A stadium fight awaits the winner of George Groves vs Jamie Cox. Groves, the WBA super-middleweight champion, boxes Cox on Saturday at Wembley Arena in a World Boxing Super Series quarter-final. The victor can expect to meet Chris Eubank Jr in a stadium fight early next year.
“Whatever Saturday throws up, we’ve got a huge semi. You don’t know what Saturday brings,” promoter Kalle Sauerland said. “George is always in decent fights by the nature, Cox is not a guy who’s going to run away, he’s going to come. So we know exactly what the make up of the fight. Ultimately you’re going to get a great fight on Saturday. You’ve got to say George is the favourite because he’s been at that level. But Cox is stepping up. He’s stepping up the same way that George had to step up against [Carl] Froch.”
“We will have a face off on Saturday night. We will know Saturday night,” he continued. “January/February, in the UK, Eubank versus the winner. Those are signed facts.”
Sauerland is already talking to venues for a semi-final stadium event. “It’s a reality. It has to be on a stage where we’re going to deliver one of the biggest boxing events,” Kalle told Boxing News. Given the season in the UK plan to bring a coat. “Certainly. And your hat and your scarves and your gloves but it’ll be a great crowd and a cracking atmosphere. I think it makes it that little bit more memorable. So I’m buzzing about the idea. I think it’s great,” he said.
“Indoor venues, there’s Wembley Arena again and there’s Manchester Arena. Those are two indoor venues. One doesn’t really fit timewise with schedulers, one I think is a bit small,” Sauerland explained.
“Stamford Bridge is a great one I think they’re going to have a big issue with the pitch so I’ve been told. Emirates is one that I’m talking to as well. It all depends a little bit around the schedules that they have,” Sauerland continued. “We’ll definitely look at Stamford Bridge, definitely look at Brighton as well, definitely looking at Fulham.
“It’s an odd time of year to be going in a stadium,” he admitted. “You can make it into a real fan’s event and that’s what this tournament is all about.”
“Whatever it is, the semi’s huge.”
Groves vs Cox tickets are available from £35 at axs.com. Or watch live on ITV Box Office, register at itvboxoffice.com
