GROVES IN NEW FIGHT
GEORGE GROVES wants the World Boxing Super Series to delay the final of the tournament if his shoulder injury rules him out.
The WBA supermiddleweight champion dislocated his left shoulder in Saturday’s win over Chris Eubank Jr in Manchester.
Groves, who went to hospital after his unanimous points win to get it put back into its socket, requires further tests.
It means his place in the decider for the Muhammad Ali Trophy is in serious doubt with promoter Kalle Sauerland admitting there is little chance of rearranging the June 2 date. No.1 seed Groves, who suffered the injury in the 12th round, said: “Who wants to watch the World Boxing Super Series final without me in it? “If the dates need to be changed slightly then I am sure
they will. We will get the medical report first and then we will see. If I was them I would not want to replace me. If they do, then that’s fine.
“I am not going to box unfit, obviously, but I think there’s definitely room in the summer to readjust if needs be.
“Positively, I went to hospital and had an X-ray and they manipulated the shoulder back in straight away.
“I had another X-ray and they said that it looked good and they could not see any floating bone.
“I’m going to see a specialist and have more MRI scans and I will have a full idea by Tuesday. I will have to go into camp very soon.
“I am the No.1 seed in the tournament and the only legitimate world champion in that tournament.”
Sauerland, who is the chief boxing officer for tournament organisers Camosa, said: “Those are the unfortunate circumstances but Wimbledon moves on without Roger Federer and that’s just the way it is.
“If it’s a case of a few weeks, of course we would look at moving the final. But if it’s a question of months, there’s not a chance.
“We would look for a substitute and whether that comes from someone who has lost in the tournament, or someone who is now available, another champion for example, we would have to look at.”
The final will be against either fellow Briton Callum Smith or Germany’s Jurgen Braehmer.
Sauerland did not rule out Eubank Jnr returning to the competition if Groves is unable to continue, but he is more likely to return to middleweight for his next fight.