleweight champ Badou Jack (19-1-1, 12 KOs) in a 12-round fight on the Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Andre Berto undercard at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

“I have been fortunate enough to experience some of the greatest feelings the sport can give,” Groves said. “I have challenged for world titles and I have sold out stadiums, but my true childhood dream of winning a world title is yet to be fulfilled. I get that chance on the Las Vegas Strip – the crème de la crème for any fighter on the planet. I cannot wait to achieve my goal and become world champion. Badou Jack isn’t ‘Bad’ enough to halt my dream. His WBC belt is all that is on my mind each and every waking moment. We have studied Jack – we are prepared for his strengths and ready to expose his weaknesses. Vegas is my second home and I can’t wait to come back with a bang.”

London’s Groves has won both of his bouts pretty easily since suffering a devastating, eighth-round TKO defeat against the since-retired Froch 14 months ago at London’s Wembley Stadium. The 31-year-old Jack, a Las Vegas resident raised in Sweden, won the WBC 168-pound championship from Anthony Dirrell (27-1-1, 22 KOs), whom Jack beat by majority decision April 24 in Chicago.

Keith Idec covers boxing for The Record and Herald News, of Woodland Park, N.J., and BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.