Groves lining up world title challenge

By

George Groves intends to face the winner of next month’s world title clash between Arthur Abraham and Robert Stieglitz.

The pair meet in Germany for Abraham’s WBO belt – a week after Groves takes on Mouhamed Ali Ndiaye at Wembley Arena for the vacant European super-middleweight crown.

Groves was due to fight Stieglitz – then the WBO champion – last March but was forced to withdraw from the bout because of an injury.

Stieglitz subsequently lost to Abraham and unbeaten Commonwealth champion Groves is in line to take on the winner of their rematch.

The 24-year-old from Hammersmith is the WBO’s number one contender and therefore the mandatory challenger.

Groves said: “With me being number one in the WBO that is the direction that I’m going in and I’ve got to keep an eye on these guys as I’ll be looking to fight the winner next.

“I’m focused on the fight in hand first, though, against Ndiaye, and winning the European title. But once I come through that I want to be in Germany to see Abraham against Stieglitz up close.

“I was gutted when I couldn’t take on Stieglitz last year as I’m confident I would have beaten him as Abraham went on to do, and I’d be the world champion now. But my time will come.”

Groves v Ndiaye is on 16 March and features as chief support on a card joint-headlined by WBO lightweight champion Ricky Burns’ unification showdown against IBF champion Miguel Vazquez, and WBO light-heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly’s defence against Robin Krasniqi.

West Londoners Steve O’Meara, Gary Corcoran and Mitchell Smith are also due to feature on the bill.

It will be screened on BoxNation (Sky channel 437/Virgin channel 546). Join at www.boxnation.com

Tickets are available from the Eventim box office on 0844 249 100 or eventim.co.uk and the Wembley Arena box office on 0844 815 0815 or wembleyarena.co.uk

YTo4OntzOjk6IndpZGdldF9pZCI7czoyMDoid3lzaWphLW5sLTEzNTI0NjE4NjkiO3M6NToibGlzdHMiO2E6MTp7aTowO3M6MToiMyI7fXM6MTA6Imxpc3RzX25hbWUiO2E6MTp7aTozO3M6MjI6Ildlc3QgTG9uZG9uIFNwb3J0IGxpc3QiO31zOjEyOiJhdXRvcmVnaXN0ZXIiO3M6MTc6Im5vdF9hdXRvX3JlZ2lzdGVyIjtzOjEyOiJsYWJlbHN3aXRoaW4iO3M6MTM6ImxhYmVsc193aXRoaW4iO3M6Njoic3VibWl0IjtzOjMzOiJTdWJzY3JpYmUgdG8gb3VyIGRhaWx5IG5ld3NsZXR0ZXIiO3M6Nzoic3VjY2VzcyI7czoyODM6IlRoYW5rIHlvdSEgUGxlYXNlIGNoZWNrIHlvdXIgaW5ib3ggaW4gb3JkZXIgdG8gY29uZmlybSB5b3VyIHN1YnNjcmlwdGlvbi4gSWYgeW91IGRvbid0IHNlZSBhbiBlLW1haWwgZnJvbSB1cywgY2hlY2sgeW91ciBzcGFtIGZvbGRlci4gSWYgeW91IHN0aWxsIGhhdmVuJ3QgcmVjZWl2ZWQgYSBjb25maXJtYXRpb24gbWVzc2FnZSwgcGxlYXNlIGUtbWFpbCBmZWVkYmFja0B3ZXN0bG9uZG9uc3BvcnQuY29tIGFuZCB0ZWxsIHVzIHlvdSB3aXNoIHRvIHN1YnNjcmliZSB0byBvdXIgbmV3c2xldHRlci4iO3M6MTI6ImN1c3RvbWZpZWxkcyI7YToxOntzOjU6ImVtYWlsIjthOjE6e3M6NToibGFiZWwiO3M6NToiRW1haWwiO319fQ==

 

Follow West London Sport on Twitter
Find us on Facebook