George Groves: I'll send Martin Murray into retirement
Wednesday 8 June 2016 16:08, UK
George Groves believes he will send Martin Murray into retirement when they meet on June 25, live on Sky Sports Box Office.
The 28-year-old Londoner (23-3-0 KO18) faces Murray (33-3-1 KO16) in an eliminator for the WBA world super-middleweight title on the undercard of Anthony Joshua v Dominic Breazeale at the O2 Arena.
Murray, 33, has previously accepted that a loss against Groves could spell the end for him in boxing, having failed on four occasions to win a world title.
Groves has agreed with his domestic rival's assessment, insisting Murray will have little option but to hang up his gloves if he suffers defeat.
"I think if he loses he will think about packing it in," Groves said. "I can't speak for Martin but he's older than me and he's exhausted all the natural things that a fighter can do to win a world title.
"He didn't pull it off at middleweight, he's moved up to super-middleweight and he's had a crack at Arthur Abraham, and I think he let himself down there.
"He's got the domestic dust-up that he's craved and that's what is motivating him for this fight. If he doesn't win then I don't know where he goes from there."
Groves has failed three times in his quest to become a world champion, losing twice to Carl Froch and once to Badou Jack.
The victor on June 25 could be in line for a shot at Giovanni De Carolis' WBA strap and Groves is confident he will prove he is worthy of another crack at a world title.
"I'm the A-side of this fight but I also believe that he wanted this fight, and I wanted this fight. Martin called it a 50-50 fight then backtracked and said it wasn't," he added.
"I can understand why people might think that but I believe that I'm the heavy favourite in this one and you'll see why on fight night.
"I think that this fight could have sold out The O2 on its own, it's the type of fight that fight fans want to see and it's going to pull in casual fans, too.
"You will see improvements from me. People will be watching to see what I have got left and what Martin has got left, and the winner goes on to take all I hope.
"I believe I have an awful lot left to give and achieve in boxing and I don't want to fall at the first hurdle against Martin."
Don't miss Joshua v Breazeale live on Sky Sports Box Office on June 25 - with George Groves v Martin, Chris Eubank Jr v Tom Doran and more on the undercard.
