Eubank v Groves

[TheLeprechaun]

I just don't think Groves has the durability. I see him getting involved in exchanges and getting hit and hurt. He gets hit frequently as it is. Jack landed quite a bit, dropped him twice in the first and landed throughout. Froch landed, Anderson landed, Smith landed and in many other fights he's been hit. He is my favourite fighter to watch but I'm taking Eubanks chin and toughness on trust, given the toughness Eubank Sr. displayed. I think Eubank wins by stoppage.

Twice?

Ooops, I guess I was thinking of the first right hand that shook him and then the knockdown

[vidal]

That sparring vid gives me cause for concern for Eubank. He was throwing some, what appeared to be spiteful and heavy shots and got his head rocked back a few times......... after very little time he was blowing and backing off.

I'm not sure he has the natural power to really hurt Groves and he's vulnerable when he attacks and Groves' punch selection and timing are superb. Plus Groves has heavy hands.

I expect a bright start by Eubank but I think by the middle rounds Groves will be on top and we'll see sporadic bursts from Eubank which Groves will have to watch out for.

Late stoppage for Groves imho

[whiskey]

Could be a draw imo.

[keithmoonhangover]

For me, this fight will be won and lost one thing.....

Can Groves control the pace of the fight?

If he can't he's going to get knocked out. If he can, then I think he'll win a clear decision.

[SteveDow]

I've backed Groves at 13/8. Can't really understand why Eubank Jnr is the favourite based on what they've both done in their careers. He's the smaller man, isn't a big puncher at middleweight let alone supermiddleweight, has a shorter reach, much worse footwork, is not as well schooled and is vastly less experienced at the highest level.

I accept that his workrate and speed are better than Groves' are but I think you need more than that to beat Groves. We've also yet to see Eubank's chin tested and whilst it has looked solid we won't know until he gets hit by a big puncher. He will without doubt be taking big shots from Groves as he's defensively very open and I'd be surprised if he could just shrug those off regardless of what Froch says about the sparring session he had with Eubank.

I think Groves will outclass him and perhaps even stop him late on.

[afcmarshall]

Could be a draw imo.

It can't be a draw

[keithmoonhangover]

Could be a draw imo.

It can't be a draw

For the WBSS it can't be a draw, but if the 3 judges have it a draw, it goes on their records as such.

[tigermoth87]

For me this fight is won or lost in the late rounds.

If Groves tires then Eubank can finish him. If Groves paces himself throughout, doesn't tire and can keep up the pressure enough to win the last couple he'll take it, possibly even stop Eubank.

Basically a late stoppage for me either side. I'll edge for Groves because he's a nastier puncher, I can see him working the body and eventually grinding Eubank down.

[danconnollyeire]

If I had to box Eubanks main attribute it would be his fitness.
The mans a machine. Under-pressure I think he could potentially still keep a high-workrate.
You could see he questioned his fitness over 12 against BJS and let him dictate the beginning of the fight with his silky skills. He no longer has those doubts.
Workrate can get you along way in top tier boxing. Any round that Groves Takes off Eubank will outwork him.
The key for Groves is stopping the workrate. His key advantage for this is power and respect.
He needs to make Eubank feel the meaty jab early and the power of the backhand. If he can make Eubank second guess throwing punches it’s half of the battle won.
Once the power has been established he can cause damage without throwing a punch. Groves controls distance well. Just standing and edging into range against Eubank could mentally tire him. Eubank doesn’t have the footwork to pivot around the jab so Groves edging forward throws Eubank off his game.
Intriguing in so many ways tactically.

In a nutshell to win

Groves- High Ring IQ, accurate power shots.

Eubank- Chin and workrate

On a sidenote- anyone remember the show Superstars? Love to see Eubank do the gym challenges.

Good post,if Groves cracks him with a couple early on and they bounce off he's in a whole world of trouble,Groves will then find himself pinned on the ropes and overwhelmed i think.Can't wait for this,my first live show since Groves v Froch 1

I guess so but Groves hits like an absolute mule and will have trained to in this one. Froch has an atg chin and did they bounce off him? No, he was on his arse in SERIOUS trouble for two rounds before recovering amazingly

[bigjack]

If I had to box Eubanks main attribute it would be his fitness.
The mans a machine. Under-pressure I think he could potentially still keep a high-workrate.
You could see he questioned his fitness over 12 against BJS and let him dictate the beginning of the fight with his silky skills. He no longer has those doubts.
Workrate can get you along way in top tier boxing. Any round that Groves Takes off Eubank will outwork him.
The key for Groves is stopping the workrate. His key advantage for this is power and respect.
He needs to make Eubank feel the meaty jab early and the power of the backhand. If he can make Eubank second guess throwing punches it’s half of the battle won.
Once the power has been established he can cause damage without throwing a punch. Groves controls distance well. Just standing and edging into range against Eubank could mentally tire him. Eubank doesn’t have the footwork to pivot around the jab so Groves edging forward throws Eubank off his game.
Intriguing in so many ways tactically.

