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BOXING champ George Groves was living in fear last night after gangsters threatened to kill him in a live TV fight.
Police warned Groves, 23, and his fiancée Sophie following a tip-off he would be gunned down in the ring.
The British and Commonwealth super-middleweight champ cancelled tomorrow's satellite TV clash with Scot Kenny Anderson at London's Wembley Arena because of a back injury.
His management said the withdrawal was unrelated to "alleged threats".
A pal said: "George and Sophie were told by CID officers a threat had been made on his life and they should consider their safety. The intelligence said if he wasn't shot before the fight, it would happen in the ring."
Anderson had called world No12 Groves a "coward" for not fighting him.
But Groves said: "I apologise to everyone who spent money around the fight.
"I suffered a back injury sparring and haven't trained properly since."
In November 2010, Groves beat Anderson, 29, in the sixth round of a previous bout. It is not known if the rematch will happen.
In 2010, Anderson was cleared of the attempted murder with a hammer of a drug dealer when witnesses failed to turn up at court. There was no sign of Groves or Sophie at their flat in Hounslow, West London, yesterday. Police said they are not in protective custody.
A spokesman said: "We can confirm a threat to the welfare of a man was made to police in Hounslow."
Police warned Groves, 23, and his fiancée Sophie following a tip-off he would be gunned down in the ring.
The British and Commonwealth super-middleweight champ cancelled tomorrow's satellite TV clash with Scot Kenny Anderson at London's Wembley Arena because of a back injury.
His management said the withdrawal was unrelated to "alleged threats".
A pal said: "George and Sophie were told by CID officers a threat had been made on his life and they should consider their safety. The intelligence said if he wasn't shot before the fight, it would happen in the ring."
Anderson had called world No12 Groves a "coward" for not fighting him.
But Groves said: "I apologise to everyone who spent money around the fight.
"I suffered a back injury sparring and haven't trained properly since."
In November 2010, Groves beat Anderson, 29, in the sixth round of a previous bout. It is not known if the rematch will happen.
In 2010, Anderson was cleared of the attempted murder with a hammer of a drug dealer when witnesses failed to turn up at court. There was no sign of Groves or Sophie at their flat in Hounslow, West London, yesterday. Police said they are not in protective custody.
A spokesman said: "We can confirm a threat to the welfare of a man was made to police in Hounslow."
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