George Groves vs. Martin Murray - June 25th 2016

[Furey]

Groves takes this for me, but Murray is a solid fighter and Groves needs to be switched on throughout the 12 rounds.

I just don't think Murray goes through the gears. He's tough and Groves will have to throw some leather in order to try and break him down, but Groves can make this easier for himself if he can use the jab and look to control the pace.

Murray will try and put it on him as the fight progresses, performing up to the "Groves fades late" tag. Not saying he doesn't fade by any means, but I do think him being labelled in that way does get stretched. His whole game is based around being explosive and putting shots together behind a solid jab... as tough fights wore on obviously that bit of explosiveness will wane, that combined with him being a pasty white ginger and reddening up also doesn't do him any favours!

But lets remember he threw over 1000 punches against Rebrasse and he took late rounds against both Degale and Jack when he fought them. The man where he has looked like he had slowed down where against Froch, a man he unloaded on with big bombs and just so happened to be made of iron... some of the bombs he threw against him will take it out of you.

[Deserter]

Groves takes this for me, but Murray is a solid fighter and Groves needs to be switched on throughout the 12 rounds.

I just don't think Murray goes through the gears. He's tough and Groves will have to throw some leather in order to try and break him down, but Groves can make this easier for himself if he can use the jab and look to control the pace.

Murray will try and put it on him as the fight progresses, performing up to the "Groves fades late" tag. Not saying he doesn't fade by any means, but I do think him being labelled in that way does get stretched. His whole game is based around being explosive and putting shots together behind a solid jab... as tough fights wore on obviously that bit of explosiveness will wane, that combined with him being a pasty white ginger and reddening up also doesn't do him any favours!

But lets remember he threw over 1000 punches against Rebrasse and he took late rounds against both Degale and Jack when he fought them. The man where he has looked like he had slowed down where against Froch, a man he unloaded on with big bombs and just so happened to be made of iron... some of the bombs he threw against him will take it out of you.

Great post. Agree with you completely. I'll genuinely be surprised if Murray takes this as he's too one-dimensional to trouble Groves IMO.

[salaambrown]

Groves will conclusively beat Murray, possibly an early stoppage, GG has a point to prove Callum Smith DeGale are getting more attention. He will aim to put on a devestating performance i reckon.
GG is going to let his hands go and he's going to let them go early for sure

[Dixonian]

Groves takes this for me, but Murray is a solid fighter and Groves needs to be switched on throughout the 12 rounds.

I just don't think Murray goes through the gears. He's tough and Groves will have to throw some leather in order to try and break him down, but Groves can make this easier for himself if he can use the jab and look to control the pace.

Murray will try and put it on him as the fight progresses, performing up to the "Groves fades late" tag. Not saying he doesn't fade by any means, but I do think him being labelled in that way does get stretched. His whole game is based around being explosive and putting shots together behind a solid jab... as tough fights wore on obviously that bit of explosiveness will wane, that combined with him being a pasty white ginger and reddening up also doesn't do him any favours!

But lets remember he threw over 1000 punches against Rebrasse and he took late rounds against both Degale and Jack when he fought them. The man where he has looked like he had slowed down where against Froch, a man he unloaded on with big bombs and just so happened to be made of iron... some of the bombs he threw against him will take it out of you.

Great post. Agree with you completely. I'll genuinely be surprised if Murray takes this as he's too one-dimensional to trouble Groves IMO.

I second that. Groves on points for me.

[MrJasonM]

I am of the opinion that Groves has lost something after his defeats to Froch.

The George Groves pre Wembley wins via a late stoppage or UD.

However I am less convinced by him now, so I think this is a really interesting fight. I still am leaning towards Groves but I would be shocked if Murray doesnt put up a great fight.

[TheLeprechaun]

The problem I have with Murray is that he doesn't seem to go the extra mile when required. He's defensive and I'm not sure he has the power to get to Groves anyway. Groves jab is going to be a big problem for him and he has to worry about the big right hand also. When they are at range, it's all Groves for me. Murray's coming in as the smaller man too. It just seems like a good fight for Groves. I think Murray has what it takes to last the distance. He can be extremely negative at times but he's also very tough anyway. I'm sure Murray will be planning to up the pace from the 6th onwards and who knows, he might get to Groves with body shots. A ragged, tired Groves can definitely be taken out by Murray but if Groves stays on his game, I think Murray will end up happy to take his paycheck home to his family.

[handsofstone]

Should be a cracking fight this,last chance saloon for both guys,Murray has aquitted himself better in his world title challenges but i think Groves just has the bit more skill to deal with Martin pretty comfortably for the most part and the he'll be much bigger and stronger,Groves will no doubt fade down the stretch just as Murray starts to have his most success,i think George's body shots could play a part,he's been looking to work the body a lot more since teaming up with Shane McGuigan and i reckon that will be a big part of the strategy to slow Martin down coming forward as much,which is all he really knows how to fight

Actually have a wee sneaky feeling Groves will stop Murray late on

[Furey]

Groves will conclusively beat Murray, possibly an early stoppage, GG has a point to prove Callum Smith DeGale are getting more attention. He will aim to put on a devestating performance i reckon.
GG is going to let his hands go and he's going to let them go early for sure

I like Murray, solid fighter but as a fan of Groves and following him over the years I'd love that to happen.

