Round-By-Round - George Groves (c) vs. Jamie Cox - October 14th 2017

[SaadOffTheDeck]

He already backed out of a huge money opportunity when he refused to sign for Golovkin at the last minute. No reason he won’t do the same again.

That wasn't this kind of money.

Must admit I haven’t really paid attention to the money in this tournament. But does it really pay better than a large share of a Sky PPV against Golovkin?

I don't know the exact breakdown but it's 25 million for the 7 fights. Id guess the winner would see about half of that.

[ewenhay]

Same. Do you think Cox could get down to 160?

15 of his 21 fights have been below 160

Aye but he's no spring chicken in boxing and once you make weight comfy its that much harder to boil down to a lower weight and make the sacrifices. I think Cox will convince himself that after tonight he is a bona fide SM but I don't think he is, at 160 he could be a real handful

I don't see him winning a World title at middleweight or even being much of a threat at the top level. Can you see him beating any of the belt holders at middleweight? Or even any of the top ten? I think he is European level. 31 now as well.

[gilgamesh]

I’m talking about when Brook fought GGG. Eubank Jr was supposed to fight instead of Brook but suddenly and mysteriously refused to sign at the last minute. From what I understand, Brook did extremely well financially out of it all.

If he goes on to win this Tournament it was probably ultimately the right move financially. But yeah Eubank vs GGG would've been a lot more interesting GGG vs Brook I figure.

[handsofstone]

That was a sickener of a bodyshot from Groves tonight, really came out of nowhere, caught Cox coming in and took the wind right out of him, it was hotting up to be a great scrap, I fancied it to go the distance and I reckon Cox would've stood up to head shots but that right hand downstairs landed right on the sweet spot and Cox was done

Great win for Groves and a potential banana skin out of the way

[leejonesjnr]

It's interesting how differently people can see a contest.
For me Cox was never in it, bounding forwards throwing shots that didn't land, easily manoeuvred and thrown around and unable to box to instruction from his corner.
I had Groves winning every round without having to move much through the gears and comfortable enough to just cover up and take everything thrown at him on his arms before putting Cox out with one shot.

[handsofstone]

Groves body punching has improved ten fold since he teamed up with McGuigan, you noticed it straight away in the Di Luisa fight and Brophy as well, think it will be the perfect tactic against Eubank Jr who loads up throwing combos on the inside, if Groves catches him with a similar shot as he KO'd Cox with then Jr is in trouble

[jamamb]

It's interesting how differently people can see a contest.
For me Cox was never in it, bounding forwards throwing shots that didn't land, easily manoeuvred and thrown around and unable to box to instruction from his corner.
I had Groves winning every round without having to move much through the gears and comfortable enough to just cover up and take everything thrown at him on his arms before putting Cox out with one shot.

[Jackson328]

The Eubanks look a bit concerned - visually unhappy

I wouldn’t be at all surprised if the fight doesn’t go ahead. Eubank Jr is being extremely carefully managed, I don’t reckon they’ll fancy Groves at all.

The only time that Eubank looked bothered in his fight last week was when Yildirim found his body a couple of times. Not big shots, but enough to make Eubank take stock of how open his body was, noting to himself that he'd better not let anything more hurtful find its way home. He was also initiating clinches by dipping his head and closing the gap with a ram-like charge. If he telegraphs that against a puncher he's wide open to hooks and bodyshots; the latter if they hold their feet, or the former if they're fast enough to take a quick step backwards.

I imagine the Eubanks were delighted with Groves' performance right up until the finish. And I think they'd have remained delighted had Groves found a headshot to finish it instead. Eubank's chin might not be as good as his dad's, but there's plenty of evidence now to say that it's strong.

Eubank can give Groves problems with his workrate, but whereas Blackwell fought well and just didn't have the size to defend himself against it, Groves is big enough to stop those uppercuts threading through his guard. If Eubank overwhelms Groves, I think it'll be on rounds more than efficacy. Not to say that Eubank can't hurt Groves, but that I think it's more likely he wins because Groves tires somewhat of his own accord, rather than because he's beaten down.

But Groves is the best Eubank's faced by a distance, he's strong enough to negate a lot of Eubank's roughhousing, and he has the experience to cope mentally. Eubank's opponents to date have mostly been clear underdogs for whom Eubank represented the step-up, not the other way around.

I can only see Groves losing if the engine disparity between the two's greater than it seems. An unfit Groves loses all day, but the focused version's more dangerous than Eubank's going to be comfortable with, given his career so far.

As for tonight's fight! Great stuff from both. Pretty exciting, not so much of the dirty, and a credit to boxing.

Excellent post sir!

Your point about Eubank initiating clinches by boring in head down is very relevant, Groves has an excellent uppercut and can also take that half-step backwards and unleash a hook with either hand. Eubank will defintely grab George's attention and it will be a case of a role reversal to the first Froch/Groves fight in some ways, the old lion versus the young brash pretender. Could be a classic and I really hope that Eubank doesn't pull out as some think, it would damage his career and is pointless because he does have a real chance of winning.

[Counter-puncher]

It's interesting how differently people can see a contest.
For me Cox was never in it, bounding forwards throwing shots that didn't land, easily manoeuvred and thrown around and unable to box to instruction from his corner.
I had Groves winning every round without having to move much through the gears and comfortable enough to just cover up and take everything thrown at him on his arms before putting Cox out with one shot.

Groves was trying that counter right hand to the body on for size 3 or 4 times before Cox really squared up and gave him his solar plexus, lovely shot and one he'd been looking for.

A couple of observations, Groves definitely can't pull the trigger quite like he used to IMO. Cox was there to be hit a lot of the time and I think four years ago Groves would have massacred him.

