LONDON: It will be Friday’s fight at the King Abdullah Sports City that will ultimately determine whether George Groves joins the pantheon of Britain’s super-middleweight greats, or whether with his considerable talent he has underachieved.
The WBA champion had long been considered one of Britain’s finest prospects, but at 30 and toward the end of an eventful career he is a fighter who in the World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) final, against his compatriot Callum Smith, should be at his peak.
It was his natural power and ability and a close association with then-WBA heavyweight champion David Haye, and Britain’s leading trainer Adam Booth, that first created such excitement surrounding his potential. His place in the 168lb division — made glamorous in the UK by the successes of Joe Calzaghe, Carl Froch and others — and a natural, long-term rival in James DeGale had given him the platform to make a big name for himself.
Groves’ progress was not always smooth but it remained swift, and included a high-profile victory over DeGale in 2011, when three years after his professional debut and as the underdog he outpointed an Olympic gold medallist.
By 2013, when he had earned the status of mandatory challenger to IBF and WBA champion Froch, Groves retained that excitement and intrigued as the confident opponent against a fighter few felt could realistically be hurt, and yet it was from then that the setbacks began.
Despite his speed, spite and aggression, a lack of punch resistance and questionable stamina meant that he would always remain vulnerable, and that very reputation undermined him on what could otherwise have proved his finest night.
Groves overcame an unexpected split from Booth to meet the proven Froch in the center of the ring, knock him down in the opening round and then, in what was widely considered the fight of the year, proceed to deliver a beating to him that no other ever had while building a convincing lead. It was in the ninth round that, while finally hurt by Froch but far from out on his feet, those perceptions of vulnerability robbed him of the chance to see out a remarkable victory as referee Howard Foster controversially intervened to rescue him from further punishment.
The challenger could later be seen crying at the injustice, but under new trainer Paddy Fitzpatrick and as a fighter free of any promotional ties they admirably challenged the British boxing establishment to force a rematch, unusually to be staged at Wembley Stadium in front of an 80,000-strong crowd.
Again he proceeded to outbox the champion until, in a life-changing, eighth-round instant, the long-term flaw of retreating to the ropes left him exposed and open to the most powerful right hand Froch ever threw, instantly knocking him out.
The remarkable mental strength those around Groves speak of would never be tested more than in the following months, but he rebuilt with conviction, and to the point of gradually earning a shot in Las Vegas at WBC champion Badou Jack.
Against a fighter who has since proved superior even to Froch, he again suffered a narrow defeat, this time on points, and partly as a consequence of the relationship with Fitzpatrick that had completely broken down.
Disillusioned and demotivated — and while IBF champion DeGale excelled — London’s Groves considered retirement. He instead appointed Shane McGuigan as his trainer, and after a lengthier period of rebuilding that including the heartache of his victory over Eduard Gutknecht that left the loser disabled, last May he finally achieved his world-title dream by stopping Russia’s Fedor Chudinov.
Timing and circumstances had previously worked against Groves, but since then they could not have been more on his side. The creation of the first, lucrative WBSS followed, and after stopping Jamie Cox in the quarterfinals, in his highest-profile fight since those against Froch he fought Chris Eubank Jr. in the final four.
Again fighting under the British public’s attention and again when widely considered the underdog, Groves outclassed his challenger to secure one of his most convincing — and his most cathartic — victories as a professional fighter.
He insists he has since fully recovered from the dislocated shoulder he suffered in the final round. Friday’s fight was postponed so that he could participate, and in a reversal of roles from that when he was the young challenger, if he can overcome the promising, imposing Smith — a far more dangerous fighter than Eubank Jr. — he will have secured his defining win.
MEET THE FIGHTERS: George Groves has chance of defining win in Jeddah
MEET THE FIGHTERS: George Groves has chance of defining win in Jeddah
- A record of 28 wins and only three defeats illustrates what a fine fighter the Briton is, but he is in search of a victory that will ensure he is remember among the greats.
- Groves heads into the bout against Smith as the favorite.
Al-Hilal defeat Pachuca 2-0, advance to Club World Cup knockout phase
Salem Al-Dawsari scored a fancy goal in the 22nd minute, Marcos Leonardo added a clincher in second-half stoppage time and Al-Hilal defeated CF Pachuca 2-0 on Thursday in Nashville to advance to the knockout stage of the FIFA Club World Cup.
Al-Hilal (1-0-2, 5 points), the most successful club in Saudi Arabia, did not take a loss in Group H play after drawing with Real Madrid and RB Salzburg. Their win vaulted them past Salzburg, who finished with four points after losing 3-0 to Real Madrid on Thursday night.
Yassine Bounou made two saves for Al-Hilal, who will face Group H winners Manchester City in the Round of 16 on Monday in Orlando. Meanwhile, Pachuca (0-3-0, 0 points) will return to Mexico without a point in the tournament.
For the opening goal, Salem Al-Dawsari received a pass over the top from Nasser Al-Dawsari (no relation) and popped a high-arcing right-footed shot over Pachuca goalkeeper Sebastian Jurado. The shot bounced into the far corner of the goal.
