George Groves

George Groves, known to the boxing fraternity as "Saint George," was a British professional boxer who competed in the super-middleweight division from 2008 to 2018. Born in Hammersmith, West London, on 26 March 1988, Groves built a reputation as a technically gifted orthodox fighter with a stinging jab and significant power in his right hand. His amateur pedigree was formidable, securing the Senior ABA middleweight championship twice in 2006 and 2007, and notably defeating future Olympic champion James DeGale before turning pro. Groves made his professional debut on 15 November 2008 at the O2 Arena in London, securing a points victory over Kirill Pshonko. Under the initial guidance of the Hayemaker stable, he moved quickly through the domestic levels, claiming the Commonwealth super-middleweight title in only his ninth fight by stopping Charles Adamu. His early career was defined by a simmering rivalry with DeGale, which culminated in a high-profile British and Commonwealth title clash in May 2011; Groves edged a majority decision in a closely contested bout that solidified his standing on the domestic scene.

The trajectory of Groves’ career shifted dramatically when he was installed as the mandatory challenger for the IBF super-middleweight title held by Carl Froch in 2013. The buildup was acrimonious, yet Groves backed up his confidence in the ring at the Manchester Arena, dropping the champion in the first round with a heavy counter right hand. Despite being ahead on all three judges' scorecards, Groves was stopped in the ninth round by referee Howard Foster during a heavy exchange, a decision that sparked widespread controversy and immediate calls for a rematch. The second encounter took place on 31 May 2014 at Wembley Stadium, an event of such magnitude that it drew 80,000 spectators, a post-war British record. On this occasion, the conclusion was decisive; after a cagey affair where Groves looked to outbox the champion, Froch pinned him against the ropes in the eighth round and delivered a knockout blow that referee Charlie Fitch recognised instantly as the end of the contest.

Following the defeats to Froch, Groves began a rebuilding process that saw him capture the European title and the WBC Silver strap, positioning himself for a third tilt at world honours. He travelled to Las Vegas in September 2015 to face WBC champion Badou Jack. Despite suffering a knockdown in the opening round, Groves rallied to make it a competitive affair but ultimately fell short via a split decision. It was a bitter pill to swallow for the Londoner, who remarked that losing a world title fight was the worst feeling in the world, yet he persisted in his ambition. Under the tutelage of new trainer Shane McGuigan, Groves mounted a fourth campaign for a world title, finally realising his dream in May 2017 at Bramall Lane in Sheffield. Facing Fedor Chudinov for the vacant WBA (Super) super-middleweight title, Groves delivered a barrage of punches in the sixth round that forced referee Steve Gray to halt the contest, crowning Groves a world champion at last.

In the latter stages of his career, Groves entered the World Boxing Super Series, a tournament designed to unify the division. As the first seed, he selected Jamie Cox as his quarter-final opponent and dispatched him with a body shot in the fourth round. This victory set up a highly anticipated semi-final against Chris Eubank Jr. at the Manchester Arena in February 2018. In what was perhaps the most disciplined performance of his career, Groves utilised his size and jab to control the distance, winning a unanimous decision to retain his WBA title and secure a spot in the final. However, the victory came at a cost, as Groves suffered a dislocated shoulder in the final round, an injury that required surgery and threatened his participation in the tournament's conclusion.

Groves recovered sufficiently to face Callum Smith in the WBSS final, which took place at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in September 2018. The bout proved to be the final chapter of his professional life; after six competitive rounds, Smith's size and power began to tell. In the seventh round, Smith landed a left hook that hurt Groves, followed by a sustained assault that sent the champion to the canvas, where he was counted out. Groves retired from the sport in January 2019 with a professional record of 28 wins, 20 of which came inside the distance, and 4 losses. He left the ring having held the WBA (Super), European, British, and Commonwealth titles, recognised as a fighter who competed at the highest level during a golden era for British super-middleweights.