DeGale faces Guerrero on December 9th; Groves sidelined with hand injury; Limond-Crolla on Friday

james degaleBritish and Commonwealth Super-Middleweight Champion George Groves has had to withdraw from the Friday 9th December show at the Liverpool Echo Arena because of a hand injury.

The injury occurred during a training session this week at Groves’ gym in Vauxhall, South London, and after seeking expert medical guidance, he was advised not to fight.

Groves was due to joint-headline alongside rival James DeGale – who’s defence of the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Intercontinental title against Jose Maria Guerrero will now top the bill on the show – and a further title fight could be added.

Last month Groves produced a great performance to stop former British Champion Paul Smith in the second round at Wembley Arena and was looking to end a memorable year that included a win over rival DeGale.

Groves said, “I’m really gutted as I was coming along nicely in training and on course for the fight in a couple of weeks’ time. The injury is a set back and I really wanted to end the year with four good wins. I’m sorry that my fans won’t be able to see me in action, but I’ll back early next year and ready to kick of 2012 with bang as I continue towards further titles.”

Adam Booth, Groves’ manager and trainer, added, “Obviously we are all disappointed as George was looking forward to getting back into the ring again so quickly after his great win over Paul Smith. At this stage of George’s career it would be crazy to compromise him and carry an injury of that nature into the fight. He’s been advised to rest it for now and we’ll seek further medical guidance next week.”

Promoter Frank Warren said, “It’s disappointing for everyone concerned, but George can’t fight if his hand is injured and if he did go ahead and put in a sub-par performance we don’t want to make excuses. He’ll have a good rest and treatment and I’ll look to get him back out early next year which will be a big one for him. It’s still a cracking show with James DeGale now headlining and our best talent from Liverpool all in action including Stephen and Liam Smith, Joe Selkirk and Paul Butler. Unbeaten prospects Billy Joe Saunders and Callum Johnson are also on the card along with the pro-debut of Damon Jones.”

RUNNING ORDER: CROLLA v LIMOND – FRIDAY 25th NOVEMBER, 2011

FRANK WARREN
(In Association with Alex Morrison)
Presents
CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING
RAVENSCRAIG REGIONAL SPORTS CENTRE, MOTHERWELL
FRIDAY 25th NOVEMBER 2011
***LIVE ON BOXNATION (SKY PLATFORM CH. 456)***

DOORS OPEN: 18:00 HRS

FIGHT # 1 – 18:45 HRS
4 X 3 Minute Rounds Middleweight Contest
DAVID BROPHY vs. DANNY BROWN

FIGHT # 2 – 19:05 HRS
4 X 3 Minute Rounds Super-Featherweight Contest
MICHAEL ROBERTS vs. DAN NAYLOR

FIGHT # 3 – 19:30 HRS
6 X 3 Minute Rounds Welterweight Contest
GARY McMILLAN vs. PETER McDONAGH

FIGHT # 4 – 20:10 HRS
4 X 3 Minute Rounds Light-Middleweight Contest
JOHN THAIN vs. STEVE SPENCE

FIGHT # 5 – 20:35 HRS
4 X 3 Minute Rounds Cruiserweight Contest
STEPHEN SIMMONS vs. HASTINGS RASANI

FIGHT # 6 – 21:00 HRS
OFFICIAL ELIMINATOR FOR THE BRITISH LIGHT-MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
10 X 3 Minute Rounds @ 154 lbs
KRIS CARSLAW vs. MATTHEW HALL

FIGHT # 7 – FLOATER
4 X 3 Minute Rounds Super-Bantamweight Contest
JONATHAN SLOWEY vs. TBA

FIGHT # 8 – FOLLOW ON
THE BRITISH LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
12 X 3 Minute Rounds @ 135 lbs
ANTHONY CROLLA vs. WILLIE LIMOND

*ALL TIMINGS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE*

IABA UPDATE (EGAN GETS IRELAND OFF TO A WINNING START AT OLYMPIC TEST EVENT)

IRISH AMATEUR BOXING ASSOCIATION

Ken Egan got Ireland off to a winning start at the Olympic Test Event in London.

The Dublin southpaw, who has dropped back down to light-heavyweight from heavyweight, forced China’s Xuan Bao into a standing count with a right hook in the second round of tonight’s quarter-final clash en route to a 13-6 win at the ExCel, the venue for boxing at the 2012 Olympics.

He’ll now meet Olympic Youth champion, Damien Hooper of Australia, in the semi-finals.

Hooper, who is ranked number two in the world, was beaten 6-1 by Ireland’s Joe Ward in the 2010 AIBA World Youth middleweight final in Baku.

The Australian beat Ward in the 2010 Olympic Youths in Singapore, where Ireland’s Ryan Burnett claimed gold.

However, Ward broke his left hand in the first round of that clash.

Meanwhile, Declan Geraghty and David Oliver Joyce will be involved in quarter-final duels tomorrow versus Thai flyweight Norapoj Tetchkoom and Italian lightweight Donato Consenza.

Belfast’s Conrad Cummings and Tommy McCarthy and Con Sheehan have received byes into Saturday’s semi-finals.

Cummings will meet Brazilian middleweight Esquiva Florentino and McCarthy faces experienced Kazakh heavyweight Vassily Levit.

Tipperary’s super-heavyweight Sheehan will trade leather with Morocco’s Muhammad Arjaoui for a place in the 91Kg+ final.

Olympic Test Event ExCel London

Novermber 24th Quarter-finals
81Kg: Ken Egan (Ireland) beat Xuan Bao (China) 13-6

November 25th Quarter-finals
51Kg: Declan Geraghty (Ireland) v Norapoj Tetchkoom (Thailand)
60Kg: David Oliver Joyce (Ireland) v Donato Consenza (Italy)

November 26th Semi-Finals
75Kg: Conred Cummings (Ireland) v Esquiva Florentino (Brazil)
81Kg: Ken Egan (Ireland) v Damien Hooper (Australia)
91Kg: Tommy McCarthy (Ireland) v Vassily Levit (Kazakhstan)
91Kg+: Con Sheehan (Ireland) v Mohammad Arjaoui (Morrocco)

Irish squad

56Kg: Declan Geraghty (Crumlin)
60Kg: David Oliver Joyce (St Michael’s Athy)
75Kg: Conrad Cummings (Holy Trinity)
81Kg; Ken Egan (Neilstown)
91Kg: Tommy McCarthy (Oliver Plunkett)
91+Kg: Con Sheehan (Clonmel)

Team manager: Des Donnelly
Coaches: Billy Walsh & Zuar Antia
Physio: Conor McCarthy