After Bounou fell on top of a Pachuca chance in the 81st minute, Leonardo put the game out of reach with a goal assisted by Ruben Neves five minutes into second-half stoppage time.
Manchester City thrash Juventus 5-2 in Group G finale
Jeremy Doku put on a brilliant display with plenty of support and some help from the opposition as Manchester City defeated Juventus 5-2 in the deciding match in the Club World Cup’s Group G on Thursday in Orlando.
“We played well. I’m happy with the victory,” Doku said. “Now we’re just curious to see who we’re going to play against.”
Manchester City later learned its Round of 16 foe will be Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal, with the match on Monday in Orlando.
Defender Pierre Kalulu’s gaffe on a cross from Savinho went past his own keeper and nudged City into the lead, 2-1, at the 26th minute. In the 52nd minute, striker Erling Haaland scored while shuffling his feet with a touch that bounded into an open net on a dish from Matheus Nunes. It was the 300th career goal combined for team and country for the 24-year-old Norwegian in only his seventh minute in Thursday’s match.
Phil Foden entered off the Manchester City bench in the 66th minute and tapped in his team’s fourth goal of the match three minutes later. Haaland’s 75th- minute header failed, only for Savinho to power a rebound off the crossbar and into goal to make it 5-1.
Juventus trimmed the deficit on an 84th-minute breakaway from Dusan Vlahovic, who scored for the second consecutive match.
With the teams effectively tied entering the match with two wins apiece, Man City leapt Juventus to the top of the table in a decisive victory that also bumped them to the top of the tournament with 13 goals. City (3-0-0, 9 points) became the only club to win all three matches in the group stage.
As the Group G winner, City will stay in Orlando to oppose Al Hilal, who beat Pachuca 2-0 later Thursday to finish second in Group H. Juventus (2-1-0, 6 points) are headed to Miami Gardens, Florida, as the runner-up in Group G. Their next matchup is Tuesday against Group H winner Real Madrid, who routed RB Salzburg on Thursday.
Man City went ahead 2-1 and held the margin at halftime, scoring first at the nine-minute mark when Doku hit the brakes in front of the net and found the top right corner.
Juventus’ Teun Koopmeiners evened the score two minutes later, but that was the final indication of a close tussle.
The victory was Man City’s first outright over Juventus since 1976.
Vinicius stars as Real Madrid ease into Club World Cup last 16
PHILADELPHIA: Vinicius Junior scored one goal and made another with a touch of class as Real Madrid sealed their place in the last 16 of the Club World Cup with a 3-0 win over Salzburg on Thursday.
The Brazil star opened the scoring after a superb defense-splitting pass by Jude Bellingham on 40 minutes and then set up Federico Valverde for the all-important second goal in first-half stoppage time.
Gonzalo Garcia wrapped up the win late on with his second goal of the tournament, and the result means Xabi Alonso’s team end the first round of FIFA’s new tournament unbeaten.
They go through to the knockout stage as Group H winners on seven points, setting up a last-16 tie against Juventus in Miami on Tuesday.
Salzburg go out as Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia progress in second place behind Real after defeating already eliminated Pachuca of Mexico 2-0 in Nashville.
They play Manchester City in the last 16.
Madrid are adjusting in the United States to life under new coach Alonso and were again without top scorer Kylian Mbappe, with the Frenchman thus far not having played at the Club World Cup as he recovers from illness.
But there was still plenty of star appeal for the 64,811 fans who filled Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia almost to capacity — they reserved their loudest cheers for Bellingham and spirits were not dampened by wet, fresh conditions as the blistering heatwave of recent days suddenly lifted.
Alonso opted, as during his time in charge of Bayer Leverkusen in Germany, for a back three with Aurelien Tchouameni in between Antonio Rudiger and Dean Huijsen. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Fran Garcia played as wing-backs.
Real won 5-1 when the teams met in the Champions League in January with Vinicius scoring twice, and the Brazilian was again heavily involved in putting the Austrian team to the sword here.
He was denied by goalkeeper Christian Zawieschitzky when clean through on 20 minutes, but made up for that by getting the breakthrough as the interval approached.
The goal owed much to a fantastic pass by Bellingham which found Vinicius in between the two Salzburg center-backs. He held off two chasing defenders and scored with an early left-foot shot low into the corner.
It was a 22nd goal of the season in all competitions and one that delighted those backing Real in the crowd.
Petar Ratkov had a chance for Salzburg after Arda Guler was dispossessed just outside his own area, but Real scored again to make it 2-0 almost on the half-time whistle.
When a rather aimless pass forward by Guler was deflected by Salzburg’s Mamady Diambou, Vinicius pounced on the loose ball and continued into the area before producing a clever back-heel to set up Valverde for the goal.
Salzburg now needed a favor from Al Hilal to stay in the competition although they did continue to make a fight of it and had chances to reduce the deficit in the second half.
Nevertheless they were picked off on the counter as Madrid got their third with six minutes of the 90 remaining.
A ball forward by Alexander-Arnold should have been cut out by Joane Gadou but the young defender’s touch was intercepted by Gonzalo Garcia and the young forward ran through before clipping a shot beyond the goalkeeper.
