Super Middleweight

Saul "Canelo" Alvarez (48-1-1, 34 KOs) has become one of the most bankable fighters in boxing, commanding pay-per-view bouts and consistent dates in Las Vegas, a mecca for boxers the world over. 

While his legacy will remain incomplete until he takes on the ferocious Gennady Golovkin (or someone of that caliber), he will look to add another solid win to his resume when he takes on Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (50-2-1, 32 KOs) on Saturday night in Sin City. 

Alvarez will not be defending his WBO world super welterweight title in this bout. He is bulking up for this contest with Chavez, which has a catchweight of 164.5 pounds, roughly 10 pounds over the super welterweight limit and much closer to where Chavez usually fights, which has hovered around 170 pounds for his last few bouts, per BoxRec.

Alvarez is stepping up to take on a bigger boxer in this bout, but don't expect him to be anything less than a favorite when the two step into the ring on Saturday.

Here's how you can catch the action.

Alvarez vs. Chaves Jr. Fight Info

When: Saturday, May 6 at 9 p.m. ET

Where: T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas

TV: HBO (pay-per-view)

Live Stream: BoxNation, BT Sport (UK Only, pay-per-view)

Tickets: ScoreBig.com

According to Odds Shark, Alvarez is a big favorite over Chavez, sporting 2-13 odds (Chavez is a 17-4). Since losing to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in September 2013, he's 6-0 with four stoppages.

In his most recent match in September of last year, he captured the WBO world super welterweight title in a scrap with Liam Smith, knocking out his then-undefeated opponent in the ninth round. That bout followed up a highly touted bout with Amir Khan, which Alvarez eventually won in devastating fashion.

Chavez isn't the most illustrious opponent Alvarez could be taking on after two wins against clearly overmatched opponents, but it's a decent start as he moves up in weight class and tests new waters. Yahoo Sports' Kevin Iole noted that while Alvarez's promoter, Oscar De La Hoya, isn't getting him the best opponents of late, this matchup on Saturday could pay off: 

"Despite his courage and bravery as a fighter, De La Hoya the promoter has been about minimizing risk. He talks repeatedly about the best vs. the best, but then he makes no-hope fights like Alvarez-Khan and Alvarez-Smith," Iole said. "The Alvarez-Chavez Jr. bout was a stroke of genius because it’s ignited the long-simmering passions of the fighters’ large fan bases and is going to make Saturday’s event a financial hit."

For Chavez, this is a chance for him to impress against one of the top pound-for-pound boxers in the sport. He has everything to gain in this fight, especially if he pulls off a massive upset and wins the bout. Chavez is motivated for this bout and knows that he will have an advantage over Alvarez physically.

“Well, it has been said that in boxing that that’s an important factor; that the weight and the bigger person is always going to have the advantage,” Chavez said, per USA Today's Bob Velin. “That, I think, is true."

The 31-year-old Chavez has racked up 50 wins in his career, but his two defeats have come against Andrzej Fonfara and Sergio Martinez within the last few years. Alvarez should prove a tougher challenge than both, assuming he can make up for his lack of height and reach and isn't fazed by the heavier blows that should be coming his way at this new weight. 

While a Chavez upset would make for a compelling storyline and send shockwaves through the sport, boxing fans will likely be rooting for Alvarez to win, especially in dominant fashion. If he is able to stop a third-straight opponent, the calls for him to take on Golovkin will only grow stronger. 

Golovkin's knockout streak recently ended when he couldn't stop Daniel Jacobs before the final bell, but that has nothing to put a dent in his standing. If anything, it gives more reason for Alvarez to test his own mettle, as he has a blueprint for survival against the smiling assassin that is Triple G. 

Badou Jack and James DeGale engaged in a 12-round war that ended in a draw with two judges scoring the bout 113-113 and the third judge giving DeGale a 114-112 edge. 

Judge 1	Judge 2	Judge 3
114-112 (DeGale)	113-113	113-113

As a result of the decision, Jack retained the WBC super middleweight title and DeGale held on to the IBF super middleweight title.

DeGale controlled the fight early and seemed poised to end things with a knockdown in the first round, via Showtime Boxing:

.@jamesdegale1 sends @BadouJack to the canvas in round 1 of their title unification bout. #JackDeGale #Boxing pic.twitter.com/r6BBjWWjKd

— All the Smoke Boxing (@atsboxing) January 15, 2017

Jack came back to life in the middle rounds, including landing a heavy array of punches in the sixth round that left DeGale stuck against the ropes, via Showtime Boxing:

.@BadouJack gets @jamesdegale1 on the ropes at the end of round 6. #JackDeGale #Boxing pic.twitter.com/k66ksD35z3

— All the Smoke Boxing (@atsboxing) January 15, 2017

The final round was full of drama as Jack sent DeGale to the canvas for the first time in his career, but the WBC super middleweight champion was able to make it through all three minutes to put pressure on the judges that ultimately led to the decision.

Premier Boxing Champions captured the final-round action:

.@BadouJack sends @jamesdegale1 down for the first time in his career in the 12th!! What a finish in Brooklyn!! #JackDeGale pic.twitter.com/aKMfy2Q4zf

— Premier Boxing Champions (@premierboxing) January 15, 2017

Jack was making his first appearance in the ring since a controversial majority draw against Lucian Bute last April. It was later revealed Bute failed a post-fight drug test for Ostarine. 

