EUBANK’S ON COURSE FOR GROVES SUPER BOUT
CHRIS EUBANK JNR and George Groves, the WBA world super-middleweight champion, are on a collision course. Even if they wanted to swerve their date with destiny, the financial penalties for pulling out of the new Super Series are too punitive to contemplate. The boxers are seeded to meet in the tournament’s semi-finals, probably in the new year at London’s O2 Arena, provided both win their quarter-final bouts this autumn. Eubank made the clash with Groves more likely with an emphatic points win over Arthur Abraham at Wembley Arena on Saturday. Eubank conducted a non-stop assault on the former world champion to win by 118-110, 118-110 and 120-108 on the judges’ scorecards. The question of whether Eubank, a natural-born middleweight, carries his punching weight up to the 12-stone super-middle division hangs over his talent. ‘Of course I have the power,’ Eubank said. ‘I wanted to be the first to properly KO Abraham but he’s never been knocked down in his life for a reason. I hit him with every shot in the book and I know I hurt him.’ Eubank’s father, Chris Snr, was satisfied with the performance. ‘I keep telling you he’s going to be better than me,’ he said. The scorecards need putting into perspective by the age difference: Eubank is 27, Abraham 37. And there is a suspicion that Abraham was here more for the money than from ambition to win Eubank’s IBO world title belt. Groves and Eubank are favourites to win their Super Series quarter-finals, against hand-picked opponents, respectively Jamie Cox and Turkey’s Avni Yildirim. Then it’s the semi-final. ‘Of course he’s worried about facing me,’ said Eubank of Groves, who was ringside. ‘He won’t be looking forward to January like I am. Can’t wait.’