WBC super-middleweight champion defends against Badou Jack
Tuesday 21 April 2015 16:35, UK
George Groves will be able to watch his target, WBC champion Anthony Dirrell, live on Sky Sports.
The British super-middleweight is the mandatory challenger for the latest WBC world champion at 168lbs, who takes on Badou Jack, in Chicago on Friday night, live on Sky Sports 1, 2.00am (Saturday morning).
Dirrell, nicknamed The Dog, is the brother of Andre, who takes on James DeGale for the vacant IBF strap next month and is beginning his reign with a voluntary defence.
Groves, who went down the WBC route following his back-to-back losses against Carl Froch, called out the younger of the two brothers as soon as he was crowned champion following his points win over Sakio Bika in August, after a rough and tough draw in December 2013.
If I’d have known Sky were going to show it live I might not have booked my flights!
But Dirrell (27-0-1-KO22) refused to fight his mandatory and even suggested he hadn’t even heard of Groves before eventually opting to take on Stockholm-born Jack (18-1-1-KO12). He will now have to face his mandatory or vacate the belt by November.
Speaking on Sky Sports News HQ, Groves confirmed he will be flying out to Chicago to get an up-close and personal look at his next opponent.
He said: “If I’d have known Sky were going to show it live I might not have booked my flights! But it’s always good to go and see it live because you might see things you would otherwise miss. It will be a good opportunity to scope the opposition.
“If he (Dirrell) wins he’s got 10 days for us to secure a deal or the fight will go to purse bids and then it will take place in 90 days. So in July I will be challenging for the WBC, whether it’s Dirrell or Badou Jack.
“It’s nice to be in the gym without having a date to focus on too much. But I know I have a great opportunity in front of me and I have got plenty of time to prepare for it.”
Long-term enemies Groves and DeGale are both happy to have a rematch in the future following their first fight in May 2011, which the former edged on a split decision, while the latter will make history if he beats the older Dirrell next month, as Britain's first Olympic gold medallist winning a world title.
Groves added: “There’s things he’s achieved which I have never achieved like becoming an Olympic champion.
“We’ve had a fierce rivalry over the years and if he becomes a world champion before me that’s fate intervening, but as long as I beat him next time we box I’ll settle for that.”
This Friday's card at the UIC Pavilion, Chicago, also includes WBA world middleweight champion Daniel Jacobs making his first defence against Caleb Truax.