Eight months later, Jack returned riding a five-fight unbeaten streak. His previous three fights were decided by the judges, including a narrow split-decision win over George Groves. 

This is a rare boxing match being competed between two competitors regarded as the best in their weight class. ESPN.com's Dan Rafael had DeGale and Jack ranked No. 1 and 2 in the super middleweight division coming into this matchup, respectively. 

Jack highlighted the similar career paths both men have taken to reach this point before emphasizing why he was going to win, per Rafael:

I think this will be an exciting fight. I'm going to give it my all, and he's going to give it his all. This is a bigger fight than anything we've been a part of. He's going to turn it up, and so will I. Now it's me and DeGale. All the other fights are in the past. We've had different results against the same fighters. But none of that matters. It's time to fight.

DeGale has been nearly unstoppable in his career, only losing once in 25 fights after Saturday's decision. He was defeated by Groves in May 2011 but has since responded with 13 wins (five via TKO). 

There's been no significant gap between Jack and DeGale throughout their careers. Jack relies on precision and defense to pick apart an opponent, often resulting in fights being handed over to the judges. 

It was apparent on this night just how close the two fighters are. Jack did do more damage with 231 punches landed compared to 172 for DeGale, per Showtime Sports (h/t Kevin Iole of Yahoo Sports). 

As a result of Saturday's decision, the most logical next step for both fighters is a rematch to determine the best 168-pound fighter. Jack and DeGale still have plenty to prove after their excellent efforts on this night made it impossible to determine a clear winner.

Post-Fight Reaction

In the ring after the decision was announced, per Showtime Boxing, Jack and DeGale talked about doing a rematch to settle the score:

.@jamesdegale1 and @BadouJack scoping a potential rematch. For those who missed, catch replay at 1AM ET/PT. #JackDeGale #Boxing pic.twitter.com/HHCt8e7DE5

— All the Smoke Boxing (@atsboxing) January 15, 2017

The Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, was host to some of the most entertaining boxing matches of 2016—with Carl Frampton's win over Leo Santa Cruz and the epic slugfest between Keith Thurman and Shawn Porter the two prime examples—but the arena has been dormant as a boxing venue for over five months.

That will change on Saturday with a promising, high-profile bout, as Badou Jack takes on James DeGale in a super middleweight unification scrap. 

As a match between the top two fighters in the super middleweight division, per The Ring, Jack-DeGale makes for a fine start to the calendar year for boxing fans.

Jack, the WBC World super middleweight champion, is coming off a controversial majority-decision draw against Lucian Bute on April 30. DeGale, who holds the IBF world title in the division, fought on that same date, defeating Rogelio Medina by unanimous decision. 

Also on the televised card is Jose "Sniper" Pedraza (22-0, 12 KOs), who will defend his IBF World super featherweight title against the hard-punching 22-year-old Gervonta Davis (16-0, 15 KOs).

      

Badou Jack vs. James DeGale Fight Info

When: Saturday, Jan. 14 at 9:30 p.m. ET

Where: Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York

TV Info: Showtime (U.S.), Sky Sports 1 (UK)

Live Stream: ShowtimeAnytime, SkySports.com

Badou Jack		James DeGale
20-1-2, 12 KOs	Record	23-1, 14 KOs
52%	KO Percentage	58%
130	Rounds	159
33	Age	30
6'1"	Height	6'0"
73"	Reach	74"
Orthodox	Stance	Southpaw

Jack is something of a late bloomer in boxing. The Swedish-born boxer didn't win the WBC World title, the first title of any kind in his career, until he was 31, when he defeated Anthony Dirrell by majority decision in April 2015. This was only three bouts after he suffered a first-round TKO loss to Derek Edwards, which to his credit remains the only loss of his career. 

Jack, 33, has taken on solid competition since winning the title. He scored a first-round knockdown against George Groves and managed to hold on for a split-decision win, and then fought the hard-hitting Bute seven months later. 

While the bout came to a draw, Bute ended up testing positive for a banned substance in a post-bout screening, which has taken some of the sting off a result that many thought should've been clearly in Jack's favor.

All this has brought him to DeGale, a British boxer looking to continue a solid string of recent results that includes clear-cut, unanimous-decision wins over Medina, Bute and Anthony Dirrell's brother, Andre. 

Jack and DeGale have four common opponents: Groves (who handed DeGale his lone professional defeat), Medina, Bute and Marco Antonio Periban. 

In a media conference call with both boxers on the line, per ESPN.com's Dan Rafael, Jack and DeGale each gave their thoughts on previous opponents, with both fighters going through their respective performances but without trying to put too much stock in them.

"I don't care about old fights, if he went 12 rounds with this guy and this guy," Jack said, per Rafael. "Me and DeGale have to fight, so whatever happened in the past, it don't matter."

 "You went life and death with Periban. Life and death. I knocked him out in three rounds. That don't mean nothing right now. It's me and you, baby," DeGale responded, per Rafael.

If nothing else, the solid list of common opponents demonstrates that both fighters are battle-tested and more than willing to take on the challenges needed to advance their respective careers. After all, this mindset is how they are coming to face each other on Saturday. 

