BoxRec

Should be a good learning fight for Groves, I think Toney will give it a go early but slowly have the fight punched out of him before a mid round stoppage or corner retirement!

Hammersmith's unbeaten George Groves defends his Commonwealth super-middleweight title against Ghana’s tough and useful James Obede Toney at York Hall on October 30.
The popular Londoner won the title earlier this year with an impressive six-round stoppage of another good Ghanaian in that of Charles Adamu, who had been the full 12 rounds with Carl Froch, and then came through a tricky assignment against Mexico’s Alfredo Contreras in Las Vegas in July, also in six rounds, although Groves was hurt at one stage in the fight. It was a reminder that cheeky George, still only 22, still just a 10-fight pro, is still very much in the learning throes of his career, but he looks a great prospect - quick, confident, charismatic and heavy handed. He’s taken out eight of his 10 victims.
Toney is knocking on a bit these days and has fought just three times (all wins) since he was stopped back-to-back by Lucian Bute and Roman Karmazin in 2006 and 2007 respectively, although he probably deserved a rest after those two and, on that history, must be regarded as a Groves threat, a seasoned, battle-hardened, willing protagonist, a dangerous puncher at 24-3-1 (21). The only other man to beat Toney is good Russian southpaw Sergey Tatevosyan on a 12-round decision in Moscow seven years ago, while good American Randy Griffin held him to a 12-round draw in the States.
Nevertheless, Toney’s recent inactivity will hurt him on the night, and he looks like one of those small super-middleweights (going in with a boiled-down light-heavyweight). This fight allows the energetic Groves to test himself over the full 12-round course, having never been beyond eight, and I can see him surviving a bright start from the Ghanaian to outwork an increasingly defensive opponent down the stretch on the way to a solid, hard-earned decision.

Groves is 1/25 for this with the bookies.

Groves should win, but 1/25 is a bit strong if you ask me!