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WBC #1 Super Middleweight George Groves has been added to the November 22nd fight card that will feature the cruiserweight rematch of Nathan Cleverly and Tony Bellew at the Echo Arena in Liverpool, England.
Groves (20-2 with 15 knockouts) will fight American Denis Douglin (17-3 with 10 knockouts) in a 12-round super middleweight feature in a stacked fight card that will also showcase top British boxers like Jamie McDonnell, Callum Smith and James De Geale.
Reaching World Class Status
2014 has been a breakthrough year for George Groves. After giving IBF/WBA super middleweight champion Carl Froch everything he could handle during their first encounter in 2013, Groves earned a highly anticipated rematch against the Nottingham Sheriff last May. The rematch was fought in front of a record 80,000 paying fans at Wembley Stadium and although Groves lost that bout via 8th round knockout, he proved that he is more than just a domestic star in Britain.
Groves quickly rebounded from his back to back losses to Carl Froch by taking a September fight against Christopher Rebrasse for the EBU and WBC Silver super middleweight title. He beat Rebrasse via unanimous decision to become the number one contender for Dirrell’s belt and reach world class status.
Momma’s Boy
Douglin knows that he has a “big opportunity” at hand against Groves. He acknowledges Groves as a “great boxer and a tough fight” but he says that he is “ready for an upset” in Groves’ home soil. He has won three straight bouts after back to back losses that started with a 5th round KO loss against undefeated top light middleweight prospect Jermell Charlo. Douglin is known in the boxing community as “Momma’s boy” because he is trained by his mother. But on November 22nd, he is aiming to step out of his mother’s shadow.
Risking a Title Shot
Groves will be taking a considerable risk in fighting American Denis Douglin because he earned a mandatory title shot at WBC belt holder Anthony Dirrell after winning the European title by defeating Christopher Rebrasse via unanimous decision last September 20th.
Groves is a -8000 favorite to beat Douglin, but the pressure will be on him to win or lose his title shot. Douglin is not a top tier fighter with the odds stacked against him at +1600, but his punching power will give Groves troubles. The 26-year old American from Marlboro, New Jersey is a much heavier hitter than Rebrasse and if Groves was hurt during the Rebrasse fight, he could be in a tough fight against an underdog like Douglin who has nothing to lose and everything to gain.
