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Martin Murray on George Groves: ‘When it gets tough, he’ll crumble’

Fighters Network
17
Jun
Groves (l) and Murray. Photo: Lawrence Lustig

Martin Murray (right) and George Groves. Photo credit: Lawrence Lustig

Martin Murray believes George Groves is more concerned about being the “A-side” of their battle than he is about the fight itself, as the British rivals count down to their eagerly anticipated super middleweight clash on June 25 at the O2 Arena in London, England.

Murray has fallen short against Gennady Golovkin, Sergio Martinez and Felix Sturm in middleweight title bouts and also pushed then-WBO super middleweight beltholder Arthur Abraham close in a split decision loss last November.

Groves, who is rated No. 5 by THE RING at 168 pounds, has lost a trio of world title fights in the past two-and-a-half years. The “Saint” was halted on two occasions by Carl Froch, before dropping a majority decision to WBC titleholder Badou Jack last September.

“I’ve been in bigger fights than (Groves) all over the world against better opposition,” said Murray in a press release issued by Matchroom Boxing. “The fact that his name comes first means nothing to me. I’m a 33-year-old man, how’s that going to bother me?



“He got his name by losing twice to Carl Froch and that’s why he’s the A-side. If I’m not established enough as a world-class fighter now, I’m going to be when I beat George. Even though I’ve been in bigger and tougher fights than him, that’s the way it is. He thinks that the 80,000 tickets (sold) at Wembley (Stadium) were down to him, nothing to do with Carl.”

Murray also believes Groves has been unable to accept previous setbacks.

“I don’t think he should’ve left (trainer) Adam Booth. He finds it easy to pass the blame. He blamed the referee after the first Froch fight; he blamed a ‘punch from the gods’ for the second fight and blamed (trainer) Paddy Fitzpatrick for the Jack loss.

“After Badou Jack, I heard he was talking about retiring. He has come back and had two fights where he’s been firing at sitting ducks and there’s been nothing coming back at him. He’s got his confidence back and thinks this is an easy fight but it’s not, and, when it gets tough, he will crumble. I want him to keep thinking that it’s easy because he’ll find out next Saturday how wrong he is and I can’t wait to prove it.”

Murray vs. Groves is the chief support to Anthony Joshua’s IBF heavyweight title defense against unbeaten American Dominic Breazeale.

Also on the card, Chris Eubank Jr. defends his British middleweight title against Welshman Tom Doran; John Wayne Hibbert clashes with Andrea Scarpa. Dillian Whyte returns to the fray; unbeaten star Kal Yafai is in action. Olympic bronze medalist Anthony Ogogo continues his comeback from injury; Conor Benn fights for the third time in the paid ranks and there’s a debut for Team GB star Felix Cash.

 

 

Portions of this report provided via press release.

 

Tom Gray is a member of the British Boxing Writers’ Association and has contributed to various publications. Follow him on Twitter @Tom_Gray_Boxing.

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