In a nutshell to win

Groves- High Ring IQ, accurate power shots.

Eubank- Chin and workrate

On a sidenote- anyone remember the show Superstars? Love to see Eubank do the gym challenges.

Good post,if Groves cracks him with a couple early on and they bounce off he's in a whole world of trouble,Groves will then find himself pinned on the ropes and overwhelmed i think.Can't wait for this,my first live show since Groves v Froch 1

I guess so but Groves hits like an absolute mule and will have trained to in this one. Froch has an atg chin and did they bounce off him? No, he was on his arse in SERIOUS trouble for two rounds before recovering amazingly

True but that was a few years ago now and i think he's slipped a bit since then and his punches don't appear to have the same snap as they did against Froch who always fight with his chin on show.

[Stuarty]

I see that mentalist Senior tried to use what happened to Blackwell as a warning to Groves on Twitter last night. Classless idiot. Really bad taste. The Gypsy King shot him down!

[danconnollyeire]

I see that mentalist Senior tried to use what happened to Blackwell as a warning to Groves on Twitter last night. Classless idiot. Really bad taste. The Gypsy King shot him down!

Such a prick

[samwbr]

Some days I think Eubank then I see Groves looking calm and confident and think he might actually get a stoppage himself. Best domestic fight since the Froch v Groves pair.

[Horse]

I see that mentalist Senior tried to use what happened to Blackwell as a warning to Groves on Twitter last night. Classless idiot. Really bad taste. The Gypsy King shot him down!

Maybe Groves will do a Gutknecht on Eubank Jr.

Both sides could make those sorts of pathetic comments.

[jimcook]

when eubank fought osullivan he was wobbled more than a couple of times. groves can definately ko eubank if he can land his best shots. some are making out that eubanks chin is on a par with hagler

[fightfan95]

Everyone keeps talking about Eubank's speed in the build up to this, Groves is no slouch when it comes down to speed, of course Eubank will be the faster in the ring, but I think people are under-estimating George's speed.

Eubank cannot do what he done against BJS and start slow, if George picks up the first couple of rounds and haven't been tagged with anything from Eubank I expect nothing other than a Groves UD.

I expect Eubank to target the body early on.

I would say if George's jab is effective than he wins comfortably.

[Butti99]

Groves win

[liamlion]

This is a huge domestic fight. I am buzzing for this. It has a real feel of the 90s super middleweight era about it, for me.

Two quality fighters with so many questions marks about the outcome. This is what boxing is about. World class, domestic fighters duking it out and putting it all on the line.

If I'm honest, I can't see either fighter losing and by that I don't mean I think it will be a draw, I just think that they both have really strong attributes. If I'm pushed. I think the deciding factor will be the size; Eubank just isn't a super middleweight, and compounding that fact is that Groves is so big at the weight.

I suspect Eubank will have successes in the fight but will ultimately lose out in a real entertaining war. I literally cannot wait for this!

[Monte Fisto]

Groves on points for me. To much nouse and way better footwork.

Taken me a longtime to commit. I’ll be at this one and I can’t wait. My first live fight since MAYPAC. Time has flown!

[KiwiRider]

Eubank isn't going to walk through Grove's shots like he has done with others in the past. If he tries that, this fight will finish early.
And Groves' height, reach and basically size will make it a tough ask for Jr to land, no matter his workrate. Next to each other, George looks big.

Fedor tried a Eubank Jr type approach, and that didn't go well for him. And his chin is very decent.

[mfc_se15]

I can genuinely see it going either way which is why I'm looking forward to it so much. But I'm gonna plump for a Groves win.

Can anyone see this not being a good fight? I'm a pessimist normally but I just can't see this not living up to the hype and being at the very least a good fight and hopefully a great one.

Now to find somewhere that will show it! Hoping pubs realise how good this fight should be, sure they will.

[tannervegas]

I think Groves hammers him.

[Yes We Can]

I think Groves hammers him.

Agreed. Eubank still throws stupid shots from to far out of range, especially in an uppercut frenzy not seen since Street fighter. He won't be able to help himself and GG will be waiting with the counter right hand.

I expect eubank to win the early rounds and get stopped 4-6 after eating something huge.

[Counter-puncher]

an uppercut frenzy not seen since Street fighter.

[Deserter]

an uppercut frenzy not seen since Street fighter. He won't be able to help himself and GG will be waiting with the counter right hand.