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The former WBA Super-Middleweight World champion George Groves will stand ringside on Friday night, swapping gloves for the microphone, as Wasserman Boxing welcomes in a new era of Channel 5 boxing.
Casting his keen eye over all of the action, the former British Super-Middleweight champion is excited to see who comes out on top in the main event. A tremendously even and exciting bout for the British Middleweight Title between Linus Udofia and Denzel Bentley, that is guaranteed to get hearts racing.
“I think this is a really great domestic fight, one of them that people can get behind and really enjoy. They’re both long, loose punchers. They’ve both shown that their styles can leave them a little bit open defensively as they’re so committed with trying to attack, so it could end up being a case of who catches who.
“They’ve got exciting styles, and they punch with spite and venom, and they’ll probably be looking to take the other guy out,” said Groves.
Twice a former ABA Middleweight king, the opportunity to win a domestic title is an experience ‘Saint George’ can relate with. Amongst all the accolades available to boxers, the main event will offer the fighters an all-important chance at cementing their legacy in British boxing folklore.
“It’s one of them ones you really want in the locker to look back on. Even if you’ve got ambitions to go on and unify at world title level, you still want to pick up the British Title and have it as part of your history. Bentley had it before and lost it, but both men will be in there to win it.
“It’s a magnificent belt, and it still carries its weight in terms of its presence and its appeal. When two fighters come for the British belt, you always feel like you get a little bit more out of them, a little more entertainment. Both of them will be desperate to win it.”
Josh ‘Pretty Boy’ Kelly has kept the boxing world in suspense, and looks refreshed and excited ahead of his return fight live on Channel 5. Kelly suffered his first career loss against David Avanesyan last time out, but such a moment can make a fighter.
Groves has experienced the feeling of a high-profile loss in his career, but it never stopped him achieving his ultimate goal of becoming a champion of the world. He is eager to see positive changes in Kelly, expecting the time out the ring has been used to add to his world class talent.
“It’ll be tough, and he’ll have to show some mental resilience. Boxing is a tough game, and there’s some brutal decisions. I hope that’s what he’s been working on for the last year and a bit, filling in the gaps between his skillset and his explosive one-punch stuff, tightening up his defense, and just being comfortable with the pressure,” said Groves.
“It has been the ideal time for him to rebuild. I want to see something a little different from him on the night as well. He’s a tremendously talented fighter, and he’s still a work in progress. I am excited to see him back as he can still be one of Britain’s stars, if he can just make them adjustments.”
Harlem Eubank will be looking to leave Friday night with his hand raised and another win to add to his unbeaten record. The Adam Booth trained fighter will be looking to lean on his coach to continue progressing him through the ranks with a solid performance. Groves knows very well of ex-mentor Booth, and the gym in which so many champions have been moulded. Booth, a solid figure and an intelligent mind to have in your corner, can offer the home for Eubank to continue thriving.
There will be no guarantees of a walkover come Friday evening though, as Birkenhead’s experienced Sean ‘Masher’ Dodd will come to give viewers their money’s worth, live on Channel 5.
“Eubank will have been getting great work in with the guys at the gym, I’m sure. It’s a very talented gym he is a part of, and he seems like someone who is always in great spirits too. He talks well, always confident, thirteen wins and no losses – he’s moving along nicely.
“He’s in there with Sean ‘Masher’ Dodd, someone who is vastly experienced but does have a few losses on the record now. It should be a really good fight, one that Eubank will be expecting to win. Dodd will certainly make things difficult for him as the experienced professional he is.”
A fight card with massive potential, and all available for the terrestrial audience. Groves beat Eduard Gutknecht on Channel 5 in 2016, and has welcomed the return of the sport to the channel under Wasserman Boxing.
“These viewers may not all be sports subscribers, they may not be sports driven, but they’ll tune in to the boxing at the weekend. They’ll see a name, note a performance, and want to follow them from there.
“It’s another channel who are committed to boxing; Channel 5 have shown boxing for years now and they’ve had plenty of the elite fighting on there. They’ve shown it’s a good place to develop serious talent and cement yourself as a big name in British boxing. If you think about your (Josh) Kelly’s, your (Josh) Taylor’s, your Chris Eubank Jr’s – they’ve all been here before. Channel 5 should see there’s no ceiling to their ambition, and that they can take on the world.”
As for the involvement of George Groves, could standing that close to a boxing ring again rekindle the fire in his belly?
“I do enjoy standing on the safe side of the ropes now. It’s nice to be on the mic, throwing my two-cents in; I never knew I could talk so much,” said Groves.
“I’m thankful that Channel 5 have wanted me to come and dip my toe into the boxing world from a safe distance. I live it, breathe it, and study it; so now I have the chance to give my account of what we’ll see. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”
The hotly anticipated British Middleweight Title clash between Linus Udofia (17-0, 9 KOs) and Denzel Bentley (15-1-1, 13 KOs), the return of Josh Kelly (10-1-1, 6 KOs) against Xhuljo Vrenozi (18-4,3 KOs) and Harlem Eubank (13-0, 5 KOs) versus Sean Dodd (17-6-1, 3 KOs) will top a stacked card in the capital as Wasserman Boxing launch their first free-to-air event live on Channel 5 on Friday May 13 at the Indigo at the O2, in association with William Hill, Numan and Infinitum Entertainment.
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