George Groves plays down significance of Badou Jack fight

11 September 2015 01:16

George Groves does not regard his world title clash against Badou Jack in Las Vegas this weekend as the most significant bout of his career.

The Londoner will attempt to wrest the WBC super-middleweight crown from his Swedish-born opponent, who is making the first defence of his title on the undercard of Floyd Mayweather's welterweight contest against Andre Berto.

The fight marks Groves' third tilt at a world title, having suffered a pair of knockout defeats to fellow Englishman Carl Froch, with the re-match an 80,000 sell-out at Wembley Stadium last May.

It is for that reason the 27-year-old, while not underestimating Jack, believes he has fought on a grander stage.

Speaking to US network Showtime, Groves, who has won his last two fights since losing for the second time to Froch, said: "It's a huge fight for me purely because the WBC title is on the line.

"I think I've been involved in bigger fights before against higher class opposition but that doesn't mean I've taken my eye off the ball or taken Badou Jack lightly.

"Of course I'm confident about winning, I'm always confident about winning, the easiest way for me to describe this fight is Badou Jack's a good fighter but I'm a better fighter, so that's why I'm going to win.

"He doesn't do anything exceptional, the things he does well I feel I do better."

Groves was even left unfazed by the prospect of fighting at the MGM Grand, one of boxing's most famous venues.

"I walked round the MGM this morning, it's not that big to me," he added. "I've boxed in football stadiums that are sold out and been main event, I've carried shows. I've understood the pressures that go with huge fights, this is minuscule in comparison to those things."

Jack, who took his record to 19-1-1 by beating Anthony Dirrell by majority decision to win his world title in April this year, mocked Groves for his defeats to Froch.

"The thing is he's never won a world title so he got famous for being knocked out by Carl Froch," Jack said. "He's a good fighter, I respect him, but I'm very comfortable that I'm going to beat him."

Source: PA