It was a highly-anticipated scrap where fireworks were expected–primarily because of the big talk that was produced by Chris Eubank Jr.
Eubank Jr. promised to usher Groves into early retirement with a knockout, but in the end it was Eubank Jr. who may want to consider a different career path as he was outclassed over 12 rounds.
Groves showed his class, befuddling Eubank Jr. behind boxing at a smart distance and counterpunching throughout the majority of the bout.
“He didn’t bring pressure because I was hurting him. I dropped him at least once but it didn’t count, which was dubious,” said Groves after the fight.
Eubank Jr. somehow felt it was close, but make no mistake he did not fight his fight.
“I thought I did enough in the later rounds to win,” said Eubank Jr. (via Sky Sports). “I thought I pressured him the entire fight. I didn’t get hit clean. He cut me, and I couldn’t see. Did I underestimate him? Maybe.”
Scores were 117-112, 116-112 and 115-113. Groves retained his WBA world Super Middleweight title and is now on his way to the finals and will meet either England’s Callum Smith or Jurgen Brahmer of Germany in the final.
The one major hiccup for Groves is that he sustained a late-fight injury to his shoulder which could cause an issue for the World Boxing Super Series finals matchup.
Header photo by Reuters
