Callum Smith: Hard career, suspect chin mean Groves is there for the taking

Callum Smith and George Groves are set to wrap up the World Boxing Super Series super middleweight tournament on September 28 in Saudi Arabia, a fight that may be sneaking up on some folks, as the build has been pretty quiet with some delays and some questions about the location.

But at the end of the day, they’re going to fight, and it’s a big, big matchup in the 168-pound division. Smith (24-0, 17 KO) feels he’s got the advantages, even acknowledging that Groves (28-3, 20 KO) has the experience edge:

“He has put a lot of miles in, but his chin was always suspect, even when he started off as a pro. Everyone said his chin was suspect, he’d been knocked out in the amateurs and early in his career, Kenny Anderson had him over, so it’s always been suspect. Fair play to him, he’s managed to get where he is with, in my opinion, a suspect chin.

“I’ve still got to land and I’ve still got to get rid of him, but if I do land, yes, he’s done well to get where he has so far, but because of the vulnerability with the added mileage on the clock, I do feel he’s there for the taking. I feel now it’s my time to do it.”

Groves, 30, has been stopped twice as a pro, both times by Carl Froch. One was a little questionable. The other was not.

But Groves has looked good in the WBSS, outclassing Jamie Cox and outlasting Chris Eubank Jr. Smith, though, is right: he hasn’t had the hard career that Groves has had, and that could give him an edge. The 28-year-old Liverpudlian has never been in what you’d call a particularly tough fight as a professional.

Of course, that could play the other way. Groves is experienced with his back against the wall. Smith isn’t. And Groves, on paper, is easily the best opponent of Smith’s career.