Can’t believe ITV have sold many PPVs for this show.
Will have a trawl round the web later
I've just got in, missed the entire undercard but have paid the 17 quid just because I want to see Groves fight and don't want to risk a stream or having to listen to 'experts' down the pub. I imagine a lot of people are the same.
Amount of PPV cards on atm does take the piss though.
The lack of atmosphere there is crazy. So bizarre to watch
It's cheapened the tournament finale for me. At least the fighters will earn well out of the gimmick. And suppose if it brings the sport to a wider audience may not be all bad.
I am hearing the shoulder ain’t good and from listening to St George talking about a stoppage reasonably early I think that just ads credence to the rumours
I am a huge George Fan and want him to win
But Cal I feel will come through an early onslaught and then it’s down to the shoulder
Cal by stoppage or withdrawal for me
Just too big too strong too skillful too much for George unlucky unfortunate but totally beaten without a doubt tonight
Callum Smith took his chance tonight and good on him, didn't do anything I didn't expect and I'm sure Groves didn't expect either. I'm gutted for George Groves, he has shown so much guts in his career. He was bang in trouble from the left to the temple but that body shot was a dropper.
Good on Callum Smith, he's a huge super middleweight as is Groves so double well done for stopping him
Absoulutely love Groves so a sad ending for me but thought it was a really good, tight bout. Good skills and tactics by both men and great finish from Smith.
For boxing the Smith win is better for the sports and unifications between Smith, Ramirez, Benevidez and champion in waiting Uzcategui can all happen soon. He would’ve learnt so much from that bout too. Exciting!
As for Groves he’s been a great servant of the sport and has been through such a journey. I’d love to see him and Degale finish their careers against each other and earn nice money to go to their retirement fund
I watched the fight back this morning and I've got to give Callum Smith more credit, not many boxers can live with Groves and his jab but Smith negated it pretty well and totally avoided the massive right that Groves possesses. It was a hard fight to split until that opening I probably had Groves 1 round up from watching this morning which was less than last night
As stated above, I hope we get a chance to see him fight again as he's got plenty left and belongs at this level
I think Groves looked stressed from early on in that he was giving his all just to stay in it. He looked like he was gassing early on and could sense he was frustrated and his class and courage got him through to 7 rounds.
Smith has a very good temperament for boxing, calm, composed and clinical...almost robotic (but fluid with it rather than rigid) in his ringwork.
I was surprised when Duke Mckenzie was saying in the studio beforehand that Smith wasn't a body hunter as I vividly recall him dropping a number of opponents with seemingly innocuous, Golovkin-esque hooks to the flanks over the years on matchroom shows over the years and Groves said after it was the body shot amid the flurry of punches that caused him to concede.
Having seen the odds AFKA posted this morning I wish I'd lumped on at 11- 1 because I think he was ridiculously underrated at that. Would love to see him push on now at a higher level against world class oppos. Very likeable down to earth bloke and would be a great champion to be proud of.
Excellent fight just a shame it lacked the atmosphere of a Saturday night in London, Belfast, Manchester or Cardiff.
The best Smith by far , I think the rumours about George were bang on he fought like a guy who needed to get the job done before halfway he didn’t look in the best shape , I felt he was anxious and almost too obvious in tactic and approach
He needed to take the reach advantage away by making Cal worry about the body shots and in the 3rd I think he managed that but Callum was relentless in if he couldn’t hit Home with the Jab he made sure it hit the shoulder area and George was reddening down that flank and shoulder quite badly
The shot to the temple rattled him but the body shot was beautiful
I don’t want George to go on I want him to stop and I thank him for the joy I have had watching him
His poor Mum goes through the mill every fight his team are extremely close and George is a humble and knowledgeable man about the sport he will be far more credible as a pundit than what there is currently on the box
Groves won't want his last fight to be a loss but on the other hand it might be the experience that makes him realise/decide that it's best for him to call time.
Comments
Not sure where eubank feels his arrogance is in anyway justified. Not his father
Will have a trawl round the web later
Amount of PPV cards on atm does take the piss though.
Think Smith could nick it on a body shot tonight
Both very likeable but I think this is smith's night and he'll go on to next level hereafter.
Smith only wins if Groves isn't at his best imo. The only problem is, that's a real possibility post shoulder surgery.
Congrats Smith still don't think he is all that
Just too big too strong too skillful too much for George unlucky unfortunate but totally beaten without a doubt tonight
Good on Callum Smith, he's a huge super middleweight as is Groves so double well done for stopping him
For boxing the Smith win is better for the sports and unifications between Smith, Ramirez, Benevidez and champion in waiting Uzcategui can all happen soon. He would’ve learnt so much from that bout too. Exciting!
As for Groves he’s been a great servant of the sport and has been through such a journey. I’d love to see him and Degale finish their careers against each other and earn nice money to go to their retirement fund
As stated above, I hope we get a chance to see him fight again as he's got plenty left and belongs at this level
Smith has a very good temperament for boxing, calm, composed and clinical...almost robotic (but fluid with it rather than rigid) in his ringwork.
I was surprised when Duke Mckenzie was saying in the studio beforehand that Smith wasn't a body hunter as I vividly recall him dropping a number of opponents with seemingly innocuous, Golovkin-esque hooks to the flanks over the years on matchroom shows over the years and Groves said after it was the body shot amid the flurry of punches that caused him to concede.
Having seen the odds AFKA posted this morning I wish I'd lumped on at 11- 1 because I think he was ridiculously underrated at that. Would love to see him push on now at a higher level against world class oppos. Very likeable down to earth bloke and would be a great champion to be proud of.
Excellent fight just a shame it lacked the atmosphere of a Saturday night in London, Belfast, Manchester or Cardiff.
He needed to take the reach advantage away by making Cal worry about the body shots and in the 3rd I think he managed that but Callum was relentless in if he couldn’t hit Home with the Jab he made sure it hit the shoulder area and George was reddening down that flank and shoulder quite badly
The shot to the temple rattled him but the body shot was beautiful
I don’t want George to go on I want him to stop and I thank him for the joy I have had watching him
His poor Mum goes through the mill every fight his team are extremely close and George is a humble and knowledgeable man about the sport he will be far more credible as a pundit than what there is currently on the box