WBSS super-middleweight competition update - Groves vs Eubank Jr set

Everybody is hittable when you fight in fighting range and George is no different!
Jr is going to be on him from the get go, that's how I see it.
Jr has underrated head movement, but he can be timed by the jab at times especially when the opponent gets off 1st, but he is very difficult to land on clean with the counters. Jr is a very awkward fighter which has its own advantageous.

Groves has attributes to his game that are 2nd to none, but glaring weaknesses make him vulnerable to other elite operators. I have no doubt George is far more deliberate and sticks to the game plan far better than Jr, I don't think he has the same ability to adapt when the going gets tough though. George has footwork, balance and timing that are levels above Jr when he's fresh, but the difference isn't so great when he's puffing.

George is no doubt the bigger puncher but will Jr's punches have more effect? I don't think George takes a punch as well as Jr, but I could be wrong and its one of the big keys to this fight.

Groves is mentally as tough as anyone but physically frail when the pace is tough, Jr has supreme hand speed (far quicker than George) and the ability to fight at a tough pace and put in huge efforts in short burst but he also recovers remarkably quickly too.

 

Jr's biggest strengths
Hand speed- nobody has faster hands @ 160 or 168
Stamina- Is as fit as anyone, he can fight for days
Combination punching- He can do it all with both hands, fast and accurate, head and body.
Body punching- Jr is known to be a brutal body puncher and he always targets the body, its part of the reason his opponents cant hack the pace
Toughness- It is yet to be fully proven, but I think he can take a beating and keep coming.

Think he's world class in all these aspects

Foot work and balance are his biggest weaknesses. He has very good foot speed but is often out of position when throwing punches which takes sting off his punches, his awkwardness means its very difficult to capitalize on.
Jr is more of a fighter than a boxer and makes fights far more difficult then they have to be. He like to go to war too much, and when you do that you can be hit. Nobody has made him pay yet, but it could happen.
I think it would take someone a bit tougher than Groves to do it though, because Jr will be landing too.

 

Appreciate the responses James. We appraise Groves similarly, but I just haven't been convinved from what I've seen that Eubank's strengths can make up for the areas he's weaker than Groves in. Yes it's that footwork that seems to stand out about him. Squares up, especially as he comes in and throws. Reviewing more video of him, yes he does have really good activity and ability to throw in combination, seemingly great fitness, and the speed, I said Groves is faster but I'll call them really close.

If he's as willing to trade as you acknowledge he can be, that doesn't sound like a good sign, and is when Groves could sharp shoot him. I like Groves to jab and move early and bank rounds before he even gets the chance to exploit a Eubank who's more eager to trade. We did see against Saunders Eubank can be outboxed, and Groves is about as skilled but longer, and hits a lot harder. Anyway, we'll most likely see them fight and get the answers. I'm pretty psyched, of course partly in hopes Groves kicks his ass, partly for the drama of the unknown.

 

With all due respect why is Jamie Cox even involved? Just for a pretty record? He is woefully unprepared to swim in waters this deep.

 

I'm not sure, I've heard a lot of people over here who really rate him, but I just don't see it. He's just a solid domestic level operator on the level of Rocky Fielding etc.

 

That is interesting! And by interesting, I mean strange and wrong. Maybe Abraham's dad should've been allowed to arm wrestle Eubank Sr for the right to pick? Probably both Eubank and Abraham correctly ranked based on their current level at number 3.

 

The more I think about it the more the semi format makes sense.

Why should no1 pick get the easiest QF and SF, only fair they get the harder SF.

I

 

@qwertyblahblah, @james5000

Guys, thanks for a great breakdown on GG and CEJ strengths and weaknesses and how the matchup might go. Good, honest and respspectful debate that didn't resort to gutter talk, name calling and childish behaviour we often see on here! I wish we have more of this on here.

@KiwiMan great thread!

 

Because of his unbeaten record

 

I can see Yildrim beating Eubank, I think Brant will beat Braehmer too.

Hoping for a Groves vs Smith final.

 

Betting this, I won't even want to take a value play from the bottom half. I'll just take Groves big, and hedge a bit against him in the semis and final.