Groves Says Chudinov Deal is Close, DeGale Can Come Later

By Edward Chaykovsky

George Groves (25-3, 18 KOs) is very focused on finalizing a deal to fight Fedor Chudinov for the vacant WBA super middleweight world title.

The World Boxing Association ordered the two boxers to collide for the belt that was vacated by Felix Sturm last year.

It will be Sturm's fourth attempt at a world title, after getting knocked out twice by Carl Froch and losing a twelve round split decision to Badou Jack in September of 2015.

Groves has other options if he wanted to pursue them - including a rematch with current IBF super middleweight champion James DeGale. Groves handed DeGale his first and only career defeat.

Following his recent twelve round draw with Badou Jack, DeGale called for a rematch with Groves in the UK. He called on Groves to dump the WBA title shot and fight him instead for the IBF.

He's willing to fight DeGale at a later date - but in a unification.

"It's been mentioned a few times. I think the best of five has been branded around. Already posters getting made up. It will be a great fight. I'm only going to concentrate on what I know is in front of me and that's Chudinov, and that's the WBA title, which is perfect for me," Groves told Sky Sports.

"I had a long, hard slog last year, worked hard to grind myself into this situation. Once I win that, then there are huge fights out there to be made. But never rule anything out. I've learned that in my few years of boxing."

"It's definitely my best chance, mandatory for the WBA, fighting Chudinov. We're still working on the final details, but we're confident we're going to be able to bring it to the UK - preferably London - have a big fight to announce in the near future. The last two weeks, my promoter Kalle Sauerland has been in touch. They are trying to put together something. It's a big fight. There are a lot of big fights and it needs to jostle into the calendar somewhere. We're hoping that we will have something great to announce soon."