George Groves fighting April

[jaymitch81]

I see Shane stating that George is sparring Nick Blackwell today and potentially George could be out in early April.

Any idea what show and who potentially against?

George definitely needs to keep busy so will be good to see him out so soon after the copper box show.

[handsofstone]

I can see Groves or Murray getting a shot at De Carolis's "title"

[Stuarty]

I can see Groves or Murray getting a shot at De Carolis's "title"

Wouldn't be surprised. Would much rather see Groves and Murray fight each other.

[jaymitch81]

On the undercard of Callum Smith fight 2nd April no doubt?

[danamba7]

On the undercard of Callum Smith fight 2nd April no doubt?

Think Hearn mentioned he'd be on the AJ undercard.

[davie]

If it's for a title, I'm picking April by points

[jaymitch81]

On the undercard of Callum Smith fight 2nd April no doubt?

Think Hearn mentioned he'd be on the AJ undercard.

Ah yes I do remember that tit saying that as it goes...

[lefty]

To be honest, i don't even really care about Groves anymore. I used to really rate him and he was legitimately skilled but he's looked a washed up, shot fighter since the two Froch fights. I see him getting chinned again when he steps back up to the mark.

[tigermoth87]

April will chin him.

[Cyclops]

Would much rather see Groves and Murray fight each other.

I think this would be a really good main undercard fight but not a main event. Maybe on a Degale undercard or something? If Groves beats Murray it sets up the Degale rematch... I don't know.

To be honest I'm a bit with Lefty. Bit bored of Groves now. Rebuilding fights aren't that interesting when it's all you seem to be doing. Murray vs Groves at least is an all British clash and I'd root for Murray personally.

[Stuarty]

Would much rather see Groves and Murray fight each other.

I think this would be a really good main undercard fight but not a main event. Maybe on a Degale undercard or something? If Groves beats Murray it sets up the Degale rematch... I don't know.

To be honest I'm a bit with Lefty. Bit bored of Groves now. Rebuilding fights aren't that interesting when it's all you seem to be doing. Murray vs Groves at least is an all British clash and I'd root for Murray personally.

Same mate. Murray is far more likeable but if I had to bet I'd bet on a Groves win. It would be a proper crossroads fight. It's all been pretty quiet on the DeGale front lately.

[Stuarty]

To be honest, i don't even really care about Groves anymore. I used to really rate him and he was legitimately skilled but he's looked a washed up, shot fighter since the two Froch fights. I see him getting chinned again when he steps back up to the mark.

That's because he got 'Cobra'd'

[whiskey]

April will chin him.

[Cyclops]

Would much rather see Groves and Murray fight each other.

I think this would be a really good main undercard fight but not a main event. Maybe on a Degale undercard or something? If Groves beats Murray it sets up the Degale rematch... I don't know.

To be honest I'm a bit with Lefty. Bit bored of Groves now. Rebuilding fights aren't that interesting when it's all you seem to be doing. Murray vs Groves at least is an all British clash and I'd root for Murray personally.

Same mate. Murray is far more likeable but if I had to bet I'd bet on a Groves win. It would be a proper crossroads fight. It's all been pretty quiet on the DeGale front lately.

They've both fought for world titles several times and have consistently failed and yet, while the level of opponent they have fought is comparable, George has had a lot of home support, is well known and has had many people favouring him in his challenges whereas outside the hardcore not many British people will have even heard of Martin Murray and he's often been the underdog or even cannon fodder really, in the case of GGG and at the time Martinez, who I think brought in Murray just as a Brit to be bashed in front of an Argie home crowd. Arguably Murray has done better against world level opposition. Yeah, Groves beat froch up in the first fight, was hanging with him in the second before the stoppage, and has the razor thin decision over a green Degale. But Murray's losses have been on points in close decisions apart from GGG, where he showed some king sized nads, and he was never humiliatingly sparked in front of, what was it? 80,000 people?

George had a lot of love at the beginning (look at how the crowd support in the Degale fight probably swing it for him more than anything else with the judges) but has become increasingly weird and egotistical, whereas Murray just seems like a decent bloke that has made the most that he could of some fantastic opportunities and has been that close to being a two weight world champion but still had his feet on the ground.

Actually f*ck it get it made.

[jaymitch81]

I think this would be a really good main undercard fight but not a main event. Maybe on a Degale undercard or something? If Groves beats Murray it sets up the Degale rematch... I don't know.

To be honest I'm a bit with Lefty. Bit bored of Groves now. Rebuilding fights aren't that interesting when it's all you seem to be doing. Murray vs Groves at least is an all British clash and I'd root for Murray personally.

Same mate. Murray is far more likeable but if I had to bet I'd bet on a Groves win. It would be a proper crossroads fight. It's all been pretty quiet on the DeGale front lately.

They've both fought for world titles several times and have consistently failed and yet, while the level of opponent they have fought is comparable, George has had a lot of home support, is well known and has had many people favouring him in his challenges whereas outside the hardcore not many British people will have even heard of Martin Murray and he's often been the underdog or even cannon fodder really, in the case of GGG and at the time Martinez, who I think brought in Murray just as a Brit to be bashed in front of an Argie home crowd. Arguably Murray has done better against world level opposition. Yeah, Groves beat froch up in the first fight, was hanging with him in the second before the stoppage, and has the razor thin decision over a green Degale. But Murray's losses have been on points in close decisions apart from GGG, where he showed some king sized nads, and he was never humiliatingly sparked in front of, what was it? 80,000 people?

George had a lot of love at the beginning (look at how the crowd support in the Degale fight probably swing it for him more than anything else with the judges) but has become increasingly weird and egotistical, whereas Murray just seems like a decent bloke that has made the most that he could of some fantastic opportunities and has been that close to being a two weight world champion but still had his feet on the ground.

