Groves to face Russia’s Chudinov in world title fight

George Groves is set to face former champion Fedor Chudinov in a world title clash early next year.

Hammersmith’s Groves, 28, will make his fourth attempt to become a world champion.

It will be for the WBA ‘super’ super-middleweight title – regarded above the ‘regular’ title recently won by Germany’s Tyron Zeuge – and negotiations over a date and venue are ongoing.

Groves was twice beaten by former champion Carl Froch when attempting to win the WBA and IBF belts and lost on points to WBC champion Badou Jack in Las Vegas last year.

Jack will next month face Groves’ arch-rival and fellow west Londoner James DeGale, who is the current IBF champion, in a unification showdown.

The hard-hitting Chudinov, 29, has won all but one of his 15 fights and the Russian was WBA champion before a points defeat against Felix Sturm earlier this year.

Sturm later tested positive for a banned substance and vacated the title, citing an elbow injury.