Anderson wants Groves Fight for nothing

[FIGHTFANs]

Despite losing narrowly to George Groves earlier this month, Scotland’s Kenny Anderson has only one thing on his mind… and that’s George Groves.
Such was the closeness of the contest throughout the six rounds that the fight lasted, Anderson focus is on nothing else – he craves a rematch with the Commonwealth Super-Middleweight champion. And the Scot doesn’t care about the money, the title or the location – he just wants Groves. “I’ll fight him in London for nothing on one of his home shows. I’m not bothered about the title, just twelve; three minute rounds at 12 stone. Me versus him and after that I’ll shut my mouth,” Anderson declared.
The bout was chief support to the David Haye – Audley Harrison fight and proved to be one of the more memorable highlights from that night’s card. Anderson had taken the fight at a couple of weeks’ notice and was seen by many as Groves’ biggest test to date. It was a fight of ups and downs as the Scot continually hunted down his English opponent with thudding success. Most observers were stunned at how easy Groves was allowing himself to be hit. And despite his trainer Adam Booth telling him “Don’t slug with the slugger” in Groves’ corner, the advice fell on deaf ears. He abandoned his game plan and went into the trenches with Anderson and looked over the edge into a potential boxing abyss as his tactics played right into the hands of his formidable challenger.
But despite all the efforts from Anderson, referee Dave Parris waved it off in the sixth round as Groves found something from deep within him to launch a body shot bombardment that finally saw his game opponent beaten. Anderson and his team to this day are still not happy with the way the fight ended. “I thought it was a bad stoppage. I watched it back, I was tired in the fight and he was shattered himself. I was hurt from a couple of the body shots but not enough for the fight to be stopped. The ref never stepped in when I had him hurt, Groves got up off the floor in the third round and he was saved by the bell. I was struggling in the fourth with my fitness so I took a wee breather as a lot of fighters do. If I’d been fit it would’ve been a one sided massacre. There are too many light stoppages these days in British boxing. I felt really upset because I put a lot into it,” said Anderson.
His promoter, Ricky Hatton was quoted as saying ““It was a joke stoppage, it was a one-sided fight.”
And after the fight Anderson asked Adam Booth about the possibility of a rematch. “Adam Booth came into the dressing room afterwards and I mentioned a rematch and he laughed it off. I was deadly serious. I’ve done enough to justify a rematch.”
The 2006 Commonwealth Games gold medallist is now even hungrier than ever before. In a career that has been blighted by inactivity Anderson has a focus that has spawned from the Groves defeat. He has more desire to train than ever before and refuses to go away until he gets the rematch and as he says ‘a fair crack.’ “Give me a proper eight-week preparation and I’ll smash him to pieces,” growled Anderson.
James Obede Toney was initially meant to be the opponent for Groves on an October bill but had to withdraw on the week of the fight for medical reasons. Had contracts between Groves and Anderson been sorted out for a fight six weeks earlier then both men could have met much sooner. “When Groves was meant to fight in London (in October) I was offered the fight six weeks beforehand. I was offered a sum of money for it and when I asked for a bit more it got increased.. They said yes. I was giving up my final eliminator status (for the British title) for them so I thought I could see what I could get.” Anderson explained.
“I hadn’t heard back regarding a contract so I asked what was going on. They had apparently put the wrong name and the wrong venue for the fight and the wrong date for the venue of the weigh-in. Richard Poxon (Director of boxing at Hatton Promotions) told me to score it out myself which I didn’t want to do because it seemed dodgy. I phoned up Richard and he told me he tried to phone them a few times but had no joy. I told him to get a message to Hayemaker Promotions to get a contract to me by 4pm or they can shove the fight. Nothing ever happened in the end,” he continued.
Fast forward to present day and we find ourselves with George Groves in position to have a shot at the winner of James DeGale and Paul Smith (who fight next month) for the British Super-Middleweight title. And even if a proposed bout did go to purse bids can Hayemaker Promotions and allegedly (DeGale and Smith’s promoter) really sit down at a table and negotiate? Anderson does have other options out there should a rematch not happen – fights with the likes of Tony Quigley are a feasible plan b.
But the fiery Scot is not going to go away quietly and he had a message for Groves. “Can he look at himself in the mirror and be satisfied with our fight? If it was me I couldn’t. Is he just going to be a coward and not fight me again? I don’t want a warm-up, I want Groves, I want him!!

[stujones]

and why not. It was a lovely fight last time. I think team Groves built a huge sigh of relief at the end.

[charlieb]

I don't think the stoppage was all that premature, he was getting caned in there are seemed quite accepting of it at the time.

I wouldn't give him the rematch, personally. Not yet anyway. I'd move laterally, make a couple of fights which test other aspects of Groves game and then if Anderson's regrouped and perhaps beaten someone of note, take him on to guage improvement.

[SweetLikeSugar]

I can't see anybody from Hayemaker being keen on a rematch. Groves has a shot at the British title so I can understand why they don't want to make it happen.

[JamesH]

I can't see anybody from Hayemaker being keen on a rematch. Groves has a shot at the British title so I can understand why they don't want to make it happen.

