George Groves, Michael Maguire fought yesterday

ishy · Feb 2, 2009

From Sultana website;

George Groves and Michael Maguire both recorded impressive victories at the York Hall on Sunday.

In his second professional fight Groves stopped Romaric Hignard in three rounds, while Maguire outpointed Faycal Messaoudene over four rounds, 40-35.

'The Saint' dominated his French opponent from the opening bell his jab David Haye-like in its stiffness immediately grabbing the authority of the fight.

Hignard was sent him to the canvas twice with bodyshots in the first stanza and also throwing his opponent to the deck on another occasion for good measure.

A repeat of this offence led to a reprimand for Groves from the referee in the second round.

The fight never looked like going the distance and after he Hignard was sent to the canvas once after a right hook to the body, then right cross upstairs, after which the referee called an end to the bout.

Maguire won every round against a game opponent who could easily have wilted after being put down in the third round.

The Peterborough fighter, whose all-action style is bound to make him a tv favourite, dropped Messaoudene with a beautiful left hook in the third and showed an array of defensive skills and body shots in his comfortable win which takes him to 3-0 (1 KO).

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TommyV · Feb 2, 2009

Nice. Both looked like good amateurs, shame they had very good opposition in DeGale and Murray and therefore missed out on the Olympics.

colinthfc · Feb 2, 2009

The show was a sell out at the York Hall. It was promoted by Hayemaker who have an exclusive deal with Setanta.

Why was it not on live?

I bet we get a 1 minute snippet on Buncey on Thursday

Jimbo · Feb 2, 2009

colinthfc said: ↑

The show was a sell out at the York Hall. It was promoted by Hayemaker who have an exclusive deal with Setanta.

Why was it not on live?

I bet we get a 1 minute snippet on Buncey on Thursday
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You could say that Hayemaker are avoiding the mistakes that many people have accused Audley Harrison and Amir Khan of making by letting Maguire and Groves do their learning off camera and away from hype which turns people against them. :think

Would be nice to see the fights at some point though.

Beeston Brawler · Feb 2, 2009

Hopefully Groves will splatter DeGale in the pros.

PaddyD1983 · Feb 2, 2009

Beeston Brawler said: ↑

Hopefully Groves will splatter DeGale in the pros.
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I dont have any beef with DeGale and hope that they both do well. But in my opinion, Groves looks far more like a pro boxer than DeGale ever will

Beeston Brawler · Feb 2, 2009

Other than the fact that he is an arrogant twat neither do I :good

GazOC · Feb 2, 2009

On the little I've seen of Groves I agree Paddy.

rooq · Feb 2, 2009

colinthfc said: ↑

The show was a sell out at the York Hall. It was promoted by Hayemaker who have an exclusive deal with Setanta.

Why was it not on live?

I bet we get a 1 minute snippet on Buncey on Thursday
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i believe there has to be at least a british title fight for setanta to broadcast the show

ishy · Feb 2, 2009

Full report from Hayemaker site:

Exciting Hayemaker trio George Groves, Michael Maguire and Michael Grant kept their unbeaten records intact this afternoon (Sunday) at the home of boxing, York Hall, Bethnal Green.

Competing on the sold-out HAYEMAKER 4 show, Grant and Maguire scored well-earned points decisions, while Groves impressively notched the first stoppage victory of his promising career.

First up was Tottenham’s Grant, a fleet-footed light-welterweight looking to work his way towards titles in 2009. Unbeaten in 12 pro bouts going in, Grant tackled decent Frenchman Christopher Sebire over six rounds and was made to work for every point he scored at the conclusion.

Setting a pace that was matched each step of the way by the workmanlike and spirited Sebire, Grant did his best to outbox the Frenchman with quicker hands and feet.

Despite getting drawn into a messy fight at times, Grant managed to stay a step ahead of Sebire, 16-2 (8 KO), through most of the six rounds and was rewarded with a competitive 58-57 points verdict at the bout’s end.

With solid wins over Gary Reid in November and Sebire this afternoon, Grant is now set up to challenge for titles later in the year. He moves to 12-0-1 (1 KO).

