One Heck of a Battle! One-Armed Groves Outpoints Bloody Eubank To Retain WBA Title
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Manchester, UK (February 19th, 2018)– An injured George Groves, his left arm dangling helplessly at his side during the twelfth and final round after dislocating his left shoulder, hung on to win a close and controversial but unanimous decision over bloody Chris Eubank Jr. to retain his World Boxing Association Super World Super Middleweight and win the International Boxing Organization World Super Middleweight titles at Manchester Arena in Manchester, United Kingdom, Saturday, February 17, 2018, in the main event, with the winner to face the winner of next week’s bout between Callum Smith versus Jurgen Brahmer in Nuremberg, Germany. Some observers game Eubank the win, adding more controversy to the outcome. A rematch between Groves and Eubank is a keen possibility at 168 pounds.
Groves entered the ring heavier, and put all his power behind his right-hand leads. Groves circled and picked his shots. Eubank came forward with definitive purpose, but still spent the majority of the bout swinging for a knockout, with blood coming from above the corner of his right eye and his nose. He had some good rounds when his head shot haymakers landed more effectively, particularly the fourth, fifth, sixth and ninth rounds, which he clearly won. However, Eubank missed more often than not, enabling Groves to maintain the edge on punches landed overall. The referee’s shirt was stained with Eubank’s blood.
In the twelfth and final round, Eubank battered the one-armed Groves from pillar to post, but still missed a lot, and a stubborn Groves grabbed and refused to fall, and somehow survived, leaning on Eubank for the most part and somehow clinching when he could, to remain standing for the decision victory. It was wild action boxing British style, as the quest for the Muhammad Ali trophy and super tournament winner continues with next week’s Smith versus Brahmer bout. One world champion will be determined in 2018.
Result: George Groves Win 12 Chris Eubank Jr. Super Middleweights
Groves Retains WBA World Super World Super Middleweight Titles
Groves Wins IBO World Super Middleweight Title
Scoring: 117-112, 116-112, 115-113 for Groves. Referee: Michael Alexander
Also on Card: Sebastian Eubank (Pro Debut) Win 4 Kamil Kulczyk, Light Heavyweights, Kulczyk was down in the third round. Sebastian is the brother of Chris Eubank Jr.
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