DeGale presents an interesting challenge for Jack, who is not a knockout fighter. The British boxer is younger than Jack by three years, fights southpaw and has a slightly longer reach. On top of that, boxer Paul Smith, who lost to DeGale by TKO in 2010, noted that DeGale's style makes him a tough out, as he wrote for SkySports.com: 

Anyone that fights him, the first thing you have to deal with is the awkwardness. Getting someone to spar like DeGale, there are not many people that can do it. He gets inside and wants to throw a lot of punches, he's not negative. He might not have the best chin in the world, but who knows, because a lot of fighters struggle to land clean shots on him.

The Groves defeat brought him down a peg or two and made him realise he's not invincible, he's not this world-beater that he thought he was at that time. But he's certainly made up for it after that loss. He's obviously a lot better than when he lost to Groves, as he's proven by becoming a world champion. He's got an exciting style, he's a good boxer, an Olympic gold medallist, and has improved definitely. That loss probably did him the world of good.

If Jack is to defeat the crafty DeGale, he's going to need to be precise in his punching. Jack likes to come forward in incremental fashion, gradually working his way inside before unleashing combinations.

He'll need to find a way to get in close against the southpaw DeGale and work the body the way he did against Dirrell and Groves without leaving himself exposed to a counterattack.

DeGale's awkward style could be useful if he can get Jack frustrated early and looking for the power punch instead of keeping a high guard and setting things up with a jab. 

This is a litmus test for both fighters. Jack hasn't had the most sterling run so far as a world champion, with close decisions and an unfortunate draw on the ledger, but picking up another title would be a massive, career-defining win for him.

DeGale is technically the road warrior in this one as Jack trains stateside in Las Vegas. A win for him would greatly raise his profile at a time when British boxing is booming, perhaps leading to even greater and more lucrative opportunities on either side of the Atlantic.

The satisfaction George Groves would have felt after his victory over Eduard Gutknecht didn't last for long.

The super middleweight retained his WBA International title at Wembley Arena on Friday, overcoming the odd moment of concern to triumph by a landslide on the scorecards.

Gutknecht was everything we expected. Determined and defiant, Energy Eddy lived up to his nickname, pressing forward incessantly for the first half of the bout despite taking counter shots by the boatload.

However, his willingness to keep attacking took a toll. For the final quarter, it became apparent the challenger's only ambition was getting through to the final bell, rather than recording an upset on the road.

Gutknecht's right eye was swollen shut by the end of the fight. Then, 30 minutes after the verdict was announced, he collapsed in his dressing room.

The German was treated at the venue before going to hospital, where he underwent surgery for a bleed on the brain. Per Chris McKenna of the Daily Star, Gutknecht remained "heavily sedated as doctors continue to monitor his progress" on Monday.

After learning of his opponent's situation, Groves understandably cancelled his post-fight press conference. The following day, he used Twitter to issue a statement:

https://twitter.com/StGeorgeGroves/status/799913963685171201

While Gutknecht battles to make a full recovery (and fingers crossed he does just that), Groves will eventually focus on his continued quest to win a world title.

The Englishman is waiting in the wings for a fourth opportunity at a major belt. He's ranked No. 3 with the WBA, who are minus a super champion after Felix Sturm vacated the strap. The governing body's regular champion, meanwhile, is Groves' Sauerland Promotion stable-mate Tyron Zeuge.

So, can Groves finally become a world champion? Talent-wise, of course he can.

Zeuge may have dethroned Giovanni De Carolis this month, but the 24-year-old German wouldn't hold any fears. But it doesn't really matter who Groves ends up facing, or for what belt. The identity of the opponent isn't the determining factor in the outcome.

It's not a matter of styles suiting him—Groves can adapt to any situation.

He has been in with the best at super middleweight in recent years. He gave Carl Froch fits and is still the only man to hold a win over current IBF champion (not to mention bitter rival) James DeGale in the paid ranks.

No, Groves' hopes of glory rest on him winning an internal battle. He has to overcome the doubts in his mind if he is to clear a mental hurdle now the size of Becher's Brook at the Grand National.

Those three previous failures in world-title challenges must have left their scars.

The loss to Froch in November 2013 was painful because of the timing of the stoppage, while the rematch the following year went wrong just as it seemed to be going right. Seemingly taking control at Wembley Stadium in the English capital, Groves left himself open to a huge right hand in Round 8.

Yet there was no shame in suffering back-to-back defeats to Froch. The challenger was booed to the ring in Manchester, England, for the first meeting with his compatriot, only to be cheered out of it after the intervention of referee Howard Foster. He lost both fights but won plenty of new admirers.

No, it is the defeat to Badou Jack in September 2016 that should really sting.

Knocked down in Round 1, Saint George recovered impressively. He looked destined to fulfil his obvious potential and seize the WBC belt as the rounds ticked by, only to dramatically fade down the stretch and lose on a split-decision verdict.

The defeat led to a change of trainer. Paddy Fitzpatrick departed the corner—in came Shane McGuigan to replace him.

The switch has clearly put a bit of sparkle back into Groves' game. There's more snap in his outstanding jab, for starters. McGuigan has clearly made a difference in just four fights together, yet there's still work to do.

Groves' defensive deficiencies that cost him dearly against Froch and Jack were still evident against Gutknecht. You cannot help but wince when he gets caught by a big punch, fearing it's all about to unravel again.

