BRAHMER CAN STILL KO SMITH GLORY BID
THE biggest threat to George Groves in the final of the World Super Series may come from the German who was conspicuous by his absence at the Nuremberg Arena on Saturday night. When Jurgen Brahmer pulled out of the second semi-final — which Callum Smith made hard work of against a former kick-boxer — he made himself available as the likeliest replacement if Groves fails to recover from a dislocated shoulder. With the supermiddleweight final scheduled for London’s O2 Arena on June 2, that puts additional pressure on Groves to make the date. Shortly before taking his ringside seat, he discarded the sling he had worn since sustaining the injury in beating Chris Eubank Jnr a week earlier. The move seemed to support Groves’s contention that he will be cleared to resume training sooner rather than later, when he receives his final medical report this week. With Brahmer lurking in the wings, that show of confidence could prove timely. The former world light-heavyweight champion is promoted by the tournament’s German organisers and when he called in sick with flu, the 39-year-old left the door open to a minimum £1.7million pay-day in London. Groves was upbeat, though, saying: ‘The signs are positive that I can be back in weeks, not months. If I did have to ask for a delay to the final it would be short. ‘The Muhammad Ali Trophy is also at stake and that is too prestigious for them to be bringing in a substitute.’ Although Smith is eager for a shot at the world supermiddleweight title which Groves would bring to the final, there is no doubt that Brahmer would be a less formidable opponent. The youngest of four boxing brothers from Liverpool, Smith — nicknamed Mundo — was not at his best against the hitherto unheard-of Nieky Holzken. Smith went the full 12 rounds and, while he remains unbeaten, the margins of the unanimous decision were flattering. Holzken deserved better than one card of 118-110, two of 117-111. In fact, Groves wore the biggest smile in the arena afterwards and, if he recovers, would have little to fear from Smith, who was caught repeatedly by Holzken’s right hook. If Groves were to uncork a punch as potent as the one which floored Carl Froch in their first world title fight, the final would be over.