George Groves on the gruelling road back from injury which nearly ended his career

Red and buried: George Groves on his way to beating a bloodied Chris Eubank Jr in Manchester in February
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John Dillon27 September 2018

World super-middleweight champion George Groves says the road back from the injury which threatened his career has been harder than he expected.

Groves defends his WBA (Super) title when he fights fellow Briton Callum Smith in the World Boxing Super Series Final at the King Abdullah Sports City Arena, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Friday.

The 30-year-old has been out for seven months having had surgery on his left shoulder which he dislocated in the semi-final win against Chris Eubank Jr in Manchester.

At first, Groves’s comeback was careful and restricted. Then it became gruelling and intense as he had to overcome wariness about the after-effects of the operation to rebuild his speed and punching strength. He said: “It took an awful lot of work to get back where I needed to be. Far more than I anticipated. But then I had been sitting in the ambulance after the Eubank fight saying to my wife, Sophie — I suppose that wasn’t a bad way to go out.

“So it’s great just to be here getting ready for a fight that is going to be the pinnacle of my career. It has been about perseverance. You just have to stick at it until you get there.

“The shoulder will be even stronger, which is something I’ve experienced after having had rehabilitation for other injuries. Now I am supremely confident about this fight. A lot of people fancy Callum and I’m looking forward to proving them wrong. I won’t underestimate him but I believe I’ve seen enough to put together a winning formula.”

The Londoner is the known quantity in this fight — a seasoned veteran of three failed world title challenges before finally winning his belt when knocking out Russia’s Fedor Chudinov in Sheffield in May 2017.

Smith, meanwhile, is untested at this level. The 28-year-old from Liverpool is undefeated in 24 fights, winning 17 by KO, but this is his first world title challenge. He has height and reach advantages but will require a significant improvement to defeat Groves.

Smith said: “I need a big performance and I will deliver one. I have done that whenever I have been up against it. George is heavy handed, has a good jab and right hand but there are things I’ve seen of which I can take advantage. He’s not the best defensively. When he tires he becomes a bit ragged.”

But when it comes to style, Groves countered: “Callum leaves openings when he punches and he hasn’t got a good engine. His concentration level is one of his biggest weaknesses. He has long arms and he is physically strong and will be dangerous early on but he doesn’t seem able to sustain it.”

Both boxers have pointed out that the surprising choice of venue was beyond their control, with Smith adding: “This tournament has been brilliant for me. But I’ll count on one hand the number of Brits who will be there.”

But promoter Kalle Sauerland said: “This is about taking a big fight to a totally new region.”

Groves v Smith, Friday, ITV Box Office (£16.95) — itvboxoffice.com

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