Great night for @StGeorgeGroves it's been amazing to see his career progress. I'm positive he will win a World Title in next couple fights. pic.twitter.com/8dnfF11upe

— David Haye (@davidhaye) November 18, 2016

There's a famous line in Forrest Gump when Tom Hanks' lead character explains while waiting for a bus: "Mama always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get."

The truth is you actually always get a little card with a box of chocolates to tell you what is inside each one. But when Groves steps between the ropes, you really don't know what you're gonna get.

He's had first-round knockdowns for and against him. He's troubled the cream of the crop at 168 pounds. He dazzles when given time and space to work in. His jab sets the table better than the Queen's top butler, and that cocked right hand carries plenty of power, as Froch can testify.

Yet there is always that element of worry over Groves, even if his fragility provides great entertainment. He leaves his left hand too low at times to encourage overhand rights. Froch can testify to that, too.

Groves doesn't forever want to be known as the nearly man, the fighter who fell short on each occasion he had a glorious chance to climb to the summit.

In beating Gutknecht, the 28-year-old once again demonstrated he has the qualities to become a world champion. Now all he needs is another shot.

When that time finally comes, he must surely know he has to grasp it with both hands. One more failure will lead to questions over his future. There are only so many times you can make changes to your corner—and Groves is on trainer No. 3 now.

He, not the man giving instructions to him from outside the ropes, has his destiny in his hands. If he remembers to keep them up in the ring, he should finally be able to achieve his goal.

Don't expect it to be straightforward, though. Nothing ever is with George Groves.

   

Follow @RobLancs79

Super middleweight George Groves dominated Eduard Gutknecht to retain his WBA International title with a points win at Wembley Arena in London on Friday.

Saint George (25-3, 18 KOs) moved closer towards a fourth crack at a world title with an impressive display, leading to scores of 119-109 (twice) and 119-110 in his favour.

Gutknecht (30-5-1, 13 KOs)—who had stepped down from light heavyweight to take the fight—was brave but outclassed. He did well to hear the final bell, finishing the fight with his right eye swollen shut.

Catch up with the action by reading through Bleacher Report's blog:

Super middleweight George Groves continues his quest to earn a fourth shot at a world title when he faces Eduard Gutknecht at Wembley Arena in London on Friday.

Groves (24-3, 18 KOs) makes the second defence of the WBA International belt as he looks to continue his perfect record since teaming up with new trainer Shane McGuigan. The pairing has managed three straight wins to date, including outpointing fellow Englishman Martin Murray last time out.

Gutknecht (30-4-1, 13 KOs) should provide another solid test. The German-based Kazakh is dropping back down to the 168-pound limit after recently campaigning at light heavyweight.

However, Saint George will be keen to put on a show on free-to-air television. While the main event is on Channel 5, Spike will broadcast the best of the undercard, including highly rated flyweight Andrew Selby.

      

When: Friday, November 18, 10 p.m. GMT (5 p.m. ET)

Where: Wembley Arena, London

TV: Channel 5 (UK)

Live Stream: Sky Go (UK)

         

Win or Bust

For Groves, only wins will do at this stage of his professional career.

It might seem odd to say for a fighter who's had just 27 bouts and won't turn 29 until next March, but the Londoner has very little margin for error. Lose in a fight like this one and he has nowhere really to turn.

However, his only three pro defeats so far all came in failed world-title shots.

Carl Froch denied his compatriot twice, but the one that really stings is the reverse against WBC holder Badou Jack last year. Groves recovered from an early knockdown to take control of the contest, only to fade badly late on and lose on points.

The disappointing display against Jack led to changes. Trainer Paddy Fitzpatrick departed the team to be replaced by McGuigan, who was charged with the responsibility of getting Saint George sparkling again.

The signs so far have been promising.

Andrea Di Luisa and David Brophy were easily dispatched before he cleared a tougher hurdle in Murray. In winning, Groves displayed not just a renewed sharpness in attack, but also excellent stamina, a welcome sign having run out of steam against Jack down the stretch.

Groves is now ranked No. 3 with the WBA. There could be the opportunity to fight Fedor Chudinov for the vacant Super title in 2017, or instead a clash with regular champion Tyron Zeuge.

"If the 'Super' option doesn't go my way then I would love to fight Zeuge," the former British, Commonwealth and European champion told Matt Horan of Sky Sports. "I would beat him every day of the week.

"We are both under the Sauerland banner so it is very easily made. I'm glad that he managed to win the title because it can only benefit my situation and gives me plenty of options going forward."

Before picking a route to the top, though, Groves needs to navigate his way past Gutknecht. It is a banana skin he simply has to avoid.

     

Dream Comes True

At the @StGeorgeGroves v Gutknecht press conference today pic.twitter.com/UmxokruFJu

— Kugan Cassius (@KuganCassius) November 16, 2016

While other super middleweights would be worried about a fighter of Groves' calibre, Gutknecht is relishing the opportunity.

"It has always been my wish to fight George because he is one of the world's most elite boxers. So this is my dream come true," the 34-year-old said at Wednesday's press conference.

Be careful what you wish for Eduard.

The visiting fighter's record contains plenty of wins but few triumphs over notable names at either super middle or light heavyweight. There was a spell as European champion at 175 pounds but attempts to move on to the next level have ended in disappointment.

However, the visiting fighter does hold a famous win over middleweight king Gennady Golovkin, albeit back in 2005 when the pair were amateurs.

