GEORGE GROVES hopes to face Chris Eubank Jr in the semi-finals of the World Boxing Super Series, but he has doubts as to whether Eubank will make it through his first fight against Avni Yildirim on October 7. Groves boxes Jamie Cox in their super-middleweight quarter-final on October 14 in London.
“The seeded fighters have won every fight so far. It’s gone to the form book as such. I think Eubank has got it all to do in Germany. He might be the first seeded fighter to go. I don’t see me having any problems beating Jamie Cox. It’s a massive, massive occasion for him. We’ll see if he can cope. We’ll know more and more as the fight gets closer,” Groves said. “[Eubank] is in Germany which might not bother him, it might do. There’s a lot of Turkish people in Stuttgart so he [Yilidirm] will have strong backing. He’s got a bit of power. He looked bigger than Eubank. He’s not going to be an Abraham who throws two or three shots a round, he’s going to be busy, technically he’s not as skilful as Eubank. It’ll be a good fight.”
Groves, the WBA super-middleweight world champion, is also keen for some verbal sparring with Chris Eubank Sr. “They probably don’t want to fight me but they definitely want to fight for the belt,” Groves said. “I’d like to trip his dad up a couple of times. He’s very well rehearsed, he does take a long time to answer questions at times. He’ll be a good a sparring partner. But we’ve both got to win before then.”
Callum Smith should be another rival in the World Boxing Super Series and is certainly a contender to make it through to the final. He beat Erik Skoglund in the first 168lbs quarter-final in Liverpool. “I didn’t really assess or analyse the fight. I didn’t think Skoglund would be a walk in the park like a lot of people did. I’ve sparred Skoglund, it was all about would the occasion get to him. Because he’s a big fish in a small pond in Sweden,” Groves reflected. “It was weird it lacked a bit of passion I thought … there was a lot of touching gloves, they hugged four times before the decision. Skoglund was chuffed that he gave a good account of himself.
“I think there’s more to come from Smith. Or maybe there isn’t.”
Groves has every confidence that he will defeat Cox on October 14 at the SSE Arena in Wembley. “He’s been gifted a world title. I had to graft for mine,” he pointed out. “I went out and picked him.”
“He is giving a lot a way, his trainer’s giving a lot away. He’s not lost but he’s looking for that guidance. He thinks he’s found it in Eddie Hearn. Eddie Hearn in his circle is probably the most experienced guy in boxing. He said he’s going to win the tournament for Matchroom and all these other things. Good luck to him. Matchroom unfortunately can’t help him at all in this tournament.”
