Groves defends WBA super-middleweight title

MANCHESTER (United Kingdom): George Groves used his experience and boxing skills to earn a unanimous points decision over Chris Eubank Jr on Saturday.

The World Boxing Association (WBA) world super-middleweight champion made a successful second defence by scores of 117112, 116-112 and 115-113 over his English rival at the Manchester Arena.

But Groves had to survive a nervous last round after he suffered a suspected dislocated left shoulder and Eubank went hunting for the stoppage.

Victory also sent Groves through to the World Boxing Super Series final in May or June, when he will face either English rival Callum Smith or Germany’s Juergen Braehmer.

Smith and Braehmer meet in the other semi-final of the eight-man competition in Germany on Saturday.

It was Groves’s finest triumph yet and puts his career in a far better state than it was following defeats to Carl Froch - twice - and Badou Jack in previous world title fights.

Eubank did not bring the pressure he promised. “I dropped him at least once but it didn’t count,” Groves said in the ring afterwards.

“He was strong inside, which we expected, but I’m very happy. I’ve boxed through broken jaws. I wanted it most.

“The jab was landed correctly all night. When he had success, it was only because I did something wrong.”

Eubank is yet to come emulate the success of his father - Chris Sr, who was world middleweight and super-middleweight champion in the 1990s - after failing to land enough clean blows. AFP