"I came in as an outsider but I beat Golovkin on points in the first fight and then went on to win the tournament. It was a big deal," Gutknecht told George Gigney of Boxing News.

Unlike GGG, Gutknecht hasn't quite hit the heights in the paid ranks. And, like Groves, he's fallen short in his attempts to win a world title.

Gutknecht lost to WBO super middleweight champion Robert Stieglitz in 2010 and, more recently, missed out on taking the WBA light heavyweight strap from Juergen Braehmer in March.

On each occasion the challenger went the distance. It seems Energy Eddy rarely runs out of steam, although stamina may not be enough to produce a huge upset in the English capital.

      

Prediction

Groves is a heavy favourite. A really heavy favourite. Per Odds Shark, he's 1-25 for victory on home turf, a price that is unlikely to attract a lot of interest.

Therefore, this fight is less about the result and more about the performance. Against a durable foe, he can show off his continued improvements under McGuigan and make a statement to the rest of the division.

Gutknecht's KO ratio of 37 per cent suggests he lacks enough power to seriously threaten an upset. It also seems unlikely he can hope to outbox his foe over 12 rounds and triumph on the cards.

If he retains focus, Groves can succeed where Stieglitz and Braehmer failed by putting away Gutknecht inside the distance. A patient approach will pay off with a stoppage win in the closing rounds.

    

Bleacher Report will provide live updates of the main event on Friday. Join us for updates from 9:30 p.m. GMT (4:30 p.m. ET).

For the first time in over three years, German boxing star Arthur Abraham (44-5, 29 KOs) will be fighting without a title to his name when he takes on Tim-Robin Lihaug (15-1, 8 KOs) at the Max Schmeling Halle in Berlin on Saturday. 

The winner will assume the vacant WBO International super middleweight title, so Abraham might not have to wait long to grab another belt, although it's of a lesser stature than the one he recently relinquished.

After five successful defenses of the WBO World super middleweight title, all of them on home turf in Germany, Abraham ventured out to Las Vegas on April 9 to fight undefeated 25-year-old Gilberto Ramirez, a rising star 11 years his junior. He ended up taking a sharp, comprehensive beating, as Ramirez won every round on all three judges' scorecards and stripped Abraham of the WBO World title.

The aging Abraham likely doesn't have much time left in his boxing career, while Lihaug, 23, is looking to make a name for himself and take a major step forward in his young career with a win.

   

Arthur Abraham vs. Tim-Robin Lihaug Fight Info

Date: Saturday, July 16

Time (ET): 10:45 a.m.

TV: SAT.1 (Germany)

Live Stream: Ran.de (Germany)

Abraham		Lihaug
44-5	Record	15-1
59%	KO Percentage	50%
381	Rounds	77
36	Age	23
5'9"	Height	N/A
72"	Reach	N/A
orthodox	Stance	orthodox

According to Odds Shark, Lihaug is an 8-1 underdog against Abraham. Though he sports a fine record, Lihaug hasn't fought anyone of note in his career, and he already has a blemish on his boxing ledger. That loss came via a knockout from Swedish super middleweight Oscar Ahlin, who is 11-2 and has mostly fought on the margins to this point in his career.

That said, Lihaug's overall resume isn't quite the type to get folks calling for an upset against a seasoned fighter like Abraham. This, of course, hasn't stopped Lihaug from projecting an aura of confidence, per ESPN.com's Dan Rafael:

Abraham is 36 years old and has already won a lot of titles and made a lot of money, whereas I'm a young, hungry fighter, and I think that will give me an advantage. This is like a world title fight to me. It means everything. I've been in training camp since the beginning of January and I will be in the best shape of my life on July 16. I want to prove myself and there is no better way of doing that than by beating Abraham.

Indeed, Lihaug has had plenty of time to prepare for the biggest bout of his career thus far. The Norwegian up-and-comer packed his schedule and fought six times in 2015, the last of them a lopsided unanimous-decision victory over Jozsef Racz on December 12. 

With youth on his side and plenty of time to prepare, Lihaug should be as sharp and as fit as ever against Abraham. Whether or not this is enough to overcome a determined former champion fighting in friendly confines remains to be seen.

King Arthur should have no shortage of motivation for this bout. The humbling loss to Ramirez cast doubt on his abilities to fight away from the fiefdom he's carved out in Germany, and, of course, took away his world title.

Not yet ready to fade away, Abraham is looking to get back on that world-beating path, with the support of his coach Ulli Wegner, per RingTV.com's Tom Gray:

Mr. Wegner has shown great belief in me and I want repay his support by proving to him that I can become world champion again. He is not only a great coach but also a great person, and he is right when he says ‘we win together and we lose together’. Things did not go to plan in Las Vegas, but we have learnt from this, and I will come back stronger and more determined than ever.

Should Abraham lose, it could spell the end of his career, to say nothing of his late-stage world-title ambitions. He'll have to rely on his strength, punching accuracy and veteran guile to get the necessary result.

For Lihaug, he could look to Abraham's last bout as a blueprint to victory. Ramirez showed that movement and well-timed counterpunching could make it difficult for Abraham to muster any sort of offense from behind a typically high guard. If Lihaug has the legs and lungs, he should try to circle around Abraham and keep him off balance.

Even if Lihaug comes in in great shape and with the correct blueprint to unlocking Abraham's defense, he may not yet have the skill or punching power to pull it off.