Meanwhile, Peterborough bantamweight Maguire – backed by a chorus of hundreds inside York Hall – displayed his unrelenting style and hurtful body shots against France’s Faycal Messaodene over four rounds.

Setting a fast pace, aided by tasty body shots, Maguire quickly took control of Messaodene in the opening session. Finding holes to land his left-hooks and right-hooks to the body, Maguire showed decent shot-selection and strength inside. Messaodene was content to just survive the initial onslaught, as he used good footwork and angles to keep Maguire moving.

Entering the second round, Messaodene became a little more ambitious. Sensing Maguire’s pace had dropped and his work was becoming increasingly messy, Messaodene started to punch with him and find eye-catching counter punches. Maguire still remained in control, thanks to his activity levels and bodywork, but he was taking risks now.

Despite possessing the far better technique, hand speed and punch variety, Maguire allowed Messaodene a part in the fight simply by becoming slack and punch-happy. Rather than thinking about what shots to throw, Maguire would just throw them. It made for an exciting four-round tussle, but the now famous Naazim Richardson phrase ‘swimming without getting wet’ could hardly be applied to Maguire. He was getting wet.

Ultimately, though, the exciting Maguire did plenty of ‘swimming’, too, and landed a corker of a left-hook in the third round to put the game Messaodene firmly in his place. Brilliantly slipping a right hand, Maguire then came back with a counter left-hook that startled Messaodene and sent him to the floor.

The third-round knockdown applied the exclamation mark to the third pro victory of Maguire’s entertaining career. He moves to 3-0 (1 KO) and will have learnt a lot from Messaodene’s game approach to their four-rounder.

One man who enjoyed a shorter night and a satisfying knockout win was Hammersmith favourite ‘The Saint’ George Groves. Perhaps enjoying the loudest roar of the night from the jam-packed York Hall, Groves entered the ring to a din usually saved for big title nights. In this instance, it was only Groves’ second pro fight.

Saving arguably the most impressive performance until last, Groves exhibited all his maturity, ring generalship and punch selection against Romaric Hignard of France. Scheduled for six rounds, Groves’ punch-picking and timing was always likely to cut this entertaining rendezvous short.

It was no surprise, therefore, that Groves, a rangy super-middleweight with a spiteful jab, took control from the off. Displaying his physical strength in the clinch – often pushing Hignard over – Groves was simply too strong, too sharp and too fresh for the overwhelmed Frenchman.

At times, Groves left-jab was a revelation. Appearing to carry the power of a right hand, Groves would often snap back the head of Hignard with just the use of his left lead. It was a punch that not only set up further attacks and helped dictate the pace, but also was one that was hurting Hignard and visibly shaking him.

Perhaps even more impressive was Groves’ judging of distance and range, ensuring that he remained in a position to throw shots at all times, whether going forwards or backwards. When he was in range to punch, he’d punch. Then in an instant he’d be out of range, remaining clean of any response from Hignard.

Groves’ in-ring discipline allowed him to manoeuvre Hignard how he liked and effectively boss him around in the first round. Such was Groves’ speed and precision, Hignard found himself on the deck twice in the opener.

The domination continued through the second and third rounds as Groves stepped up the pace and began to introduce his powerful right hand. Whereas the left-jab was snapping back the head of Hignard, the right hand was threatening to disconnect it from its senses.

A series of right hands against the ropes saw Hignard become increasingly unsteady on his legs, and both Groves and the referee realised the end was nigh. Groves went in for the kill, and the referee had seen enough. Overpowered as he hauled himself up from another knockdown, Hignard was stopped as he got to his feet.

The imposing performance marked the second win of Groves’ pro career and also the first knockout win. He moves to 2-0 (1 KO).

Full results from HAYEMAKER 4:

George Groves RSF 3 Romaric Hignard
Michael Maguire W PTS Faycal Messaodene
Michael Grant W PTS Christopher Sebire
Lee Cook W PTS 4 Daniel Thorpe
Pat McAleese W PTS 4 Byron Vince
Caine Brodie RSF 1 Lee Nicholson

http://www.hayemaker.com/News/Default.aspx?Entry=59

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