George Groves insists he is back to 100 per cent fitness ahead of World Boxing Super Series final
The 30-year-old insists it is now back to 100 per cent in time for Friday night's world title defence against Callum Smith in the World Boxing Super Series Final in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
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Your support makes all the difference.Ever since he was a starry-eyed 12-year-old amateur, George Groves has lived in fear of letting his talent go to waste.
“It is not an anxiety as such,” he explains. “But it could become that... 'don't quit now, don't tap out now'.”
It was the driving force behind Groves' decision to embark on a journey of shoulder rehabilitation which he describes as the hardest fight of his career so far.
The 30-year-old insists it is now back to 100 per cent in time for Friday night's world title defence against Callum Smith in the World Boxing Super Series Final in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
At one point, ever boxing again let alone this month seemed unlikely when he dislocated his left shoulder in the final round of February's semi-final win over Chris Eubank Jr.
“It's been a dogged time rehabbing," he adds. "The hardest thing I have ever had to do, it has been agony.
“From seeing the chiropractor, the osteopath, the surgeon and the rehab afterwards was not easy. Looking in the mirror and seeing your shoulder is one fifth of the size it was going into the fight. But I have not done all of this to go through the motions, I will be just as good as I was before, if not better.
“There is a difference between some of it working and a bit of pain and being pain-free. I would have boxed with pain as long as it worked, but we have gone from 99 per cent working to 100 per cent. It was physically the hardest thing I've ever had to overcome. I always thought it might work again but it really did recover and feel good. Then I feel like a nasty person again and I want to have a fight.”
There were times, however, when the former British, Commonwealth, European and reigning world champion nearly threw in the towel. He said: “I did walk a tightrope of thinking 'can I be bothered?'
“Then you snap out of it, 'don't be so ignorant, you have a gift, why turn your back on the tournament? Then the next day you think 'fuck the tournament, I am not getting beat just because I am injured'.
“I could not look at [Smith's trainer] Joe Gallagher and say I lost because of the shoulder. I wouldn't even want to listen to myself using that excuse, so who else would I want to go out and finish the job. Since I was 12 and didn't want to go training I have always worked hard not to waste my talent.
“When friends started smoking at 16 or drinking at 18, I made myself not follow. No lads' holidays, all that stuff. And it is the same now at 30. 'Don't give up, don't waste it'.”
Having seen off Swindon's Jamie Cox and Chris Eubank Jr of Brighton already during the WBSS, it is a third Brit who lies in wait for Groves in the final.
The 28-year-old Smith, who is the youngest of Liverpool's famous boxing brothers, is 24-0 with 17 coming inside the distance. The challenger arrived in Saudi as the betting underdog but is genuinely expecting to leave as champion.
Groves, who will make his ringwalk at 11pm local time, 9pm back home, said: "I am not too fussed about Callum, to be honest.
“I don't know where he ranks on my list of opponents. I hope he is harder than Eubank but he will be totally different.
“I think he is dangerous early. I think he looks easy to hit but as soon as you let your hands go, he clips you.
“I think if it goes long he will have doubts about fitness and concentration and if he switches off I will take advantage.”
Groves arrived in Jeddah on Monday, leaving his wife and two children behind and they are not expected to make the trip out to watch him in action.
But it has been a case of so far so good for the champion during his first fight week outside of Europe or north America.
“I don't want to have lunch with a sultan,” he said. “I would rather watch Netflix.
"Everything out here has been better than expected, you know, I have never been here before. But the food has been fantastic, the people have been lovely and our accommodation is great.
“I am going to win, and I am going to win well. We are in a great place."
Groves v Smith will be shown LIVE on ITV Box Office. Registration is open at itvboxoffice.com.
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