Badou Jack praises Floyd Mayweather Jr ahead of George Groves fight

WBC world super-middleweight champion Badou Jack has lifted the lid on life as a Mayweather Promotions fighter ahead of his clash with George Groves.

The 31-year-old (19-1-1-KO12) takes on the Englishman on the undercard of Floyd Mayweather Jr's bout with Andre Berto on September 12 and took a trip down memory lane with Sky Sports - recalling his first break with Shannon Briggs and the subsequent progress that has led him to defending a world title.

When asked how he came to Mayweather Jr's attention and of the development of his relationship with the unbeaten American, Jack said: "I was working out on his gym and they wanted me to - actually I wanted to - spar with Anthony Dirrell's brother, Andre Dirrell, and that is how it all started.

"I did pretty good and I'd only had nine or 10 fights by that time and he had fought for the world title of course, but it was a good sparring session and I held my own. 

"I did push-ups in between rounds as we put on a good show, so then Floyd really likes me and I knocked someone out the next day so he just said: 'Right I want to sign him.' It didn't take long to sign.

I did push-ups in between rounds as we put on a good show, so then Floyd really likes me and I knocked someone out the next day so he just said: 'right I want to sign him'.

"You have got a lot of eyes on you and you've got a lot of haters out there, which comes with it. But you've just got to stay focused on your own career, train hard and don't worry about the rest. I just focus on my career, that's it.

"I'm pretty close to him. It's so better to have someone - like Shannon - who has been a boxer and does not just care about boxing business, he cares about you as a person as well. He's a real good friend and also he is the best fighter in the world and that is not going to hurt!

"He makes sure you get on the big stage. He got me the [Anthony] Dirrell fight for me and I took advantage of it and got the victory."

Jack added: "I started boxing when I was 17 or 18 years old. I started going to the gym and enjoyed and I've been training ever since.

"Former heavyweight world champion Shannon Briggs was the guy that discovered me in Sweden, so I moved to his house in America. I trained with him for a while, got my visa sorted and then I started boxing in Las Vegas.

"He's a good friend of mine - and he's a funny guy. He's the same sort of guy in and out of the ring; he's got a great personality and he is a humble man. I like him a lot.

"He tells me about his life and all his experiences and in his boxing career, so he's given me a lot of advice - not just in boxing, in life in general. Like Floyd does."