Saturday 27 May 2017 21:54, UK
Will George Groves become a world champion at the fourth attempt? Expert predictions for his WBA 'Super' super-middleweight title fight against Fedor Chudinov...
Groves should win. Chudinov is too upright to avoid his sharp-shooting style. Having said that, he has to be careful because Chudinov is one sturdy super-middleweight with decent power. He is quite limited in his style and he is hard and as we saw against Buglioni, he has strong balance and he was still quite springy on his toes.
Groves should win. Chudinov is too upright to avoid his sharp-shooting style.
He is going to need that because if your opponent's got that low left and that powerful jab, like Groves has, and you remain static, it will be like taking candy from a baby. I can't see this going the distance but I have to favour Groves.
I expect Groves to beat Chudinov. Not just because he is average in comparison to other super-middleweight world champions, but because Groves is actually a good fighter.
I can see Groves taking this on points and I would like to see Groves do it, but I don't think I'll be offering him a handshake.
He's strong, he punches hard and he's actually shown good fitness in his last couple of fights, especially late on. I can see him taking this on points and I would like to see Groves do it, but I don't think I'll be offering him a handshake.
I do expect Groves to win the fight and become world champion. This is Groves' best chance. Everything is in his favour. He's had another camp with Shane McGuigan and he'll be firing on all cylinders.
Groves is very heavy-handed, with a fantastic jab that is getting back to the jab that Adam Booth created. I expect that jab to be pivotal, and to bust Chudinov up.
Chudinov is a tough customer but Groves is very heavy handed, with a fantastic jab that is getting back to the jab that Adam Booth created. I expect that jab to be pivotal, and to bust Chudinov up.
Groves wins. Chudinov is a tough guy but Groves will out-box him early on, hit him with some very hard shots, and get a stoppage late on.
He wants to be in a position to have a thriller against James DeGale but, rightly, he can't do it unless he's a world champion. I believe, if George doesn't win, he'll walk away himself.
George has been fortunate to get four shots at a world title so he can't afford a loss. It's do-or-die. Groves wins on points.
George has been fortunate to get four shots at a world title so he can't afford a loss. It's do-or-die. Groves wins on points.
This is an interesting fight but even more so because it's over here in the UK, and that means one thing and one thing only: Groves is going to win.
It might be closer than we expect but it will be Groves on points.
If Chudinov was a great champion, he wouldn't need to be here and the only thing I can see is Groves winning this. It might be closer than we expect but it will be Groves on points. It makes sense boxing-wise and business-wise.
It's strange when it comes to Chudinov. We saw him bully Frank Buglioni round the ring, then we saw what Buglioni did to Hosea Burton, so maybe Chudinov is stronger and hits harder than people think. But if that is the case, Groves' fight with Martin Murray was the perfect preparation.
I think Groves will roll back the years and produce the sort of performance needed, like when he did what he had to do to beat James DeGale. He wins on points.
I can see Groves getting that jab popping out, doing what he does well and he is just too big and hits too hard with that right hand. I think he will roll back the years and produce the sort of performance needed, like when he did what he had to do to beat James DeGale. He wins on points.
I've known George Groves personally since he was 17 and this guy can punch - and I mean punch.
I wouldn't be surprised if because of his power, Groves puts him down and gets him out there.
This looks like a great fight to me and Chudinov looks in real good shape, so this could go the distance. But I wouldn't be surprised if because of his power, Groves puts him down and gets him out there.
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