Groves suffers brutal defeat against Smith

George Groves suffered a seventh-round knockout against Callum Smith in their super-middleweight showdown in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Smith took the Hammersmith’s fighter’s world title and won the World Boxing Super Series in dramatic fashion, shaking him with a thunderous left hook before landing several follow-up shots, including a vicious body shot, to put Groves down.

The West Londoner, who had boxed well up to that stage, did not beat the count.

He had been wobbled by a right-hand counter in the third – a warning of the threat carried by the powerful, 6ft 3in Smith – but used his jab well and landed a number of body shots before the unbeaten Smith took him out in devastating fashion.

Smith’s win also saw him pick up the prestigious Ring Magazine belt, awarded to fighters regarded as the best in their weight division.

Groves, who was making the third defence of the WBA belt he won last year, now faces a decision on his future after his fourth career defeat.