George Groves (born 26 March 1988) is a British former professional boxer who competed from 2008 to 2018. He held the WBA (Super) super-middleweight title from 2017 to 2018. At regional level, he held multiple super-middleweight titles, including the European, British, and Commonwealth titles between 2010 and 2014. As an amateur, Groves won the ABA middleweight title twice in 2007 and 2008.
In March 2018, he was ranked as the world's best active super-middleweight by BoxRec, The Ring magazine and the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board.
Amateur career Groves generally fought in the division as an amateur and won the Senior ABA championship for his weight in 2006 and 2007.List of ABA champions 2000's . ABAE. Retrieved on 25 November 2013. He also fought in championships around the world and won medals in places such as Russia, Estonia, Bosnia, Morocco and the United States. In 2006, he defeated future Olympic and world champion James DeGale and compiled a total amateur record of 66 wins out of 76 fights with 40 stoppage victories.London middleweight George Groves will be watching the action from Beijing with a heavy heart, writes Tris Dixon. Boxing News. 8 August 2008
Professional career Early career Groves turned professional on 15 November 2008 and joined the Hayemaker Promotions stable. His first fight as a professional took place in November 2008 at The O2 Arena, on the undercard of David Haye's win over Monte Barrett with a six-round win over Kirill Pshonko.Chaudry, Ziad (19 November 2008) George revelling in joy of six . Kilburn Times His next outing in February 2009, saw him score a third round stoppage over Romaric Hignard in a fight at the York Hall in Bethnal Green. He followed the victory up in March defeating Paul Samuels at the Echo Arena in Liverpool, and in April travelled to Belfast to dispose of Sandor Polgar.Groves destroys Polgar. Boxingnews24 (26 April 2009). Retrieved on 25 November 2013.
In September 2009, following the collapse of Hayemaker's television deal with Setanta Sports, Groves along with Olympic bronze medalist David Price signed a promotional deal with veteran boxing promoter Frank Maloney who described Groves as "one of the world's best prospects". Despite signing for Maloney however, Groves would continue to be managed and trained by Hayemaker's Adam Booth.Groves signs with Maloney . Eastside Boxing. Retrieved on 25 November 2013. On 7 November 2009, following two more professional outings, Groves travelled to Germany and fought on the undercard of stablemate David Haye's WBA title win against Nikolai Valuev, defeating the experienced Konstantin Makhankov in his first fight over eight rounds.
British and Commonwealth champion
Groves' first title opportunity came on 3 April 2010, as part of the undercard of David Haye's first title defence against John Ruiz at the MEN Arena in Manchester. Groves, in only his ninth fight, defeated Charles Adamu via TKO to win the Commonwealth super-middleweight title. Groves had dominated the fight, knocking Adamu down once in the first and twice in the fourth before the referee stepped in with nine seconds remaining in the sixth.Groves takes super middleweight title. The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved on 25 November 2013. Groves followed up the win by travelling to Las Vegas in order to gain some higher-profile experience and to fight on the undercard of Marquez-Diaz II on 31 July 2010. Groves' opponent, Alfredo Contreras, had a record of eleven wins and seven losses going into the fight, but nonetheless represented a higher level of international journeyman than those Groves had already beaten. The fight was stopped in the sixth round after the referee decided that Contreras was not sufficiently answering back with punches.Groves marks american debut with win in Las Vegas. Sky Sports (1 August 2010). Retrieved on 25 November 2013.
On 13 November 2010, Groves made the first defence of his title beating former Commonwealth Games gold medalist Kenny Anderson in the sixth round. The fight, on the undercard of David Haye's world title clash with Audley Harrison at the MEN Arena, resulted in a career first knockdown for Groves as he endured his toughest fight to date.Groves survives Anderson war. Sky Sports (17 November 2010). Retrieved on 25 November 2013. On 5 March 2011, Groves defeated Daniel Adotey Allotey at the Huddersfield Leisure Centre, winning by stoppage in the fourth round of what was an eight-round non-title fight. Following the bout Groves said that the fight had been preparation for a potential future clash with British champion and old foe James DeGale, a fight he predicted that he would win. He said "Whether it comes by knockout or points, I don't really care. He knows that I've got his number and he's going to struggle to sleep in the preparation for this fight because he is going to have me on his brain all the time."
Groves vs. DeGale On 21 May 2011 at the O2 Arena in London, Groves and DeGale met in a highly anticipated grudge match for the Commonwealth and British super-middleweight titles. Groves was declared the winner by majority decision after twelve closely fought rounds. Two judges scored the fight 115–114 in favour of Groves, with another scoring the fight even at 115–115.Hassan, Nabil. (21 May 2011) BBC Sport | George Groves stuns James DeGale to win British title. BBC News. Retrieved on 25 November 2013. A rematch between DeGale and Groves became a possibility when Frank Warren, DeGale's promoter, announced that he had signed Groves to his stable on a three-year deal. Warren said, "It is an obvious fight that will definitely happen again", adding "The last fight was very close and a few observers felt that it could have gone either way"."George Groves and James DeGale set for rematch – Frank Warren". BBC Sport. BBC. 25 August 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2012. Despite leaving the Hayemaker promotional stable, Groves' manager and trainer Adam Booth announced that the decision to join Frank Warren was in the best interests of Groves' career.
