George Groves beats Chris Eubank Jr to reach World Boxing Super Series final
George Groves has defended his WBA world super-middleweight title title with victory over Chris Eubank Jr to reach the World Boxing Super Series final.
Groves came out on top at the Manchester Arena by unanimous points decision in, in a fight that went the full 12 rounds.
The 29-year-old's career has previously been remembered for high-profile defeats - two to Carl Froch and one each to Badou Jack and James DeGale - but Groves proved too shrewd and too accomplished for bookies favourite Eubank Jr at the Manchester Arena.
A cut above Eubank Jr's right eye sustained in the third round hampered him for the remainder of the contest and though his record of never being stopped in the professional ranks continued, the judges awarded the fight 117-112, 116-112 and 115-113 in Groves' favour.
Eubank Jr was wild in his attack, but struggled to maintain the explosive pace his promised in the build-up to the fight.
Accuracy and economy were the winners of this fight. Eubank Jr threw 421 punches at Groves, landing just 92, while Groves made contact with 117 of his 398.
Groves suffered a dislocated shoulder in the final round and, should he recover, will now face the winner of Jurgen Brahmer and Callum Smith in the World Boxing Super Series final on June 2.
GROVES | EUBANK JR | |
Punches thrown | 398 | 421 |
Punches landed | 117 | 92 |
Boby power landed | 12 | 9 |
Body jabs landed | 2 | 3 |
Jabs thrown | 175 | 68 |
Jabs landed | 33 | 17 |
Power thrown | 223 | 353 |
Power landed | 84 | 75 |
Knock-downs | 0 | 0 |
Speaking to ITV Box Office after he fight, Groves said: "I'm very, very happy with the performance. [my shoulder is] very sore, but I wasn't going to let anything beat me.
"It was about who wanted it most. Of course it was. He had success because I did something wrong."
"I'd already hurt him before the cut. He wasn't dabbing [the cut] so I don't think it was obscuring his vision. The better man won, but credit to Junior for getting through the match because I hurt him a lot. He dug it out.
"It's been a long time since I won in front of a big crowd. Obviously, against Carl Froch I didn't win. It's nice to get that justification. So, away we go. Next."
Additional reporting by the Press Association