It's far more likely that Abraham will neutralize Lihaug's offense—absorbing whatever blows may sneak through—and ride the support of a partisan crowd to a decision victory, extending the twilight of career in the process.

When George Groves is working out his next ring walk, he should consider using the song "I Want You" by the Inspiral Carpets as his entry music.

The opening line goes: "No one ever said it was gonna be easy." That short sentence perfectly sums up the career of Groves, a talented super middleweight who has so far been a boxing bridesmaid at world level.

Nevertheless, at least his career is still alive.

On Saturday, at the O2 Arena in London, Saint George reigned over fellow Englishman Martin Murray.

Their fight, the chief support to Anthony Joshua's first defence of his IBF heavyweight title, was billed as a must-win contest for both men.

Groves, who has failed in three attempts to win a world title, amazingly one less than his opponent, continued his recovery under the guidance of trainer Shane McGuigan with a unanimous points victory.

https://twitter.com/jamacd2011/status/746823099648184321

The result moves the 28-year-old a step closer to another crack at a major belt. He is already the WBA International champion and could next fight for the governing body's Super title.

Felix Sturm holds that honour, but his status is under review by the WBA after the German failed a drug test.

After his performance in the English capital, Groves (24-3, 18 KOs) looks ready for another crack at world glory.

There is a sharpness to his work again—something that had previously been knocked out of him by back-to-back defeats to compatriot Carl Froch.

When coming out on the wrong end of a split-decision verdict against WBC champion Badou Jack last year, Groves looked shot. He had the title in his grasp but had faded badly in the closing rounds.

He parted ways with trainer Paddy Fitzpatrick while contemplating his next move.

Having made his name with Adam Booth in his corner, there were concerns he was playing musical chairs with trainers as an excuse for his own shortcomings in the ring.

However, working with McGuigan has clearly revitalised him.

Even Froch was impressed by what he saw from his old foe against Murray. He (begrudgingly) praised Groves in a blog for Sky Sports:

There were a few little glimpses of what we all knew but as much as we all like Martin Murray, the size was an obvious advantage.

But let's not take anything away from Groves because I wanted to see him back to his old self and as I said, there was enough t of that.

Of course the best-in-the-business jab was working well again and looked very sharp. He also showed some decent counter shots and used that right as well, so it wouldn't surprise me if he got a fourth world title fight.

Murray's rather tepid start allowed Groves to get ahead early. Late in Round 7, it seemed there was a real possibility of a stoppage triumph when a right uppercut hit home.

However, the bell denied him the opportunity to make the most of the opening. He tried his best to drop Murray in Round 8, but somehow his rival remained upright.

From then on, with tiredness taking a toll, the former British, Commonwealth and European champion became unnecessarily involved in a toe-to-toe battle.

As Froch told Sky Sports in the article referenced above, it became a "hard shift" for Groves.

Murray, having looked a beaten man at one stage, produced a Lazarus-like comeback in Round 10, stiffening up his opponent's legs as he threatened to wipe out the deficit on the scorecards.

That's the thing with Groves—there is always that element of doubt over his durability.

He was emphatically knocked out by Froch in their rematch at Wembley Stadium in London, plus Jack dropped him to the canvas in Round 1 of their 2015 meeting in Las Vegas.

His fights are like car-crash TV for boxing fans. You can never be certain of the outcome, but you still have to watch to see what unfolds.

For a brief time against Murray, it appeared his career was going to be cut short by yet another devastating defeat. Having dominated for so long, he found himself stuck in a desperate situation.

Yet Groves found a way to come through the sticky period.

Crucially, as the fight became scrappy down the stretch, the Londoner was able to produce one-off shots that carried enough power to keep Murray's late charge in check.

After being declared the winner, Groves told Sky Sports (h/t Ben Dirs of BBC Sport): "I think I performed great, but I got caught with punches."

He was right on both counts.

Groves stalked Murray—a boxer who has spent the majority of his career campaigning at middleweight—in the first half of the fight, hunching his shoulders in that style of his to probe away with precision and poise.

Yet during a brief period in Round 10, it seemed Groves might have to pen a retirement statement faster than England head coach Roy Hodgson managed at Euro 2016 after being knocked out by Iceland.

But, instead of hanging up his gloves, he can now look ahead to the future.

McGuigan hasn't tried to reinvent Groves; he just found the switch to reset him back to factory mode.

The jab—and it is a quite brilliant jab at that—was prominent once again. It sets the table for the straight right that carries all the power (Froch would also begrudgingly testify to that, having been knocked down by Groves in November 2013).

The fighter-trainer partnership had a soft start, recording facile wins over Andrea Di Luisa and David Brophy earlier in 2016. Coming through a tough test against a warrior like Murray is a big deal, though.

Groves has shown he's still a force to be reckoned with in the division.

He seems to have the spark back and, with McGuigan to guide him, can go on to finally become a world champion. But, just as the Inspiral Carpets suggested, it's not gonna be easy.

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Super middleweights George Groves and Martin Murray go head-to-head at the O2 Arena on Saturday in a fight that will define the futures of both men.

The two Englishmen have become far too accustomed to the role of bridesmaid at world level. Between the duo, they have fallen short in seven attempts to win major belts.

Groves (23-3, 18 KOs) came out with credit when losing twice to IBF and WBA champion Carl Froch. He was, however, expected to take the WBC belt from Badou Jack last year, only to end up on the wrong end of a split decision.

