Former super middleweight champion George Groves knows a thing or two about big rematches, and has been giving his views on the upcoming settler between Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte.
The all-British heavyweight match-up comes on August 12 at London’s O2 Arena. It’s a vital fight for both men, with the winner looking to push back to the very top level while the loser will surely be left out of the world title picture for some time, if not for good.
Both of their last bouts were against American Jermaine Franklin, and neither was seen to have been hugely impressive with two 12-round points wins. Joshua managed a unanimous decision whilst Whyte walked away with a majority.
It’s been almost eight years since the pair last fought for the British title in what was an entertaining and emotional slugfest.
Whyte ended up taking the 10 count in that one after a vicious uppercut, while years before in the amateurs it was he who bested Joshua when both men were still very green.
Groves of course went into a huge rematch with Carl Froch in 2014 after being controversially stopped by referee Howard Foster in his first shot at the super middleweight title then owned by Foch. He was stopped in much clearer circumstances second time around by a crisp right hand from ‘The Cobra.’
Speaking to IFL TV, he is asked is Joshua should beat Whyte.
“Yeh, he should beat Dillian Whyte. He beat him before, should beat him again … Whyte is not in great form as such is he? He had a hard fight against Tyson [Fury] after waiting years and years for a world title shot. He gets one, and I think the occasion got to him. He didn’t box the well and he got stopped.
Then he boxed Franklin and didn’t box well either. Some say he was lucky to get the nod. So, it’s not great form to be going into the Joshua fight, so I think Joshua beats him. I think at this point Joshua is probably a little bit more fresh and beats him.”
Fans can watch the action on DAZN PPV, with plenty more heavyweight action on the undercard.