George Groves tells skysports.com that taking Charles Adamu's title off launch his pro career.
Winning that first title will open doors for ambitious George
Hayemaker prodigy George Groves turns 22 today. Eight days later he will have to come of age in the ring.
On April 3, the precocious super-middleweight challenges Charles Adamu for his Commonwealth title as chief support to David Haye's heavyweight world title date with John Ruiz.
That honour, plus the fact that it will be only his ninth professional fight, shows just how highly his promotional and training team rate Groves.
Adamu has not been stopped in 21 fights and has taken current WBC champion Carl Froch the distance. He brings his belt to Manchester on the back of a points win over Carl Dilks after a lay-off of 15 months - longer than his latest challenger has been a paid fighter.
The stage and the stats suggest this will be the hardest night of Groves' life, but it is one the West Londoner can barely wait for.
"This is a fight that I really had to push for. I went to Adam (Booth, trainer and promoter) and told him I really wanted it," he told
skysports.com at Hayemaker's London HQ.
"It is a bit of a gamble and it will be an experience but there's no way it's a step too far.
"We've been trying to find opponents that will test me, but without seeing them, you never know. But this guy has been 12 rounds with Carl Froch, he's been 12 rounds with Otis Grant, so he's a decent fighter."
Inspired
It might sound like the impetousness of youth taking hold, but Groves is as assured as he is excited about this. He is convinced he will be too good for Adamu, 10 years his senior.
Groves though, has grown up fast. A talented amateur who of course is now synonymous with James DeGale after victory over him, he made his professional debut in front of thousands at the 02 Arena the night Haye blew Monte Barrett away.
Before a year had passed he was boxing in Nuremberg, Germany as the curtain-raiser on one of British boxing's biggest nights - and scored a shut-out win over the durable Belarussian Konstantin Makhankov.
In between he has racked up six more wins in more customary surrounds, but is clearly inspired, not intimidated, by the limelight.
"I love the glitz and glamour of boxing as much as I love the fighting - and you don't get much more glamorous than David Haye at the moment," he said.
"To be part of the gym and part of the buzz at the moment is fantastic for me. It's a good learning process for me, but hopefully I'll be where he is one day. It's certainly an inspiration.
"A lot of fighters have that confidence but I'm not sure they really have that belief they can get to the top. But with me, it's standing there right next to me - that's where I want to be. I want to be a world champion."
Attention
It might sound like he is getting ahead of himself after so few fights, but despite the grandeur that goes with being on a Hayemaker card these days, Groves has his feet firmly on the ground.
He chuckles to himself as he recalls that night in Nuremberg when he was anything but the centre of attention at Arena Nürnberger .
"That was a really, really weird night," he said. "Warming up I wasn't at all nervous, I was just excited about the main event!
"All I could think about was getting the job done so I could watch David beat the guy! When we got in the ring, we had a laugh actually; it was a 6,000-seat arena and there were about 250 people in there because I was the first fighter on at six o'clock.
"Still, I like to think I put on a show for them. And they had come to see the main event after all, so it never really bothered me. This time though, with it being in Manchester and my fight being so close to David's it will be pretty packed.
"Obviously this time I'll be boxing in England, in front of 20,000 people in Manchester, I'm the chief support and I can't wait to get in there.
That is likely to bring the brash best out of Groves. Already his powerful punches and slick style have earned rave reviews, while his low left-hand - almost actively encouraged by trainer Adam Booth - will no doubt earn equal derision.
But in keeping with Hayemaker's ethos, Groves likes to do things a little bit different. Like fight for a Commonwealth title in his ninth fight. Like try and goad DeGale into battle with £50,000.
It did not tempt his old foe into the ring, but it was no surprise that no sooner had Frank Warren and the Olympic gold medallist had even mentioned the Commonwealth title, Hayemaker had announced the Adamu fight.
Dreams
Not for the first time, Groves has beaten DeGale to the punch. He admits it was far too early for a rematch, but knows he already has the sort of rivalry in place that the biggest names in boxing have often fostered - and feasted on.
"We were sitting around in the gym, trying to find an opponent and I said 'I know one man who'll have it' - that was DeGale," said Groves.
"So we offered him £50,000 but it turns out he didn't want it. He says he did, but he didn't. But that's fine, I'll let him deal with that and he can fight me for one of my titles down the line.
"I've got this fight with Adamu and win that and I've got a title - people will want to come and fight me. You can understand the risks there are in boxing me because a loss can put people's career back a long way - and I would beat them."
This risk here is obvious - he is aware the all-too British perversity of enjoying someone fall flat on their face will follow him as it follows DeGale - but the rewards, says Groves, are crucial to fulfilling his dreams.
"Once I've won that first title it will change the perspective on everything," he said. "After I beat Adamu, maybe even James will want to have a go... actually I don't think he will."
Well, maybe not one dream.
