George Groves injury: WBA champ declared fit for World Boxing Super Series final
GEORGE GROVES is set to be declared fit to fight the in World Boxing Super Series super-middleweight tournament final against Callum Smith later this year.
The 30-year-old was facing the prospect of being left out of the tournament finale after dislocating his shoulder against Chris Eubank Jr during his one-sided victory over the Brighton fighter in February.
But, in a move initially reported by The Ring magazine last, tournament organisers have given Groves the green light to feature in the 168lb final for a shot at the inaugural Muhammad Ali Trophy.
Groves’ team worked around-the-clock with the 28-3 fighter before demanding the chance to prove his fitness.
“I’m a fast healer,” Groves said after injuring his shoulder in February.
“I broke my jaw in May [2017, during a sixth-round stoppage win over Fedor Chudinov] and I was back training soon after.
“I have fought two times since then. I keep myself in shape. I live a clean life and it all aids to recovery time.”
Eubank Jr had been readied as the preferred stand-in for Groves but he now looks set to make way with Liverpudlian Smith also set to be fit for the showdown later this year.
Organisers are yet to announce a date or venue for the final but the pair are likely to meet in late summer or early autumn.
Smith, 28, 24-0 (17 KOs), made his way to the final after outlasting Erik Skoglund in a 12-round war in September before outclassing Nieky Holzken over 12 rounds in February.
Groves, meanwhile, stopped Jamie Cox with a fourth-round body shot in October before his dominant decision win over Eubank Jr in February.