As for Murray (33-3-1, 16 KOs), three of his four world-title challenges came at middleweight. He drew with Felix Sturm in 2011, lost on points to Sergio Martinez in 2013 and was stopped by Gennady Golovkin last year.

After moving up to 168 pounds, the 33-year-old suffered split-decision disappointment after going 12 rounds with Arthur Abraham in November 2015.

Now Groves defends his WBA International strap against Murray.

More importantly, while the winner could move on to get another crack at a world title, the loser has nowhere really left to go. 

When: Saturday, June 25, 9:30 p.m. BST (4:30 p.m. ET)

Where: O2 Arena, London

TV: Sky Sports Box Office (UK), Showtime (U.S.)

Expect the Unexpected

'QUITTER' - The heat is rising everywhere as @MartinMurrayBox taunts @StGeorgeGroves: https://t.co/b3haNzbXFH pic.twitter.com/G1komESbXK

— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) June 22, 2016

When Saint George is in action, you never quite know what to expect.

The Londoner is talented—there's no doubt about that. Just take a look at the right hand he produced to drop Froch in their first meeting, in Manchester, England, in November 2013.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTArECAlRr8

His jab is good enough to be pictured and used in a boxing textbook.

But Groves has a vulnerable side to him, too. He was emphatically stopped by Froch in their rematch and also dropped to the canvas by Jack in Round 1.

After losing to Jack, the former British and Commonwealth champion decided to make a change in his corner. Out went Paddy Fitzpatrick, and in came Shane McGuigan.

The new partnership has so far recorded comfortable victories over Andrea Di Luisa and David Brophy. In both those fights, Groves looked sharper, smarter and a little more like his old self.

Working with trainer McGuigan—a man in demand after his success working with Carl Frampton—has given him a new lease of life, as he explained to David Anderson of the Mirror:

Things I thought were gospel when I first turned pro proved to be wrong as time went on. I’ve changed my mind half a dozen times, I don’t claim to know it all, I never really have.

But I’m in a great place now. Ultimately you’ve just got to assess from the outside how things are going and right now I feel like I’m boxing really well.

Of course, the responsibility’s got to finish with me because I’m the one who steps in the ropes to get the job done.

Yet the refreshed, revitalised Groves has to keep on winning.

Age isn't an issue—he is 28—but each defeat takes a toll on him. After losing to Jack, he admitted in an interview with Sky Sports that he had contemplated hanging up the gloves.

Groves was right to carry on fighting, but there are only so many times he can keep setting out on the comeback trail.

He has the talent to be a world champion, but he hasn't yet managed to clear the final hurdle.

Official Issues

While Groves felt aggrieved with the manner of the stoppage in his first fight with Froch, he cannot deny he was in trouble at the time referee Howard Foster stepped in during Round 9.

Murray has gripes over two of his world-title results—not because of a decision made by the official in the ring but at the scoring by the three judges outside it.

By agreeing to travel to Germany to take on home favourite Sturm in December 2011, he was always up against it.

Yet despite landing 258 punches compared to his opponent's 182, per BoxRec, only one of the cards had Murray beating the champion. Sturm escaped with a draw, meaning he kept hold of his belt.

Final session done for @MartinMurrayBox - he is ready to put it ALL on the line this Saturday!#GrovesMurray pic.twitter.com/h5YE1ZkUVy

— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) June 21, 2016

After moving up to super middleweight in 2015, Murray again failed to do enough to impress the judges in Germany when up against Abraham.

He made a fast start before fading down the stretch, allowing King Arthur to continue his reign (although he has since lost the WBO title to Gilberto Ramirez).

Murray told Sky Sports after the split-decision loss: "What can you do? It's what you are up against over here and I knew that beforehand and took the gamble. This was the hardest of the lot of them to take because I thought I had done it and this was my time."

So, at the age of 33, the fighter from St Helens faces a make-or-break night in his career.

There are no doubts about his chin—Murray is the only man to stretch Golovkin into Round 11. The one area of concern is the weight, having only had five fights at super middleweight.

But Murray—who had four stints in prison before turning pro—is a fighter who never knows when he's beaten.

Prediction

Per Odds Shark, Murray is a 7-4 underdog for the chief support to Anthony Joshua's defence of his IBF heavyweight title.

Groves heaped extra pressure on his shoulders by saying in the buildup, per BBC Sport: "I am treating this like the last-chance saloon. If I can't beat Martin, then I don't deserve to become a world champion."

The pair had a cordial relationship when the fight was announced, but the importance of the occasion has led to some sniping in the media.

Because of his pedigree at the weight, Groves will keep his career alive with a hard-fought win on points.

Bleacher Report will be running a live blog to cover the action at the O2 Arena. Join us for updates from 8 p.m. BST (3 p.m. ET).

George Groves and Martin Murray have a lot in common.

The two Englishmen have combined to lose seven (yes, seven) world title fights. They could one day share a coffee—or something a little stronger, perhaps—to discuss their previous missed opportunities.

For now, though, they're preparing to share a ring on June 25.

Anthony Joshua tops the bill that night at the O2 Arena in London. The heavyweight makes the first defence of his IBF belt against Dominic Breazeale as two unbeaten big men go head-to-head.

Yet the main event in the English capital has a one-sided whiff about it.