Coventry pauses 2036 Olympics hosting contest in 1st big decision of her IOC presidency
- India has been seen as gaining momentum in the 2036 race that involves at least 10 bidders in talks including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and Istanbul in Turkiye
- Olympic officials from LA met with Coventry’s board Wednesday and promised a “unity of effort” in the city where the Trump administration deployed military forces after street protests against immigration raids
LAUSANNE, Switzerland: India’s push toward winning the 2036 Olympics hosting contest seemed to stall a little on Thursday in the first big decision of Kirsty Coventry’s IOC presidency.
Coventry paused the fast tracking of a preferred bidder — a signature policy of her predecessor and mentor Thomas Bach — in a concession to International Olympic Committee members who have wanted more say in decisions under new leadership.
“Members want to be engaged more in the process” of picking Olympic hosts, Coventry acknowledged, citing “overwhelming support” at meetings this week to stop and review how it is done and when.
India has been seen as gaining momentum in the 2036 race that involves at least 10 bidders in talks including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and Istanbul in Turkiye.
In her third full day in office, Coventry promised to create two working groups — to look at how hosts are chosen, and a second analyzing how to “protect the female category” after controversy in women’s boxing at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The two-time Olympic champion swimmer also restated a principled vision ahead of the 2028 Summer Games in the city of Los Angeles, which US President Donald Trump this month called “a trash heap.”
“We see the best of humanity, we see compassion for others” in Olympic values, Coventry said at a news conference after chairing her first executive board meeting over two days.
“If we can celebrate in the diversity that we are, and that we have, we can really work toward creating something great,” the former sports minister of Zimbabwe said, pledging to try to inspire young people.
Olympic officials from LA met with Coventry’s board Wednesday and promised a “unity of effort” in the city where the Trump administration deployed military forces after street protests against immigration raids.
“There is so much goodwill from all levels of government,” Coventry insisted, including federal.
“That gives us faith,” she said, that a platform for the Olympics “will be there for us to ensure that our values are stuck to but that our values will also be heard.”
Australia lead by 82 runs as West Indies’ Test on a knife edge
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: West Indies’ pace attack again exposed the vulnerability of the Australian top-order batting as the tourists stuttered to 92 for four in their second innings at stumps on the second day of the first Test at Kensington Oval on Thursday.
Trailing on first innings by just ten runs after the Caribbean side were dismissed at tea for 190 in reply to the Aussies’ first innings total of 180, the match is balanced on a knife’s edge as Australia lead by 82 runs with six wickets in hand.
Another eventful day when ten wickets fell after 14 tumbled on day one also featured contentious television umpiring decisions which left the West Indies feeling aggrieved.
Travis Head, so often the counter-attacking star for the men from Down Under in all formats of the game, will carry the battle into the third morning with all-rounder Beau Webster after all four West Indies bowlers used in the second innings so far claimed a wicket each.
Wicketless in the first innings, Alzarri Joseph was first to strike in the long final session when he trapped Usman Khawaja lbw.
Shamar Joseph, who set the tone for the bowling effort at the start of the Test the day before, had to endure Sam Konstas being dropped twice in the same over in the slips before the opener’s tortuous innings ended 20 minutes later when he played on to the same bowler.
Jayden Seales added to his five-wicket haul the day before by removing Josh Inglis for the second time in the match when the right-hander was bowled offering no shot.
Australia’s continuing experiment with Cameron Green at number three then suffered another setback when he wafted at medium-pacer Justin Greaves to be taken at first slip.
Earlier, West Indies captain Roston Chase and wicketkeeper Shai Hope held the home side’s innings together with a 67-run stand after they had slipped to 72 for five early on the second morning when debutant Brandon King was bowled for 26 shouldering arms to seamer Josh Hazlewood.
However Chase, in his 50th Test and playing his first match in the traditional format for more than two years, was ruled leg-before to Australian counterpart Pat Cummins for 44 just after lunch by television official Adrian Holdstock even though the available television replays suggested the tall right-hander had edged the ball onto his pads.
Holdstock was again the focus of attention when Hope, on 48, appeared to have been cleanly caught down the leg-side by a diving wicketkeeper Alex Carey to give Webster his second wicket.
Hope seemed equally convinced as he was almost in the players’ pavilion as repeated replays of the dismissal gave a strong indication that the ball had touched the ground as Carey attempted to complete the catch. Holdstock nevertheless upheld the dismissal.
Alzarri Joseph contributed an unbeaten 23 but the innings folded swiftly thereafter with Mitchell Starc finishing as the leading wicket-taker in the innings with three for 65.
“We can only ask the questions,” was Starc’s deadpan reply to his opinion on the dismissals of Chase and Hope.
“That’s what we have the technology for. The questions have to be asked in that direction, not at the players.”
On the state of the match, Starc felt the nature of the pitch is keeping the contest close.
“Throughout the two days it’s shown that if you bowl in the right areas there are enough chances ,” he said.
“Even when the ball got older or was changed it still did some sideways stuff so the bowlers have been in the game throughout so far and that is likely to continue tomorrow.”