I agree with that. I also think that Hayemaker will think Anderson had his chance. Having said that, I think Groves would be a lot smarter should it go ahead, and I hear he's keen for it to be made.

[slapbangwhallop]

I can't see anybody from Hayemaker being keen on a rematch. Groves has a shot at the British title so I can understand why they don't want to make it happen.

I agree with that. I also think that Hayemaker will think Anderson had his chance. Having said that, I think Groves would be a lot smarter should it go ahead, and I hear he's keen for it to be made.

Actually I don't think it will be a case of Hayemaker thinking "he has had his chance" - more like "he is too dangerous". They will surely be thinking that if he had more notice and was able to come in in better condition he wouldn't have gassed so quickly and would have had to juice to stop Groves, who looked very ragged at times.

Despite the loss, Anderson has really gone up in my estimation and Groves is lucky to have slipped off the hook hear without a loss on his record. I hope he learns from it.

Good fight though, proably the only decent fight of the fight. I'd be happy to be a witness to a rematch.

[Glyn Leach]

A 'narrow' sixth-round stoppage loss? Doesn't work FF, an oxymoron. Take your point, Kenny gave Groves nightmares, but I think 'contentiously' might have been a better choice than 'narrowly' if you were going to go down that road. Nice piece otherwise though and good luck to Kenny, he showed us something there, about himself and Groves.

[SweetLikeSugar]

See Glyn after class FIGHTFANs.

D

[Glyn Leach]

I can't switch that part of my brain off SLS, sorry lol. Just trying to help.

[SweetLikeSugar]

I can't see anybody from Hayemaker being keen on a rematch. Groves has a shot at the British title so I can understand why they don't want to make it happen.

I agree with that. I also think that Hayemaker will think Anderson had his chance. Having said that, I think Groves would be a lot smarter should it go ahead, and I hear he's keen for it to be made.

Actually I don't think it will be a case of Hayemaker thinking "he has had his chance" - more like "he is too dangerous". They will surely be thinking that if he had more notice and was able to come in in better condition he wouldn't have gassed so quickly and would have had to juice to stop Groves, who looked very ragged at times.

Despite the loss, Anderson has really gone up in my estimation and Groves is lucky to have slipped off the hook hear without a loss on his record. I hope he learns from it.

Good fight though, proably the only decent fight of the fight. I'd be happy to be a witness to a rematch.

I'd love to see a rematch. I don't think it will happen any time in the near future, though. Anderson is high a risk, low reward option for Groves right now and Hayemaker will just be relieved that he came through this with his 0 intact. In their eyes Kenny was an obstacle on the road to greater things for Groves and, having scraped past him, I can't see them looking back at him and offering him a lift.

[SweetLikeSugar]

I can't switch that part of my brain off SLS, sorry lol. Just trying to help.

[Lenny]

I agree with that. I also think that Hayemaker will think Anderson had his chance. Having said that, I think Groves would be a lot smarter should it go ahead, and I hear he's keen for it to be made.

Actually I don't think it will be a case of Hayemaker thinking "he has had his chance" - more like "he is too dangerous". They will surely be thinking that if he had more notice and was able to come in in better condition he wouldn't have gassed so quickly and would have had to juice to stop Groves, who looked very ragged at times.

Despite the loss, Anderson has really gone up in my estimation and Groves is lucky to have slipped off the hook hear without a loss on his record. I hope he learns from it.

Good fight though, proably the only decent fight of the fight. I'd be happy to be a witness to a rematch.

I'd love to see a rematch. I don't think it will happen any time in the near future, though. Anderson is high a risk, low reward option for Groves right now and Hayemaker will just be relieved that he came through this with his 0 intact. In their eyes Kenny was an obstacle on the road to greater things for Groves and, having scraped past him, I can't see them looking back at him and offering him a lift.

Yeah, it was a big test for Groves and one that he came through after being in massive trouble. They will be wanting to move on after this and probably learnt heaps from that fight, no way can I see them wanting to go over old ground against a tough opponent in a fight that they have nothing to gain from. The stoppage was fine, Anderson was done, his face said it all after the ref had stopped it. Those bodyshots did him in and tbh that's the best I've seen Anderson perform, imo Groves is a lot more likely to look the more improved fighter in a return fight as he seemed to be the one learning and adjusting during the contest.

[JamesH]

I can't see anybody from Hayemaker being keen on a rematch. Groves has a shot at the British title so I can understand why they don't want to make it happen.

I agree with that. I also think that Hayemaker will think Anderson had his chance. Having said that, I think Groves would be a lot smarter should it go ahead, and I hear he's keen for it to be made.

Actually I don't think it will be a case of Hayemaker thinking "he has had his chance" - more like "he is too dangerous". They will surely be thinking that if he had more notice and was able to come in in better condition he wouldn't have gassed so quickly and would have had to juice to stop Groves, who looked very ragged at times.

Despite the loss, Anderson has really gone up in my estimation and Groves is lucky to have slipped off the hook hear without a loss on his record. I hope he learns from it.

