On Saturday, June 25, at the O2 Arena in Greenwich, London, United Kingdom, in a fight televised live on Sky Sports Box Office, WBA International super middleweight champion George Groves (23-3, 18 KOs), from Hammersmith, London, defends his title against former WBA Intercontinental middleweight champion Martin Murray (32-3-1, 15 KOs), from St. Helens, Merseyside, England.
An enormous talent who’s a hair’s breadth away from greatness, Groves turned pro in 2008. Less than two years later he won the Commonwealth (British Empire) super middleweight title. In 2011 Groves added the BBBofC British super middleweight title with a majority decision victory over James DeGale.
“Saint George” won the vacant WBA Intercontinental super middleweight title in 2013 with a fifth round TKO victory over 30-2 Noe Gonzalez Alcoba.
Then he fought WBA and IBF super middleweight champion Carl Froch in 2013 and 2014. Groves lost both times by TKO.
Groves has won four of his last five fights. He is the reigning and defending WBA International champ.
“I’m very excited to be defending my WBA International belt against Martin Murray back at The O2,” said Groves. “I’ve had two great performances this year, both in London and the latest one back at The O2. It’s always a happy hunting ground for me.
”Martin is the perfect fight for me at this stage,” Groves said. “He’s a seasoned campaigner, who’s boxed at the highest level for quite some time. He is a world level opponent and I’ll have to be fully focused and prepared to beat him.
“A win against Murray on the biggest stage will open a lot of doors and bring me a step closer to achieving my goal of becoming world champion. I’m fully expecting it to be a war. I can’t wait.”
Rock-hard Martin Murray turned pro in 2007. The former WBA Intercontinental, BBBofC British, and Commonwealth (British Empire) middleweight champion has three defeats, a squeaker to Sergio Martinez in 2013, an 11th round execution at the hands of Gennady Golovkin in 2015, and a controversial split draw to Arthur Abraham in his last fight.
“This is a fight I’ve wanted for a while and I’m delighted it’s made,” said Murray. “I’ve had some huge profile fights all over the world in Golovkin, Martinez and Abraham but never had the big one in the UK.
“This is a fight that British fight fans can really get their teeth into and I’m looking forward to getting the win and moving on to challenging for the world title later in the year.”
This article was penned by the author who is not related to the WBA and the statements, expressions or opinions referenced herein are that of the author alone and not the WBA.
