George Groves: ‘I disliked Carl Froch. But I don’t care about Eubank Junior’

George Groves vs Chris Eubank Jr

ON February 17 George Groves will return to the Manchester Arena. The last time he was there, Groves staged one of the most thrilling world title fights in recent years when he took on Carl Froch for the first time. Groves returns in good form, equipped with the WBA super-middleweight world title, taking on another high profile British rival in Chris Eubank Jr.

โ€œI disliked Froch and I donโ€™t care about Junior. Thatโ€™s probably the difference. I took exception to people thinking that I was going to get knocked out by Carl Froch, I didnโ€™t understand it,โ€ Groves said.

โ€œI was in a different frame of mind. I fell out with Adam Booth and other members of that team. I was going through a legal case where I felt that people were trying to steal my money that Iโ€™d worked so hard for and stuff like that. So I wasnโ€™t in a peaceful frame of mind. Now Iโ€™m at peace. I donโ€™t care about Junior. Iโ€™m not looking at him as an easy fight but he is a stepping stone. Iโ€™m world champion now.โ€

โ€œI am the best in the division,โ€ he added. โ€œI still feel I havenโ€™t really achieved my full potential. Thereโ€™s a lot more to come from me. Fortunately Iโ€™m in this tournament [the World Boxing Super Series] where I can display that and even after that, thereโ€™s good options for me. Iโ€™ve been there and almost lost it all and had to rebuild several times, which is awful. Iโ€™m not going to be able to do that again. I donโ€™t want to do that again. Every fight now could be my last fight. Thatโ€™s not a problem, because Iโ€™m good enough to beat everyone in the division.โ€

Groves is convinced the hype around Eubank Junior has vastly outstripped his abilities. โ€œEubank looks good if heโ€™s on the bag. He can punch hard and fast from his ankles, when heโ€™s whacking something that donโ€™t actually move. But if heโ€™s going to get in with a fighter that has a knowing eye, that understands distance control, who can dictate the pace of the fight, he needs to work on the jab first and foremost,โ€ Groves reasoned. โ€œWeโ€™re all guilty of picking the opponents that make us look good. Heโ€™s done it to such an extent and unfortunately for him the profile has way outweighed the level of competition heโ€™s been in with.โ€

The champion has publicly questioned Eubankโ€™s training set up and the influence of his trainer Ronnie Davies and Juniorโ€™s father, Chris Eubank himself. โ€œIโ€™ve been there when Iโ€™ve switched off from a boxing coach. [Paddy] Fitzpatrick, I thought you are away with the fairies my friend. I canโ€™t listen to you anymore. I canโ€™t run the risk of trying to find a new trainer. Iโ€™ve got a world title fight looming โ€ฆ otherwise Iโ€™d have had to made a change. It took me a long time, a few losses to come to terms with this isnโ€™t working and I donโ€™t want to do it by myself,โ€ Groves said. โ€œAfter this fight, when he gets beaten and beaten badly, howโ€™s he going to cope with that?

โ€œIf youโ€™re a fighter and youโ€™re given a date you peak for that fight. Youโ€™re taught that the very first day you go in the gym. Ronnie Davies, if heโ€™s knew it, heโ€™s forgotten it. The dad he must have forgotten it because I knew he used to cut weight. The son is fighting in a division that he doesnโ€™t belong in because heโ€™s run out of ideas. This might be reason why later on he can say Iโ€™m going back down to middleweight.โ€

Groves noted, โ€œMy distance control is fantastic, my reach is longer than people give credit to, my jabโ€™s a lot faster than it used to be. These are all things that are going to cause Junior nightmares.โ€

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