George Groves vs Jamie Cox

A single right hand to the ribs brought an abrupt conclusion to a contest which, for three rounds, had been fought at a pace more favourable to the challenger than to the champion. The blow left Jamie Cox on his knees and unable to rise before referee Steve Gray completed the count, giving George Groves a fourth-round knockout at one minute 42 seconds.

The contest at Wembley Arena was both Groves’s first defence of the WBA super-middleweight championship and a quarter-final in the inaugural World Boxing Super Series. The winner would advance to meet Chris Eubank Jr, who was watching at ringside after knocking out Avni Yildirim in his own quarter-final. Groves, weighing 167lb and entering with a record of 26 victories and three defeats, had won the championship by stopping Fedor Chudinov five months earlier. Cox weighed the division limit of 168lb and brought an unbeaten record of 24 victories, although he had not previously competed at world level. The pair had known each other from their time in the British amateur squad, and Groves had selected Cox as his opponent when the tournament draw was made.

Cox began positively, directing his jab towards the champion’s body and moving forward without hesitation. Groves attempted to hold him at the end of the left hand and found the target with straight rights, but the challenger was prepared to accept a punch in order to close the distance. Towards the end of the opening round, both began throwing with greater weight. Cox landed a good left hand to the head and made it clear that he had not entered merely to preserve his unbeaten record.

The challenger increased the pressure in the second round. He forced Groves towards a corner and worked at close quarters, where the champion’s advantages in reach and variety were reduced. Groves was made to exchange rather than dictate, and the fighting became untidy but competitive. Cox continued to jab to the body before attacking upstairs, while Groves answered with the more accurate punches, particularly the straight right. Once he moved away from the ropes, the champion regained sufficient room to place his shots cleanly.

The same pattern continued through the third. Cox advanced with belief, bending at the waist and throwing in combinations, although his eagerness sometimes carried him beyond a sound punching position. Groves met him with a sharp uppercut and several short counters, then tied him up when the challenger attempted to continue working inside. There were slips during the rougher exchanges, and Cox showed some frustration, but neither man had established complete command. The challenger’s aggression was making Groves work harder than expected, though the champion’s blows remained the better timed and more exact.

Cox resumed his advance in the fourth, still concentrating much of his attack upon the head. Midway through the round he committed himself to a left hook, leaving his right side exposed. Groves remained balanced and drove a short right hand beneath the elbow into the ribs. Cox immediately collapsed to his knees, his face showing the effect of the punch. He made no useful attempt to rise as Gray counted him out. There had been no gradual finish and no need for a second blow; the placement had settled the matter.

Groves retained his championship and advanced with relatively little physical damage, although Cox had succeeded in forcing him into a demanding fight while it lasted. The champion landed 48 of 163 punches, against 36 of 131 for the challenger, but the decisive difference lay not in volume but in judgement. Cox’s pressure had produced worthwhile moments, yet it also encouraged him to overreach. Groves recognised the opening and struck the unguarded body with sufficient accuracy to end the contest at once. Eubank entered the ring afterwards, confirming the all-British semi-final which the tournament organisers and the crowd had anticipated.

I thought Cox was giving Groves exactly the sort of fight the champion did not want, but only for as long as his aggression remained disciplined. Groves had finally won a world title against Fedor Chudinov after the two Froch defeats and the narrow loss to Badou Jack. He was experienced, battle-tested and dangerous when opponents rushed their work. Cox was unbeaten and confident, but this was a steep rise from domestic level.

Cox’s plan was sensible. He jabbed to the body, closed the distance and tried to keep Groves from setting those long levers. At times he forced him towards the ropes and made him exchange at close quarters. The problem was that Cox attacked in straight lines and became increasingly careless once he sensed success.

Groves stayed composed. His jab was not controlling everything, but his counters were cleaner, and he understood where Cox would be after committing the left hand. The finish was classy, accurate boxing. Cox overreached with a hook, his elbow lifted away from his ribs, and Groves drove the right hand into the exposed body. There was no getting up from it.

That punch was not simply power; it was timing, placement and patience. Cox was brave and made the contest lively, but Groves allowed him to believe the pressure was working, then punished the mistake it created. The better fighter won, and he won without wasting punches.