I’D HAVE BEATEN HIS DAD TOO

Groves lets rip at ‘irritating’ ex-champ

GEORGE GROVES has laid into Chris Eubank, claiming he would have beaten the former twoweight world champ in his prime.

Not content with just facing Eubank Junior in tomorrow’s grudge fight in the semi-finals of the Ali Trophy at Manchester Arena, Groves has also taken on his outspoken dad.

The WBA Super champ dismissed Eubank Senior’s achievements and doubts he would have been successful in today’s era.

“I haven’t seen much of him, but I’m sure I would have beaten him,” said Groves with a shrug.

“He had enough losses on his record and I don’t fall for his bulls**t.

“Back then, a lot of people got annoyed by his gimmicks and fought with emotion. I wouldn’t do that.

“The losses to Steve Collins are the only fights I have seen and Collins won every minute of every round.

“He was about posturing. He probably wasn’t much of a trainer.

“James DeGale called him a domestic world champion last week, which I thought was quite good.

“It was a different era. Maybe he wouldn’t have survived in this era.

“Maybe he would have got beat. People would have seen through him as, in this era, you have to step up.”

Groves, 29, is also unimpressed by Eubank Senior’s boxing knowledge and claims he gave him duff advice before he beat bitter rival DeGale in 2011. Groves, who is 27-3-0, sparred Eubank Jnr during his camp for DeGale, but says he had to get rid of him because his dad irritated him so much.

“His dad tried to tell me how to beat James DeGale,” said the Hammersmith fighter. “He said I’ve got to win every second of every round.

“But the gameplan he was not privy to, was I was going to beat him on the back foot. I did that and he texted me to say, ‘Well done’ – even though he was wrong. I had Junior in sparring for DeGale because he was available and cheap.

“The dad was a good test of my mental stability. That’s partly why Adam Booth brought him in.

“He was worried if I could keep my composure and thought if I can put up with the dad, I’m mentally strong.

“Ultimately, that’s why I stopped sparring Junior because I couldn’t put up with the dad. It wasn’t worth it for the rubbish coming out of his mouth.”

Groves, who faces Eubank Jnr for a place in the super-middleweight final of the World Boxing Super Series at The O2 on June 2, says he should dump his dad.

“If he wants to step out from his dad’s shadow, he should leave him at home,” said Groves. “He doesn’t need to have him around.

“He’s either scared of taking that step on his own or can’t get rid of his dad. Either way it’s a problem for him.”