Joshua has knocked out all 16 opponents he has faced so far in the paid ranks—there's little about Breazeale to suggest he can buck that trend.

Both Groves and Murray would love the chance to reign as a champion at super middleweight.

They are the nearly men of British boxing. Forever the bridesmaid, never the bride. They've had enough of getting pats on the back and instead want to get a belt around their waist.

That is why their meeting has the potential to be the pick of the bouts on the bumper Matchroom card.

Unlike the headline act, Groves-Murray reeks of desperation, possibly with a slight hint of late hope. That combination adds drama to a domestic clash with ramifications on a world scale.

It is perhaps too simplistic to say that a defeat for either man means the end of their professional careers.

Groves (23-3, 18 KOs) is 28 and has only lost to world champions. He holds a win over James DeGale—the current holder of the IBF belt at 168 pounds—and has previously been British, Commonwealth and European champion.

But it's not about age, or ability, with Saint George.

There are two lingering questions with Groves—his chin in the ring and his state of mind out of it. 

He admitted in an interview with Sky Sports that he had considered retiring while training to fight Badou Jack in 2015.

A fourth loss as a pro might just be the tipping point for Groves, who would hardly want to be remembered by most as the man Carl Froch knocked out in front of 80,000 people at Wembley Stadium.

He, of course, lost twice to Froch. The first occasion saw a dubious stoppage by referee Howard John Foster. Groves' complaints led to a rematch—and there was absolutely no doubt about the finish second time around.

However, the defeat that should sting the most for Groves is the one against WBC champion Jack.

Groves overcame a shock knockdown in Round 1 to take control of the bout in Las Vegas. But, just as it seemed it would be third time lucky for the Londoner, he ran out of steam.

Fading badly down the stretch, he ended up on the wrong end of a split decision. 

Murray knows just how it feels to be denied by judges.

He had a dubious draw in 2011 with Felix Sturm at middleweight, then a disappointing split-decision defeat against Arthur Abraham up at super middleweight four years later. Both results came when Murray had gone to Germany to take on titleholders.

He put up an excellent display in losing to middleweight champion Sergio Martinez in Argentina in 2013, too.

The one loss he can have absolutely no complaints about came against Gennady Golovkin. At least there was one positive to take out of it—no one else had ever pushed GGG as far as Round 11.

As well as having major ramifications for their careers, the Groves-Murray showdown is also an interesting mix of styles.

Groves should be viewed as the better boxer. He can, when on song, look technically impressive.

He beat archrival DeGale in a tactical battle in 2011. Against Froch the first time around, he produced a wonderful right hand to knock down his compatriot.

He has demonstrated himself to be a smart and smooth boxer. He has a probing jab, with that punch setting up the opportunity to land heavy right hands.

He lost some of his sparkle for a while, but has looked like his old self since joining forces with trainer Shane McGuigan.

Judging from his pre-fight words, the 28-year-old is full of confidence again.

Groves told Sky Sports (h/t Nick Lustig of SkySports.com): "I'm the A-side of this fight but I also believe that he wanted this fight, and I wanted this fight. Martin called it a 50-50 fight then backtracked and said it wasn't. I can understand why people might think that but I believe that I'm the heavy favourite in this one and you'll see why on fight night."

Groves has a tendency to cross the line between self-belief and smugness, although it doesn't matter whether people are wanting him to win or lose, so long as they're watching in the first place.

Murray (33-3-1, 16 KOs), in contrast, is a straight-talking, rugby-league-loving family man. His life may have been completely different had it not been for boxing.

He had four stints in prison before turning pro. "It was jail, dying or boxing and I chose boxing," he once said, per Kevin Mitchell of the Guardian.

Now the only place he does time is the gym.

A dedicated trainer under the guidance of Oliver Harrison, the 33-year-old has the physical and mental capabilities to cope with whatever Groves throws at him.

Unlike his next opponent, he doesn't have any question marks over his stamina, nor his chin.

Just been with @MartinMurrayBox at Mill Green school in St Helens, who was giving his time with the kids.Looks in great shape for next week!

— Eddie Hearn (@EddieHearn) June 15, 2016

Groves, despite all his ability, is prone to going down. He may be in control for round after round, but there is always that possibility of him getting caught with one shot that completely changes the complexion of the bout.

That is why Murray will always feel there's a chance. He might have to wear a few in the process, but as he showed against Golovkin, he does not lack fighting spirit.

Murray, not generally regarded as a big hitter, believes his domestic rival has never quite been the same since those two epic clashes with Froch, as he told Nick Parkinson of ESPN.com:

He's not looked the same fighter since and got put down and lost again against Jack. There has always been issues with his stamina and he's been hurt a few times now.

The Froch fights took a massive amount of confidence out of him. When he fought the Italian [Andrea Di Luisa in January], he didn't look right, he looked shot. He didn't have any confidence. He didn't get much back in that fight or against David Brophy [in April], but he didn't show much ambition.

There was a level of healthy respect between the fighters at the beginning of the buildup.

But, as their date of destiny draws closer, you sense the tension is turning the air sour.

They are different characters, different fighters, with the same goal.

Groves once came out to the ring in a cut-out London bus. Murray seems the type of man who'd be happy taking public transport to get to the venue.

It is a contrasting mix that should make for a fascinating spectacle. The chief support act at the O2 has every chance of stealing the show.

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