Groves defends WBA super-middleweight title

MANCHESTER: George Groves’ place in the World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) final is in doubt after his unanimous points win over Chris Eubank Jr on Saturday.

Groves earned scores of 117-112, 116-112 and 115-113 over his English rival at the Manchester Arena, but went straight from the ring to hospital after suffering a suspected dislocated left shoulder in the last round.

Victory over Eubank in a second defence of his World Boxing Association (WBA) super-middleweight title also secured Groves a place in the final of the eight-man tournament.The WBSS final had been set to take place at the O2 Arena in London on June 2, but Groves’ trainer Shane McGuigan said there are now concerns over whether the champion will be fit by then.

“He suffered a shoulder injury in the last round, we don’t know what that it is at the moment but hopefully he can box again soon,” McGuigan told a press conference.“After a performance like that he’s the best super-middleweight on the planet. We fulfilled the game plan to the T and executed it perfectly. We beat them on many different levels.”

Groves smothered Eubank when he tried to get close to him and was more accurate with his jab. Eubank, who could not land enough clean shots or put the champion under sustained pressure, said he felt Groves should have been penalised for what was judged an accidental clash of heads in the third round.