George Groves - what next?

[bigjack]

I still can't see how a rematch would have worked though and the fight was just 3 months ago so not a lot of time for Groves or Smith to even think about,never mind arrange it.Groves could have said yes,i want the rematch straight away and then changed his mind later on,but nothing was mentioned at the time,or since.Maybe Joe got it wrong ?

[oogiebe]

Bigger question for me is what's next for Callum Smith? At 6'3" and obvious dominance at SMW does he move up to LHW, which isn't the strongest division. Who knows...maybe it's a Smith fight at LHW that can get Andre Ward out of retirement.

[Onetimeonly]

I still can't see how a rematch would have worked though and the fight was just 3 months ago so not a lot of time for Groves or Smith to even think about,never mind arrange it.Groves could have said yes,i want the rematch straight away and then changed his mind later on,but nothing was mentioned at the time,or since.Maybe Joe got it wrong ?

Really doesn't make any sense in the tournament format.

[MarkMcBurney]

I still can't see how a rematch would have worked though and the fight was just 3 months ago so not a lot of time for Groves or Smith to even think about,never mind arrange it.Groves could have said yes,i want the rematch straight away and then changed his mind later on,but nothing was mentioned at the time,or since.Maybe Joe got it wrong ?

Really doesn't make any sense in the tournament format.

Guess it could have been for finals only, that way the tournament still gets a champion and each fighter in the tournament knows they have the chance after the final to win any belts back? Can't see Smith's own trainer getting this wrong.

[bigjack]

I still can't see how a rematch would have worked though and the fight was just 3 months ago so not a lot of time for Groves or Smith to even think about,never mind arrange it.Groves could have said yes,i want the rematch straight away and then changed his mind later on,but nothing was mentioned at the time,or since.Maybe Joe got it wrong ?

Really doesn't make any sense in the tournament format.

Guess it could have been for finals only, that way the tournament still gets a champion and each fighter in the tournament knows they have the chance after the final to win any belts back? Can't see Smith's own trainer getting this wrong.

Maybe,but Groves winning back the WBA title would seem cheapened by the fact Smith is the trophy winner,to be honest i'm glad there is no rematch,would take the glory away from Smith.

[Jackson328]

Surely any rematch clause would have been to do with the WBA and not the WBSS?

I didn't really like GG at all before the first fight with Froch but became a fan afterwards, was thrilled for him when he finally won a world title and he's had a great career. Would have been interested in seeing any trilogy fights with Froch and also Degale, even a rematch with Jack maybe, but now I'd be more happy if he retired tbh. I'm pretty sure he's a very rich man and he still seems very bright and intelligent so maybe now is a good time to hang them up. Froch is probably the one man he would like to avenge but then I'm sure Degale feels the same about George so its swings and roundabouts

[Onetimeonly]

I would have thought when you enter the tournament your contracts are already done.

[MarkMcBurney]

Surely any rematch clause would have been to do with the WBA and not the WBSS?

I didn't really like GG at all before the first fight with Froch but became a fan afterwards, was thrilled for him when he finally won a world title and he's had a great career. Would have been interested in seeing any trilogy fights with Froch and also Degale, even a rematch with Jack maybe, but now I'd be more happy if he retired tbh. I'm pretty sure he's a very rich man and he still seems very bright and intelligent so maybe now is a good time to hang them up. Froch is probably the one man he would like to avenge but then I'm sure Degale feels the same about George so its swings and roundabouts

I was always a Groves fan from watching his early fights against Adamu and Anderson, and was one of the only people I know who thought he would beat Froch in the first fight (got some angry looks from some east Midlands sounding fellas when I jumped out of my seat and went mental in round one at the MEN!!). I would also like to see him retire now, I thought he would beat Smith with the jab and his measure of range but the footwork was completely nullified due to Smith's huge reach advantage and while it was an even fight until the stoppage I don't know if it would be any different a second time round. I don't think George has enough left to beat the top dogs at 168lb now, and Canelo would be a nightmare for him too.

I do have a feeling we will see the Degale third fight though given where he is now. I feel Groves would have more than enough left to stop Degale, who has dipped badly ever since winning the world title (I had him actually losing the fight in Washington against that fella who's name escapes me, and also to Badou Jack).

[KiwiRider]

I really like groves he’s down to Earth and stays out of limelight. He’s a family man and seems decent he really deserved one of those Froch fights but it wasn’t to be. At least he beat bigmouth degale a boxer who don’t do it for me

And Eubank Jr too!
Took his pleather belt off him and tosses it in the bin, told the sanctioning body to get stuffed as well.
On ya George

[leejonesjnr]

I really like groves he’s down to Earth and stays out of limelight. He’s a family man and seems decent he really deserved one of those Froch fights but it wasn’t to be. At least he beat bigmouth degale a boxer who don’t do it for me

And Eubank Jr too!
Took his pleather belt off him and tosses it in the bin, told the sanctioning body to get stuffed as well.
On ya George

Yeah of course he skooled the man who according to English would beat GGG and was going to be better than floyd

That was a sweet victory

.......with one arm......
I actually like CEJ well enough, he makes a bit of a div of himself but he has made the best of what he has got.
Perhaps Groves is waiting for the CEJ v DeGale contest before deciding once and for all?

[jamesmcdonnell]

I really like groves he’s down to Earth and stays out of limelight. He’s a family man and seems decent he really deserved one of those Froch fights but it wasn’t to be. At least he beat bigmouth degale a boxer who don’t do it for me

And Eubank Jr too!
Took his pleather belt off him and tosses it in the bin, told the sanctioning body to get stuffed as well.
On ya George

Yeah of course he skooled the man who according to English would beat GGG and was going to be better than floyd

That was a sweet victory

Only Eubank senior ever said that.

[Twinkle Toes]

I don't think he fancies it anymore. I think some of that showed in the Smith fight and in the build up.

If Degale beats Eubank (which is very unlikely imo) then there will be some interest in that one.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Yeah of course he skooled the man who according to English would beat GGG and was going to be better than floyd

That was a sweet victory

Only Eubank senior ever said that.

That’s who I mean but I’m sure Adam smith probably repeated it as well as his terrorist warnings

Yeah well, we all know what to do with the twaddle Smith shouts.

[TheLeprechaun]

I don't think he fancies it anymore. I think some of that showed in the Smith fight and in the build up.

If Degale beats Eubank (which is very unlikely imo) then there will be some interest in that one.

Yeah it was sad to see Groves shaking his head and quitting. That was the saddest thing for me in boxing in 2018. I was so used to Groves being a warrior. I don't give him any leeway in terms of whether or not he jacked. He wanted none of Smith and wasn't prepared to go to war and be taken out on his shield anymore. He's made his money.