Would really stir up the domestic mix and get him right back in the frame, hopefully leading to a Degale rematch or fight with Smith after his world title shot.

[lefty]

As much as I like Murray, I'm hoping for a Groves win. I think George has more to offer to the sport with him being the younger man and I genuinely believe he's been unlucky in two of his three failed world title attempts.

I think hes washed up. He's looked pretty poor in his fights post Froch and I think they took a lot out of him. People talk about the first froch like it was guaranteed he was going to win. It wasn't. He was definietly starting to tire and unravel in the fight.

Groves, in first Froch fight, was in trouble, but the stoppage wasn't the right decision. The referee should have wait the consequences of the Froch punches. I' don't know what would have happened, but the stoppage was way premature. (Excuse my english, i'm italian).

No I totally agree with that analysis. It was too premature. I think froch was coming on strong but it was definietly a little too early to stop it.

Ps your English is good. No worries.

[Counter-puncher]

Should be a cracking fight this,last chance saloon for both guys,Murray has aquitted himself better in his world title challenges but i think Groves just has the bit more skill to deal with Martin pretty comfortably for the most part and the he'll be much bigger and stronger,Groves will no doubt fade down the stretch just as Murray starts to have his most success,i think George's body shots could play a part,he's been looking to work the body a lot more since teaming up with Shane McGuigan and i reckon that will be a big part of the strategy to slow Martin down coming forward as much,which is all he really knows how to fight

Actually have a wee sneaky feeling Groves will stop Murray late on

Yes, I actually think groves can go some way to breaking Murray down with the jab to the body. The way Murray ambles.forward hes square-on at some points

[wesshaw1985]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQzLDLrPFKA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8c5ZUU2Iks4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcywlYQrjyE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVU8yK3uDes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUn5mEw2cr0

[crusader]

Is Groves wearing heels?

[crusader]

About Groves-GGG sparring, Groves admitted that GGG hit him with big shots in their first session, then cracked his rib in the second. Weren't some people claiming that Groves dropped GGG and busted him up? I think Spencer Fearon was one of them...

http://www.boxingnewsonline.net/exclusi ... -golovkin/

[lefty]

About Groves-GGG sparring, Groves admitted that GGG hit him with big shots in their first session, then cracked his rib in the second. Weren't some people claiming that Groves dropped GGG and busted him up? I think Spencer Oliver was one of them...

http://www.boxingnewsonline.net/exclusi ... -golovkin/

Yeah I remember that narrative aswell. Sounds like Golovkin gave him a going over in reality. I think GGG might have helped feed that original rumour a little as he said Groves gave him a good spar and that he was a good fighter because he's always respectful like that.

[wesshaw1985]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgXev1rbnJs

[Rockys gum shield]

Groves points for me, as much as I'd love Murray to win I find it hard to make a case for him as Groves is clearly the better fighter.

[ShadrachSimmo]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgXev1rbnJs

Groves put his shoes back on and had the stoopid hip hop hat but he still looked a few inches taller than Murray there.

[Neil Gee]

Really interesting, this one. Two nearly men in the last chance saloon. Best fight on the undercard for me. Hope what's at stake doesn't make it negative; if they go for it could be a great contest.

[wesshaw1985]

up next...

[wesshaw1985]

Chudinov vs. Groves will be a decent fight.
Murray vs. Callum Smith or move to MW for a scrap with Eubank jr...

[magwitch]

I think hes washed up. He's looked pretty poor in his fights post Froch and I think they took a lot out of him. People talk about the first froch like it was guaranteed he was going to win. It wasn't. He was definietly starting to tire and unravel in the fight.

Groves, in first Froch fight, was in trouble, but the stoppage wasn't the right decision. The referee should have wait the consequences of the Froch punches. I' don't know what would have happened, but the stoppage was way premature. (Excuse my english, i'm italian).

No I totally agree with that analysis. It was too premature. I think froch was coming on strong but it was definietly a little too early to stop it.

Ps your English is good. No worries.

It can be hard to remember your thoughts at the time , but remembering a couple of conversations I had about the stoppage, I was in full agreement - And I wanted Groves to win! It doesn’t matter what you’ve done 6 rounds earlier or what a nice outcome would be if your neck is on the chopping block.

Regarding this weekend’s fight - my prediction was Groves by 3 rounds with Murray going hell for leather late to get the points or stoppage needed.....maybe even a split decision. It seems most people favoured a similar outcome. Going by his past record I was not impressed when I saw Murray when that Italian got flung out....I didn’t see anything that looked “world class” to me. By all accounts he was much better against Felix the German etc...

[wesshaw1985]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rc67vtEY5qk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfAgjgIJDSU