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George Groves outsmarts Chris Eubank Jr in Manchester

Written by Keeran Rajan on 18th February 2018.

George Groves edged out arch nemesis Chris Eubank Jr in a thoroughly enthralling encounter in Manchester tonight.

‘The Saint’ recorded a unanimous decision verdict to eliminate his rival who predicted a knockout coming into this match-up.

Eubank has now been eliminated in the World Boxing Super Series.

Groves advances to the final of the World Boxing Super Series, now as the unified WBA and IBO super-middleweight champion.

The judges scorecards, read tallies of 117-112, 116-112, 115-113 at the end of the night.

Groves was quick out the gate as the fight began and he established a two point advantage after the first two rounds.

‘The Saint’ was establishing his dominance in terms of ring space. He was offsetting Eubank’s timing with his effective use of the feint to open up opportunities, early doors.

Eubank Jr looked disheveled and lost as we came into the third round as Groves added yet another round into the bank.

A crucial moment in the fight happened in that round also when Groves drew blood from Eubank Jr.

Eubank responded by buzzing Groves but he didn’t press his advantages when he had his man on the ropes.

https://twitter.com/WBSuperSeries/status/965004489072689152

Round four saw more of the same with Groves still boxing effectively on the back-foot. Eubank was being picked off and he looked lost in his attempts to cut off the ring space.

Eubank ended the round with a flurry, but there was still a lingering feeling he had been whitewashed through the first four rounds.

Groves controlled the distance throughout the fight and furthermore controlled the pace and was very smart in knowing when to tie up Eubank Jr as he got into close quarters.

Groves was in total control as the fight approached the middle rounds. Eubank Jr was in desperate need of a plan B.

He responded strongly in the fifth finding some success with his left hook.

The first one that landed was a leaping left hook, he followed that up with another thudding left hand as he showed some signs of improvement.

‘CEJ’ was having a hard time finding his mark with his jab and right hand in the sixth.

Jr seemed not focused on building on the success he found with the left hook in the fifth and to make matters worse his cut was beginning to bleed profusely.

Round 6 saw the tempers flare a tad more. The referee had to intervene and reprimand both combatants for hitting on the break.

Eubank had not started a fight at this slow a pace since his battle with the reigning WBO world middleweight title Billy Joe Saunders.

Groves found success with his work to the body. Groves looked smart as he attempted to matador the ever present aggression of his foe.

As we entered the fight’s championship rounds the scene was that Eubank was flashy but wildly inconsistent. Groves boxing skill seemed to be carrying him to victory.

The fight exploded into action in the eighth round with both men looking to unload their heavy artillery, it did seem as though we could be headed towards a knockout ending.

However, as we entered the tenth, Groves was beginning to show signs of fatigue.

Groves was becoming more of a sitting target and Eubank made him pay by landing multiple left hooks.

But again, it was not enough to break his man down.

While Eubank was finding success in his role as the bull he didn’t over-commit by staying in the pocket with Groves for as long he could.

The eleventh round saw Eubank Jr go gung-ho for the stoppage.

Eubank backed up Groves with a solid uppercut but ‘The Saint’ responded with a thudding right of his own.

The domestic rivals brought the curtain down on their sizzling encounter in dramatic fashion in the fight’s final stanza.

The round began with Groves suffering a ghastly looking injury to his shoulder.

It appeared as though he had suffered a dislocation.

Groves dropped his hands while pinned against the ropes and forced glaring misses from Eubank Jr.

Eubank pressed until the very end however and nailed Groves with two dynamite uppercuts as we entered the final minute of action.

Eubank earned his stripes in this encounter and showcased his toughness by always being aggressive.

He fought much of the fight with having to deal with the sight of his own blood too.

But, he was thoroughly outclassed by ‘The Saint’ who now deservedly moves on to the final stage of the prestigious tournament.

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