George Groves Had Death Threats Before Kenny Anderson Fight

In a strange set of circumstances, George Groves pulled out of his rematch with Kenny Anderson with a back injury. This injury allowed him to take a fight with Robert Stieglitz for the WBO super middleweight title. Some strange news coming from Fox Sports, the local police are confirming that a "threat to the welfare of a man was made to police in Hounslow." According to one of Groves's friends, the threat could have taken place inside the ring.

"George and Sophie were told by [UK detectives that] a threat had been made on his life and they should consider their safety. The intelligence said if he wasn't shot before the fight, it would happen in the ring."

It's not too surprising that death threats would make that back tighten up a bit. Hell, I know I wouldn't want to put myself in a situation where someone had threatened my life.

His potential opponent, Anderson, has a bit of a shady past. He was charged with attempted murder with a hammer on a drug dealer. He was eventually cleared of any charges after 13 witnesses failed to identify Anderson and no other physical evidence was found to link Anderson to the case. The strange circumstances that surround this case have led people to think that Anderson has some connections with organized crime.

I don't follow British boxing close enough to know much of the specifics surrounding Anderson but having 13 witnesses being unable to identify you seems a little odd. If Groves had some reason to believe that going through with the fight with Anderson would put his life in danger (significantly more than normally happens in boxing), then I really don't blame Groves for coming down with a "back injury."