Thursday 17 December 2015 16:39, UK
World title challenger George Groves has explained his decision to choose Shane McGuigan as his new trainer.
Groves lost a world title fight for the third time on September 12 when he suffered a majority decision defeat at the hands of WBC super-middleweight champion Badou Jack - and the Londoner confirmed after the bout he would no longer be working with trainer Paddy Fitzpatrick.
Speculation that Groves would quit the sport followed the announcement, but the 27-year-old has now appointed McGuigan as his coach and is confident that the change in staff will bring about a change in fortunes.
A few things weren't quite right and we can improve on a few things, so I parted ways with my old trainer and teamed up with Shane McGuigan.
Groves told Sky Sports News HQ: "I lost a very close world title challenge in Las Vegas away from home. A few things weren't quite right and we can improve on a few things, so I parted ways with my old trainer and teamed up with Shane McGuigan.
"We've been training together behind closed doors for a few weeks now and I'm really enjoying it. We're on the same wavelength and I feel like I'm producing great work in the gym. We're looking forward to showing improvements and getting back to winning ways in January.
"I was driving to meet him for our first meeting with one of my promoters, Nisse Sauerland and talking about what went wrong and my style of fighting, then when we sat down with Shane he explained exactly the same thing. That was an inkling we are on the same wavelength.
"I'm back punching hard in the gym. My knuckles aren't enjoying it but everything else is. He's got a great stable of fighters with Carl preparing for his big fight next year. Barry is in the gym from time to time. Shane has a presence and authority that I enjoy. It's a great gym.
"Someone like Shane is the right man to give me the correct information at the right time. He proved that with Carl Frampton. Carl's last fight wasn't as easy as previous ones but Shane stepped up and Carl went on to have a comfortable win which started terribly.
"Hopefully, I won't get dropped any more so he won't have to coach me over a bad round. I'm enjoying the information he's giving me - on pads, bags and even outside on conditioning. It's new stuff. Basic and powerful. It's back towards where I want to be and I'm enjoying it."
Groves (21-3-KO16) returns to action on January 30 when he takes on Andrea Di Luisa (18-3-KO14) in London.