Actually f*ck it get it made.

I get your point and agree with it to some point but what Murray has not had to do in any of his world title fights is sell them. He has been the away fighter with no pressure and not expected to win whilst maintaining his rankings. With George he has had to jointly sell the Degale fight and single handedly sell the two froch fights. That in itself brings immense pressure mentally and emotionally so has he peaked? Probably yes but can he still become a world champion? most definitely.

[Stuarty]

Same mate. Murray is far more likeable but if I had to bet I'd bet on a Groves win. It would be a proper crossroads fight. It's all been pretty quiet on the DeGale front lately.

They've both fought for world titles several times and have consistently failed and yet, while the level of opponent they have fought is comparable, George has had a lot of home support, is well known and has had many people favouring him in his challenges whereas outside the hardcore not many British people will have even heard of Martin Murray and he's often been the underdog or even cannon fodder really, in the case of GGG and at the time Martinez, who I think brought in Murray just as a Brit to be bashed in front of an Argie home crowd. Arguably Murray has done better against world level opposition. Yeah, Groves beat froch up in the first fight, was hanging with him in the second before the stoppage, and has the razor thin decision over a green Degale. But Murray's losses have been on points in close decisions apart from GGG, where he showed some king sized nads, and he was never humiliatingly sparked in front of, what was it? 80,000 people?

George had a lot of love at the beginning (look at how the crowd support in the Degale fight probably swing it for him more than anything else with the judges) but has become increasingly weird and egotistical, whereas Murray just seems like a decent bloke that has made the most that he could of some fantastic opportunities and has been that close to being a two weight world champion but still had his feet on the ground.

Actually f*ck it get it made.

I get your point and agree with it to some point but what Murray has not had to do in any of his world title fights is sell them. He has been the away fighter with no pressure and not expected to win whilst maintaining his rankings. With George he has had to jointly sell the Degale fight and single handedly sell the two froch fights. That in itself brings immense pressure mentally and emotionally so has he peaked? Probably yes but can he still become a world champion? most definitely.

Do you see Groves getting a better opportunity than Jack? I'm not sure. Maybe AA or if he vacates/retires? Every chance AA won't come through his next defence so it makes things a bit more difficult again. I think Smith beats him and I think DeGale would do the same if they were to meet again. I like the idea of the Murray fight but it's one of they fights where you can't see where the loser goes?

[Cyclops]

Same mate. Murray is far more likeable but if I had to bet I'd bet on a Groves win. It would be a proper crossroads fight. It's all been pretty quiet on the DeGale front lately.

They've both fought for world titles several times and have consistently failed and yet, while the level of opponent they have fought is comparable, George has had a lot of home support, is well known and has had many people favouring him in his challenges whereas outside the hardcore not many British people will have even heard of Martin Murray and he's often been the underdog or even cannon fodder really, in the case of GGG and at the time Martinez, who I think brought in Murray just as a Brit to be bashed in front of an Argie home crowd. Arguably Murray has done better against world level opposition. Yeah, Groves beat froch up in the first fight, was hanging with him in the second before the stoppage, and has the razor thin decision over a green Degale. But Murray's losses have been on points in close decisions apart from GGG, where he showed some king sized nads, and he was never humiliatingly sparked in front of, what was it? 80,000 people?

George had a lot of love at the beginning (look at how the crowd support in the Degale fight probably swing it for him more than anything else with the judges) but has become increasingly weird and egotistical, whereas Murray just seems like a decent bloke that has made the most that he could of some fantastic opportunities and has been that close to being a two weight world champion but still had his feet on the ground.

Actually f*ck it get it made.

I get your point and agree with it to some point but what Murray has not had to do in any of his world title fights is sell them. He has been the away fighter with no pressure and not expected to win whilst maintaining his rankings. With George he has had to jointly sell the Degale fight and single handedly sell the two froch fights. That in itself brings immense pressure mentally and emotionally so has he peaked? Probably yes but can he still become a world champion? most definitely.

I think it's possible but you can't help feeling both lads have had enough goes at it now and consistently have fallen short. They can both hang with and trouble elite fighters but are both just short of that themselves. Boxing is pretty unforgiving like that. Losers are often forgotten and people's interest does wane, as we've said. Really who cares about Groves vs TBA or Murray vs some random European? Those fights don't sell and we've seen them both in those kind of fights before. Groves-Murray is a good fight. Groves would rightly be the favourite as he seems to be naturally bigger and more fluid and carries more power although apparently more fragile. But it's an intriguing fight between two very good British fighters and, like I said, pairing it with a Degale fight as a double header (a way perhaps of Degale having a homecoming and getting a mandatory out of the way?) with the narrative that the winner gets Degale next... I don't know how hard logistically that would be to do and it more than likely won't happen like that. But it's a nice idea.

[Furey]

Good - he needs to be busy, re-build and get a few more rounds under his belt with Shane.

I can see him v Murray happening in the summer, a real good fight but one that I think Groves wins.

That will then pave the way for the Degale rematch.

[brilo33]

cant see him fighting Murray or smith. murray is a tough who will go 12 rounds groves dont and hasn't proved he can go 12 last time he did lost to Jack . smith is up and coming not worth it,if smith does grove, career over, maybe Andre Dirrell or bute as a measuring stick against a rematch with degale

[wesshaw1985]

vs. De Carolis for the WBA 'Regular' Title would be fun on the Billy Joe Saunders card on April 30th, same night as Jack vs. Bute and DeGale vs. Medina from the US.
However, I reckon Sky and Hearn will make it worth his while to be part of the AJ vs. Martin card on April 9th...