Groves vs. Paul Smith, Johnson In his first fight with Warren on 5 November 2011, Groves beat former British champion Paul Smith in two rounds at the Wembley Arena in London to retain his British and Commonwealth titles. George Groves stuns Paul Smith to retain titles. BBC Sport. (5 November 2011). Retrieved on 25 November 2013.
After nine months out, Groves returned to the ring in July 2012 knocking out Mexican boxer Francisco Sierra in 2 rounds. In December, Groves fought veteran former world champion Glen Johnson at the ExCel Arena. At the time of the fight, Johnson was 19 years older than Groves. Groves knocked Johnson down in the twelfth round, though Johnson appeared to fall more from being off balance. Groves won a lopsided decision after 12 rounds when the judges scored it (120–107, 120–107 & 119–109). Groves won 35 of 36 scored rounds on the three judges scorecards, gave Johnson a bad beating in the seventh round but the fight was not stopped though it could have been.
Groves fought twice in March 2013. He first knocked out Dario German Balmaceda in round 3 in London, before travelling to Germany two weeks later to stop Baker Barakat in two rounds.
In May, Groves defeated 34 year old Noe Gonzalez Alcoba (30–2, 22 KOs) at the O2 Arena on the undercard of the Carl Froch vs. Mikkel Kessler rematch. By doing so, he claimed the vacant WBA Inter-Continental super middleweight title. Groves landed a right hand in the opening minute of the fifth round which caught Noe Gonzalez coming forward and sent him down for a count of five. Gonzalez made it to his feet, but Gonzalez stood on shaky legs as the referee waved an end to the bout. Gonzalez's corner threw in the towel almost simultaneously with the referee's stoppage.
World title challenges Groves vs. Froch
In mid-2013 the IBF installed Groves as the mandatory challenger to titleholder Carl Froch, with a bout between them taking place on 23 November 2013 at the Phones4u Arena in Manchester; both Froch's IBF and WBA super-middleweight titles were on the line.Carl Froch to defend titles against George Groves. BBC Sport. (23 July 2013). Retrieved on 25 November 2013. On 17 September, Groves parted ways with trainer Adam Booth.Dooley, Terence (17 September 2013). "George Groves, Adam Booth Have Decided To Part Ways". BoxingScene. Retrieved 17 September 2013. In the fight, Froch stopped Groves in the ninth round amidst controversial circumstances. Groves was ahead on all three judges' scorecards, having dropped the champion in the first round with a hard counter right hand. Many observers at ringside, including fellow boxers David Haye and Amir Khan, remarked that referee Howard Foster had stepped in too quickly during an exchange in which both fighters landed heavy punches. Given the controversial nature of the stoppage, there were immediate calls for a rematch.Carl Froch retains titles with controversial stoppage win over George Groves. Sky Sports. Retrieved on 25 November 2013.
On 24 January 2014, the IBF ordered a rematch between Froch and Groves, giving Froch 90 days to fight Groves or relinquish his IBF title.
Groves vs. Froch II
On 13 February 2014, it was announced by Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing that Froch vs. Groves II would take place on 31 May 2014 at Wembley Stadium in London, England. Froch was quoted that the fight was what the 'British public want to see' and that was his reason for taking the option to give George Groves a rematch while defending his IBF and WBA super-middleweight titles. As soon as tickets went on sale, 60,000 tickets were sold in under an hour and a further 20,000 tickets were made available, making this the biggest ever attendance for a boxing match in Britain since the Second World War.Dirs, Ben (4 March 2014). "Carl Froch v George Groves: Wembley Stadium to host rematch". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 2014-03-04. As in the first fight, Froch's IBF and WBA super-middleweight titles were on the line. Prior to the fight, Groves signed with German promoters Sauerland, on what has been described as "a long-term deal".
The fight was a more cagey affair than the first match, with both fighters initially looking to outbox each other. Froch was stronger in the earlier rounds, with Jim Watt unofficially scoring the earlier rounds in favour of the champion on his Sky Sports scorecard. By the end of the seventh round, both Richie Woodhall and Steve Bunce had the fight scored 4 rounds to 3 for Froch on the BBC scorecards. Groves came out fighting in the 8th round before Froch got him pinned against the ropes and delivered a right hand blow which knocked Groves out. The referee, Charlie Fitch, instantly called the fight, sensing Groves was clearly in no fit state to continue. It was later named Knockout of the Year by The Ring for 2014.Dirs, Ben (31 May 2014). "Carl Froch knocks out George Groves to retain world titles". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 2014-06-01.
Groves started rebuilding towards another world title match following Froch's retirement. On 20 September 2014, he won the European and vacant WBC silver super middleweight title after defeating French boxer Christopher Rebrassé via unanimous decision after 12 rounds. The scorecards were 118–110, 118–110, 117–111.
Two months later, Groves was back in the ring at the Echo Arena in Liverpool on the Tony Bellew vs. Nathan Cleverly PPV undercard. Groves knocked down American boxer Denis Douglin in round 7, winning the fight via TKO and also retaining the WBC Silver super middleweight title.
Groves vs. Jack