Fight fans can rest easy because George Groves has assured us that he has a plan in place to make it to the World Boxing Super Series final.
Doubt was cast on whether Groves would be able to fully recover in time after he injured his left shoulder in the final round of his victory over Chris Eubank Jr last week.
‘Saint George’ outclassed Eubank Jr over 12 rounds in the WBSS super-middleweight semi-final, retaining his WBA (Super) super-middleweight title in the process and claiming his opponent’s IBO super-middleweight belt, which Groves immediately vacated.
Where @StGeorgeGroves dislocates shoulder. #GrovesVsEubank pic.twitter.com/sdHfb7y62p
— Robert (@REGZY1) February 17, 2018
But it remained unlikely that Groves would be able to recover from shoulder surgery in time for the June 2 final, where Callum Smith awaits.
However Groves has issued a positive update on his chances because, prior to an operation on Monday morning, he revealed his plans to request a later date for the final.
Morning boxing fans. This morning I go in for a minor operation on my injured shoulder. The good news is I’ll be fit to fight in the final in July. We will be applying to the @WBSuperSeries for a one month extension and are hopeful of securing this. #TeamSaintGG
— George Groves (@StGeorgeGroves) February 26, 2018
Groves intends to apply for an extension which, if granted, would see the date of the final moved to July and allow the 29-year-old to return to 100 per cent.
Groves was sat ringside in Nuremberg on Saturday night, when Callum Smith earned his place in the final with a unanimous decision victory over late replacement Nieky Holzken.
After a staredown in the ring with Groves, Smith insisted that he would wait for Groves rather than accept another stand-in opponent.
“It makes no sense at all if it’s not me and Groves in the final,” Smith told the Telegraph. “There’s no bigger fight in my division at the moment than Groves. I’m happy to wait until George is fit. I came into this tournament to win it and claim a world title, and I want Groves’s WBA crown.”
