Promoter Eddie Hearn broke down the upcoming World Boxing Super Series semi-final bout between George Groves and Chris Eubank Jr.
The Matchroom boss favours Groves in the fight vastly due to the WBA World super middleweight champion being a thinking boxer but in the end, he did go into detail about Eubank’s strengths and what a win over Groves would mean careerwise.
“I think Groves is the favourite in the fight. I saw the odds made the Eubank quite a strong favourite which surprises me because Eubank has never mixed in that level. Groves is not the fighter that he was but he looks really sharp and I do rate Shane McGuigan and I rate George Groves as a fighter and as a thinker,” said Hearn to Boxing Social.
Hearn believes Groves’ trainer Shane McGuigan and the Londoner will have a better game plan on fight night than the Eubanks.
“I just think they are going to have a great game plan going into the fight. The game plan can go out of the window within the first round or two, especially when you got a young fighter who applies pressure like Eubank does, but also they know what Eubank’s going to do,” he said.
Can Eubank surprise Groves with something?
“There’s not going to be any surprises. He’s gonna come out, he’s gonna force a vicious workrate, he’s gonna throw loads of punches, loads of combinations and he’s going to be very aggressive but he’s also going to do that with very little head movement and very little regard from what comes back from George Groves. And that is not wise against a puncher like George Groves.
“Cox felt the power, Martin Murray said bigger one punch power than Golovkin, Joshua Buatsi has been sparring with him and said great power. Groves can really hit and he can punch and he’s clever. He’s not an idiot. He’s not going to lose his head. He’s a very experienced fighter,” explained the promoter.
But what happens if Eubank should get his hand raised? With his athleticism and workrate, there is a chance the IBO champion could get it done according to Hearn.
“If Eubank’s the real deal I think he will probably win the fight but we just don’t know, do we? I watch him sometimes on the pads and I think there’s no one around him and no one’s telling him what to do, he’s not moving his head, what do you do well? What he does really well is that he has a tremendous engine. He has zero fear and he probably…
“He probably has a great chin as well. If Eubank wins then he becomes a massive star in British boxing,” promised the Matchroom promoter.
“He becomes a real player in the game and he deserves it. They [The Eubanks] were really at a brick wall and this series came along and sort of saved them really. Gave them the opportunity and a lot of money. If he beats Groves he deserves it and he becomes a star in British boxing. He’s very exciting to watch and he may just be the real deal,” he said.
And when it became prediction time, Hearn said the following:
“I think it will go one or two ways. I think he’ll destroy Groves or I think Groves will just completely out class him and stop him.”
READ MORE:
George Groves explains why he’s the clear favourite
Everything you need to know about Groves-Eubank