George Groves retained his WBA World title and earned a unanimous points verdict to move into the final of the inaugural super middleweight edition of the World Boxing Super Series.
The judges scored it 117-112, 116-112 and 115-113 all in favor ‘The Saint’.
In a predictable outcome, former 2 division world champion Danny ‘Swift’ Garcia (34-1, 20 KOs) stopped a very slow and faded former WBA lightweight champion Brandon ‘Bam Bam’ Rios (34-4-1, 25 KOs) in a 9th round knockout at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada. Garcia, 29, landed a right hand to the head of Rios in the 9th that put him down flat on his back.
In a one-sided fight, WBA Super World super middleweight champion George Groves (28-3, 20 KOs) totally out-boxed a very limited challenger Chris Eubank Jr. (26-2, 20 KOs) in beating him by a one-sided 12 round unanimous decision in the semifinals of the World Boxing Super Series on Saturday night at the Manchester, England.
Everyone has an opinion on what will go down in Manchester tonight as seemingly bitter British super-middleweight rivals George Groves and Chris Eubank Junior collide. The fight, one that will contest the WBA crown (currently held by Groves) as well as a place in the final of the superb World Boxing Super Series, has captured the thoughts of the entire British nation – and this match-up has also served to intrigue fight fans the world over.
There really does seem to be some genuine bad blood in the air as we approach tonight’s big (very big in the UK; tonight’s fight having genuine crossover appeal, with people in the street talking about Groves and Eubank) super-middleweight showdown between George Groves and Chris Eubank Junior.
David Haye has let it be known how his star heavyweight, Joe Joyce, who last night improved to 2-0(2) with an easy one-round stoppage of Rudolf Jozic, is close to getting a big fight with Dereck Chisora next. Haye has tweeted how Joyce-Chisora is “pretty much sorted to be on the Haye-Bellew 2 under-card on May 5.”
This Saturday night, live from the Manchester Arena George Groves meets Chris Eubank Jr. in a highly-anticipated bout. Will athleticism and work rate do the trick for Eubank Jr.? Or will experience and skill secure a victory for Groves?
The World Boxing Super Series has provided a much needed boost to the early months of the boxing year. Usually it takes a while for the sport to build steam into the spring and summer months. Not the case thanks to back to back WBSS weekends featuring entertaining and competitive fights in Usyk/Briedis and Gassiev/Dorticos.
Joe Joyce set himself up for a potential showdown with Dereck Chisora after his devastating win over Rodolf Jozic in the main event of the Hayemaker Ringstar Fight Night — live on free-to-air entertainment channel Dave. In only his second professional fight, the Olympic silver medalist claimed his second victim with a first round stoppage at York Hall.
WBC Welterweight World Title Eliminator – Showtime Championship Boxing
Danny Garcia – 146 ½ pounds
Brandon Rios – 146 ½ pounds
Referee: Kenny Bayless; Judges: Dave Moretti (Nev.), Glenn Trowbridge (Nev.), Steve Weisfeld (N.J.)
Devon Alexander 146.6 vs. Victor Ortiz 146.4
Caleb Plant 166.8 vs. Porky Medina 168.8
Former world champions Victor Ortiz and Devon Alexander went face to face Thursday two days before they enter the ring for their Premier Boxing Champions on FOX and FOX Deportes main event showdown this Saturday, February 17 from Don Haskins Center on the UTEP campus in El Paso, Texas.