Good fight though, proably the only decent fight of the fight. I'd be happy to be a witness to a rematch.

To be fair that is likely to be a strong consideration but if Groves is to go as far as Hayemaker expect him to, I don’t think they can think like that about someone of Anderson’s level. They are talking up their charges eliminator status and Groves certainly believes he would beat Smith, a far more dangerous fight than Anderson.

Obviously a De Gale fight would be entirely different matter as he is completely different stylistically.

As I said, I think the rematch would be quite different with Groves boxing to orders rather than taking the gung-ho approach he adopted for the first fight. The fight would have added interest as it would be a great measure of George’s ability to learn from fights. I’d like to see it, but there are also other good fights to be made for Groves so it wouldn't be the end of the world if it didn't happen.

[THEBUTCH]

Anderson needs to back track. He got his opportunity, tried his best, but ended up getting stuffed.

Groves is now in pole position for the British title, assuming the BBBofC following their own rules, so Anderson has to force his way through by contesting a final eliminator and being more succesful this time around. That's his ticket...not making demands coming off a stoppage defeat.

[SweetLikeSugar]

Anderson needs to back track. He got his opportunity, tried his best, but ended up getting stuffed.

Groves is now in pole position for the British title, assuming the BBBofC following their own rules, so Anderson has to force his way through by contesting a final eliminator and being more succesful this time around. That's his ticket...not making demands coming off a stoppage defeat.

So he gives up an eliminator for the British and loses a very close fight yet has no right to ask for a rematch?

[forcefraser]

Anderson needs to back track. He got his opportunity, tried his best, but ended up getting stuffed.

Groves is now in pole position for the British title, assuming the BBBofC following their own rules, so Anderson has to force his way through by contesting a final eliminator and being more succesful this time around. That's his ticket...not making demands coming off a stoppage defeat.

So he gives up an eliminator for the British and loses a very close fight yet has no right to ask for a rematch?

I thought his fight with Groves WAS an eliminator for the British title?

He lost fair and square. He never complained about the stoppage on the night, nor did his corner. I did think it was a bit early, but I never saw any complaint from Anderson or his team.

He is a capable boxer, with power, but Groves would be making a mistake in giving him a rematch straight away.

[THEBUTCH]

I don't think so. He got his title shot and blew it. Groves doesn't owe him anything and if Anderson wants something....earn it, like Groves has earnt his British title shot, not demanded it.

[smoggy7188]

I'd like to see Groves have another fight before his British Title shot against a fighter who can push him and make him use these new defensive skills Booth talked about after the Anderson fight.

[ourkid1984]

Groves must of learnt from that fight and therefore I can only see an even earlier stoppage than before or a more dominating but measured performance. I don't want to see that I want the proper grudge match to happen between Groves and De Gale, even if De Gale loses to Smith.

I do think Groves should have one more fight even if it's just a warm up before his next title fight for whatever it is, whether it be another defence of his commenwealth or for the British.

[SweetLikeSugar]

Double post.

[SweetLikeSugar]

I don't think so. He got his title shot and blew it. Groves doesn't owe him anything and if Anderson wants something....earn it, like Groves has earnt his British title shot, not demanded it.

So you don't think that by putting Groves down and nearly stopping him he has earned a rematch? I'm just trying to see things from Anderson's perspective. Taking the fight at short notice and very nearly getting the win must be so frustrating for him. If he was a higher profile fighter I'm sure there would be a rematch.

But like I said, I can fully see Hayemaker's side of things too.

[THEBUTCH]

Yes, we'd all like to see it go again, but that was also a final eliminator for the British title and Groves should be next up for whoever wins out of DeGale and Smith.

If Groves gets his shot at the British and wins, Anderson would make an excellent challenger

[ArtOfWar]

Definitely an early stopage in my opinion, but I don't see Anderson getting a rematch. Groves/DeGale is the bigger fight and I think that's what everyone is gunning for.

[big lennox]

I thought the stoppage was fair. Those body shots really took it out of him, and the ref saved him from further punishment: you don't recover from body shots like that.

That said, if he only had 3 weeks to train for the fight, then there is reason to beleive that he could do much better.

I think both fighters will learn a tremendous amount from this fight and be much better because of it.It was certainly for exciting to watch, and there are no question marks about their hearts in a battle.

[IRLangmaid25]

Yes, we'd all like to see it go again, but that was also a final eliminator for the British title and Groves should be next up for whoever wins out of DeGale and Smith.

If Groves gets his shot at the British and wins, Anderson would make an excellent challenger

Really??!! I did not know it was a final eliminator for the British title until you told me and I checked Groves' record, and to be honest with you we all would rather see Groves fight amateur rival James DeGale rather than Kenny Anderson as it would generate more ticket sales and viewing figures when consider the running feud that exists betwen the two of them and I agree with Big Lennox the stoppage was correct because Groves was catching Anderson with some great hard body shots that took the air out of him and I really could not have seen Anderson go another round or two because Groves was getting his defence with his bodyshots and I too enjoyed it.