Round-by-Round: WBSS 168 Final - George Groves vs. Callum Smith - 28 September 2018

[samwbr]

I hope he retires, proper killers at LHW.

I agree. Genuinely thought Groves would have too much for Smith and would comfortably outbox him. Would love for him to call it a day now after a really good career.

Come on Puddin', He's only 30.
Rematch with either DeGale or Eubank would be fine, heck, this fight was close enough for a decent rematch isn't it?

Not a chance, George felt the power early and knew he was in trouble. Buzzed a couple of times, was never winning.
He looked an old 30.

[Grilling Machine]

DeGale's probably the biggest beatable name for him. He'd still beat almost everyone at SMW, but he's run out of road unless he wants to rematch Smith.

Best-case scenario for Groves is to beat DeGale while Smith beats Ramirez, and then they rematch at LHW. But you'd have to think that that benefits Smith the most.

Here's a question: will this affect Froch's reputation at all? Groves has lost four times against three opponents, but until now Froch was the only one to stop him.

[samwbr]

Froch at 37 layed out a 26yr old in his prime Groves. He's never really got over it, he's a bit punchy now and should hang them up.

[Deserter]

I hope he retires, proper killers at LHW.

I agree. Genuinely thought Groves would have too much for Smith and would comfortably outbox him. Would love for him to call it a day now after a really good career.

Come on Puddin', He's only 30.
Rematch with either DeGale or Eubank would be fine, heck, this fight was close enough for a decent rematch isn't it?

Mate, I'm not being funny, but if you park the fact Smith looked huge, I'd expect a peak Groves to have been able to handle him pretty easily given his upright, classic style - instead I saw a fighter who looked 'old' in there. For example, in his fights against Froch his jab looked so snappy and sharp, whereas tonight that simply wasn't there.
I've got no interest in seing a shop-worn Groves and Degale go through the motions, or see a Groves vs Eubank rematch - can't see the value in either.

[stujones]

It was an odd fight.... I actually had Groves in a pretty decent lead... BUT I thought from as early as the 2nd that there was only 1 winner and it was going to end in a KO defeat. I just didn't think Callum was throwing enough to win the rounds.... but Groves was using up so much energy just to keep him off. It was only a matter of time.

[CMDY]

Maybe George should do a cash out fight against De Gale - should be an easy night IMO.
He could rematch Smith afterwards if feeling he fancied it, but really not sure he has much left to prove and I’d like him to retire after retiring De Gale.
He’s been great value over the years and the first Froch fight was immense.

[ThereByTheGrace]

It was an odd fight.... I actually had Groves in a pretty decent lead... BUT I thought from as early as the 2nd that there was only 1 winner and it was going to end in a KO defeat. I just didn't think Callum was throwing enough to win the rounds.... but Groves was using up so much energy just to keep him off. It was only a matter of time.

I agree. Other than the groves decent lead point he looked like he was constantly moving and working to avoid smith. It was a matter of time the left hook was perfect

[TheLeprechaun]

Groves shaking his head on the canvas was surprising. I didn't think he had quit in him

[KiwiRider]

I agree. Genuinely thought Groves would have too much for Smith and would comfortably outbox him. Would love for him to call it a day now after a really good career.

Come on Puddin', He's only 30.
Rematch with either DeGale or Eubank would be fine, heck, this fight was close enough for a decent rematch isn't it?

Mate, I'm not being funny, but if you park the fact Smith looked huge, I'd expect a peak Groves to have been able to handle him pretty easily given his upright, classic style - instead I saw a fighter who looked 'old' in there. For example, in his fights against Froch his jab looked so snappy and sharp, whereas tonight that simply wasn't there.
I've got no interest in seing a shop-worn Groves and Degale go through the motions, or see a Groves vs Eubank rematch - can't see the value in either.

Fair enough. I haven't seen this fight yet, I'm only going by the Eubank performance- which up until the injury at the end, I thought was very decent from Groves.

PS: your handle always makes me think of pudding

[ElJefe]

Devastating finish from Smith. So often when a fighter hurts their opponent to the head they go looking for the stoppage with more head shots but as others have said, it was that right hand to the body which really finished the fight. Huge win for Callum.

[TheLeprechaun]

Didn't expect Groves to quit. He was gutsy. He got caught good though.

Quit? FFS.

How is shaking your head on the floor and deciding not to get up not quitting?

[forcefraser]

He didn't quit, he just could not get up. He took a very hard shot late at the end and that certainly didn't help him.

Brutal finish from Smith though, he looked deadly in that final assault

[Evander]

Groves did shake his head, that to some may indicate he quit to get out of continuing, but it didn't look like that to me.
It was more of a shake of the head to say he caught me with a good shot and I don't think I can continue.
I don't think George is the kind of guy to bail because the going got a bit rough, he just got hit proper and realized he didn't have enough to continue.
I think Groves is a stand up guy, same time I think his punch resistance may finally be gone.
George got clipped in the 3rd or 4th that buckled his legs too.

[KiwiRider]

George said in the post fight interview that it was the body shot that stopped him and it was the hardest he has taken ever.
Typical St George said Smith was the better man on the night, and he won't be retiring.

