At the Manchester Arena, in front of a capacity audience, George Groves sealed his place in the World Boxing Super Series Final, with a convincing points win against Chris Eubank Jnr.
The build-up to the fight had been intense with both fighters supremely confident of victory, but, on the night, it is fair to say that only one delivered ? George Groves.
The Hammersmith fighter the holder of the WBA Super-middleweight world title, boxed a sublime fight, keeping Eubank at distance, negating the Brighton fighters? skills, moving around the ring and picking him off with some accurate punches.
The fight, perhaps, didn?t live up to the pre-fight hype but Groves knew he couldn?t stand in front of the fast-punching Eubank Jnr and trade punches.
Eubank?s hopes of beating Groves relied on the WBA champion standing close and on one occasion when the two fighters did get close up, Eubank Jnr left the exchange with a bad cut above his right eye.
As the fight progressed, Eubank Jnr began to throw some desperate looking punches, wild swings that we relooking to put Groves on the canvas, but Groves experience saw him evade most, if not all, of them.
With Groves steadily pulling away on points, Eubank Jnr?s desperation increased and the Brighton fighter, knowing he needed a knockout, threw more wild punches but Groves was not to be denied and bobbed and weaved to let the wild swings miss him.
At the sound of the final bell, both boxers celebrated as if they?d won, but the judges scorecards showed the true story with the verdict being read out as thus:
? 117 ? 112 (in favour of Groves)
? 116 ? 112 (in favour of Groves)
? 115 ? 113 (in favour of Groves)
Having emerged victorious, Groves will now meet the winner of the other semi-final between Callum Smith and Jurgen Brahmer in the final.
Groves Beats Eubank Jnr On Points