[Jackson328]

15 of his 21 fights have been below 160

Aye but he's no spring chicken in boxing and once you make weight comfy its that much harder to boil down to a lower weight and make the sacrifices. I think Cox will convince himself that after tonight he is a bona fide SM but I don't think he is, at 160 he could be a real handful

I don't see him winning a World title at middleweight or even being much of a threat at the top level. Can you see him beating any of the belt holders at middleweight? Or even any of the top ten? I think he is European level. 31 now as well.

I'm not saying world level right now, he'd be a handful at British/Euro level though and he's not had a really tough career so far as a pro so he can probably go a few years more as he seems quite fresh still. If he can make 160 comfortably I'd see him as European or even fringe world level quite easily.

[Grilling Machine]

I don't know the exact breakdown but it's 25 million for the 7 fights. Id guess the winner would see about half of that.

Isn't it £7m for the winner? So comfortably more than any of these guys could earn for a single fight.

I don't see him winning a World title at middleweight or even being much of a threat at the top level. Can you see him beating any of the belt holders at middleweight? Or even any of the top ten? I think he is European level. 31 now as well.

I see Cox as a new Blackwell, where he learns only from losses and obviously can't afford too many on his record. Khamitski aside, Blackwell didn't seem to progress from his wins, not even from Ryder. But had he not suffered his injury, I think he'd have returned stronger after his Eubank loss.

Cox is like one of those boxers from the old days who'd cause an upset, and then when you looked at his record you'd see a bunch of good losses against big names in recent times, and realise that he was in top form.* But yeah, middleweight has to be his best bet now.

*The closest I can think of in modern times is Glen Johnson, but he's a marketing exception.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

I've no idea what the breakdown is, but I don't think there is any chance of eubank, or any other fighter, pulling out barring an injury.

[wesshaw1985]

Eubanks lad Nathaniel Wilson got stopped on tonight's card...

[wesshaw1985]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CadO84B3rA

[handsofstone]

It's interesting how differently people can see a contest.
For me Cox was never in it, bounding forwards throwing shots that didn't land, easily manoeuvred and thrown around and unable to box to instruction from his corner.
I had Groves winning every round without having to move much through the gears and comfortable enough to just cover up and take everything thrown at him on his arms before putting Cox out with one shot.

Groves was trying that counter right hand to the body on for size 3 or 4 times before Cox really squared up and gave him his solar plexus, lovely shot and one he'd been looking for.

A couple of observations, Groves definitely can't pull the trigger quite like he used to IMO. Cox was there to be hit a lot of the time and I think four years ago Groves would have massacred him.

Thinking of the Groves that fought Glen Johnson or when he made his US debut against Francisco Sierra, every shot threw with spite and an early KO looked on the cards, he never got early KOs mind but he settled down against Johnson and won wide and Sierra ended up sticking around until about the 8th, that Groves would've relished tonight, maybe Groves is maturing and learning not to get involved? He's still a bit guilty of trading and leaving himself open but maybe not as reckless(or at least he hasn't been nailed anyway)

[Cyclops]

It's interesting how differently people can see a contest.
For me Cox was never in it, bounding forwards throwing shots that didn't land, easily manoeuvred and thrown around and unable to box to instruction from his corner.
I had Groves winning every round without having to move much through the gears and comfortable enough to just cover up and take everything thrown at him on his arms before putting Cox out with one shot.

Agree with this. Watched it twice. Second time on my own with no distractions, I saw that the best punches I had seen Cox "land" were blocked, and that George was clearly much stronger and manhandled Cox in there. First time I watched it it seemed like Cox had actually troubled George with pressure, like Chudinov did. But nah, I must have been going daft. It was pretty one sided.

Eubank vs Groves should be brilliant, but I'm going with George still after tonight. Be quite happy to see either win though as I like them both.

[Cyclops]

It's a shame Groves-Eubank isn't the final. I don't really care about Smith and don't even know who he's fighting.

[samwbr]

The Cox myth ended conclusively.

[Ossyrules]

Tidy work from groves. Cox could upset the Apple cart if he weren’t respected. He’s game, but ultimately under sized and out gunned. Reminded me of how Wlad was able to man handle David Haye at times.

Groves has power and the body shot was on the sweet spot. Greater fighters than cox have been stopped in these circs. When they land you’re done.

Sets up the fight we all want

[Boxerbeetle]

The Cox myth ended conclusively.

Should have held the fight in a gym behind closed doors, Cox would have been amazing then.

[mickey1975]

The Cox myth ended conclusively.

Should have held the fight in a gym behind closed doors, Cox would have been amazing then.

And AJ would be a journeyman at best.

[jtourettes]

It's interesting how differently people can see a contest.
For me Cox was never in it, bounding forwards throwing shots that didn't land, easily manoeuvred and thrown around and unable to box to instruction from his corner.
I had Groves winning every round without having to move much through the gears and comfortable enough to just cover up and take everything thrown at him on his arms before putting Cox out with one shot.

I think a lot of people are more swayed by the commentators than they like to admit. So many times they'd cream their pants at a shot Cox through that only hit glove or arm.

[wesshaw1985]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IP3EJJHJdx8

[nitro5912]

Groves to me didn't look like he got out of first gear, maybe he dipped the clutch to move into second when hr found the body shot.

He handled cox like he was a ragdoll. I watch with Russian commentray on youtubr this morning whilsy feeding my 11month old and you see without the commentary going mad when something hits an arm how easy groves had it.

I still want to see him use his jab more instead wait for the counter right but with someone plodding forward then maybe it is easier to deal with the counter right.

I see groves outboxing eubank

[wesshaw1985]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1ilqa9fR7A