[TheLeprechaun]

Groves did shake his head, that to some may indicate he quit to get out of continuing, but it didn't look like that to me.
It was more of a shake of the head to say he caught me with a good shot and I don't think I can continue.
I don't think George is the kind of guy to bail because the going got a bit rough, he just got hit proper and realized he didn't have enough to continue.
I think Groves is a stand up guy, same time I think his punch resistance may finally be gone.
George got clipped in the 3rd or 4th that buckled his legs too.

People give fighters passes for quitting too much. He was hurt and flat out quit. Can you imagine Froch shaking his head and staying down? I'm not saying Groves was always a quitter. He has just come to that point in his career where the money is banked and the world title has been won. He's achieved what he set out to achieve.

[no1man]

I won’t lie I was not in a good state to watch this fight, but my pissed/sniffed up analysis was early on George seemed to have that snap in his jab and that swagger he had in the first froch fight and Callum seemed to be walking in hands high ala Gallagher but I’m sure I saw an interview with groves on Ifl where he says Callum’s best punch is the counter left hook or another punch not sure which... I just find it ironic he got caught with a punch they had been training to avoid... but I won’t lie I written this whilst spannerwd so if I’m totally wrong be kind

[Evander]

Groves did shake his head, that to some may indicate he quit to get out of continuing, but it didn't look like that to me.
It was more of a shake of the head to say he caught me with a good shot and I don't think I can continue.
I don't think George is the kind of guy to bail because the going got a bit rough, he just got hit proper and realized he didn't have enough to continue.
I think Groves is a stand up guy, same time I think his punch resistance may finally be gone.
George got clipped in the 3rd or 4th that buckled his legs too.

People give fighters passes for quitting too much. He was hurt and flat out quit. Can you imagine Froch shaking his head and staying down? I'm not saying Groves was always a quitter. He has just come to that point in his career where the money is banked and the world title has been won. He's achieved what he set out to achieve.

Quit is a pretty strong word and I've never seen Groves as that type of guy.
I think he just got caught good and realized he had nothing left.
Up till that point it was a relatively even fight, I think Groves big mistake was thinking he could box it from the outside against an opponent with a superior reach and height advantage.
He could have tried the inside game but I don't think George was equipped to deal with either at this stage in his career.

[tigermoth87]

Good fight, great finish,

I don't think Groves needs to retire just yet, although time and a number of tough fights has clearly caught up with him.

A rematch with Degale is winninable and would be a nice way to bow out. Or try to get Fieldings belt.

If he does retire, he's had a cracking career. Some big fights, great performances, world champ and a decent resume of wins.

[SticknMove]

Made up for Callum. He fought an intelligent composed fight behind his natural advantage. Groves is a back foot heavy handed counter puncher that likes to set a trap and land hard. But he has always looked vulnerable. Good luck to the Smith family they have served the game well through the ams and got a bona fide world champ in the pros.

[ALI]

I was very impressed with Smith tonight. I was not sure aboit him being wirld class levek but now i am certain, he can fight alright Given DeGales last performances, i think Smith would nake easy work of him.

Pre fight i favoured Groves, but from the end of the first round i had Smith winning this fight. From that point on all the way to the KO i was confident Smith was going to win, the further it went, minute by minute, the more certain i was getting. Smith controlled the distance very well, timed and picked his shots very well, and the finish he showed real quality.

I'm really looking forward now to seeing Smith fight at the top level now. Who can beat him at Super Middle, i'd back him against all of the current top 10.

[Evander]

Callum looked in superb shape for the fight.
I think he has some holes in his style based on his physicals which are not necessarily his fault, he certainly doesn't get the best out of his abilities if you ask me and could do better.
I'm surprised Joe Gallagher doesn't see that or maybe he does, I just think Smith and Gallagher base their game plan off of the physicals and basic boxing style that's put in front of them and their own fighter.
So far they have got by but it's easy to see how their approach could be manipulated by opponents.

[TheLeprechaun]

Good fight, great finish,

I don't think Groves needs to retire just yet, although time and a number of tough fights has clearly caught up with him.

A rematch with Degale is winninable and would be a nice way to bow out. Or try to get Fieldings belt.

If he does retire, he's had a cracking career. Some big fights, great performances, world champ and a decent resume of wins.

Who wants to see Groves and Degale going through the motions now though?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Callum’s prize money was just over £4m.

In losing, Groves made around £2.2m..

Very good money for a tournament final.

[leejonesjnr]

I thought it was a lovely, technical contest.
For me GG was up by a round at the time of the stoppage but it was a close and competitive contest which could have easily been scored 4 or 5 rounds one way or the other.
I would have liked Groves to win and retire and even now I hope he reflects on his career and realises that it’s a good time to call it a day.
I believe that the shoulder would prevent Groves from trying to make it a fight with a lot of inside work and it was gentlemanly of Callum Smith not to fire shots at the shoulder.

[samwbr]

Callum’s prize money was just over £4m.

In losing, Groves made around £2.2m..

Very good money for a tournament final.

Good for him, I'm surprised it was that high tho.