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Smith aiming to upset Groves

PAUL SMITH 31-2 (17 KO’s) has nothing on his mind but determination to win back his British title from George Groves 13-0 (10).

Smith takes on Groves for the British and Commonwealth super-middleweight belts, on the Ricky Burns vs. Michael Katsidis bill, at Wembley Arena on November 5 and is aiming to spoil the plans of Frank Warren’s new signing.

The former British champion is not fazed by the glitz and glamour that surrounds his first fight on LIVE only on BoxNation and has nothing but victory on his mind to recapture the belt he had lost to James DeGale last December, “I want my title back. Regardless of the venue or where it is shown. I wouldn’t care if this fight was behind closed doors. I am just aiming to win this, nothing else is on my mind.”

The match-up was finalised after Smith’s last fight when he defeated Paul Samuels, he called for Groves to meet him next in the post-fight interview and got his wish, “I said after that fight that ‘styles win fights’ and I know I have the style to beat him. He leaves himself open. I feel he is an overrated fighter who had a one-off performance against DeGale,”

“DeGale is an awkward fighter to face. When you get in the ring he surprises you with the shots he throws. For Groves he had the advantage having sparred with him in the past, there was no shock factor. His win against DeGale does not give me any nightmares.”
A victory for Smith could set up a rematch with newly-crowned European champion DeGale but Smith would not be drawn on the prospective fight, “I am not thinking about that at all. At the moment everyone is writing me off and Groves is the one going on to a rematch. My focus is just to spoil his plans. He can talk about DeGale but all I want is my title back.”

Many have spoken about how Smith had not gone into that domestic showdown last December in the right state but the Liverpudlian did not want to make any excuses, “Everything went wrong. From training; where we had to move gyms to the moment I woke up on the day. I don’t want to make any excuses and I will be looking to put it right on November 5.”

The scouse boxer bounced back from his British title disappointment to win his next two fights in style with first round knockouts over Jozsef Matolcsi and Samuels, Smith believes he now goes into this fight in the shape of his life, “I am going that extra mile but I always do. I have never been as fit as I am now. I feel I have a new lease of life going into this fight.”

Smith was ring side when Groves and DeGale met but his initial feeling verdict that the Harlesden fighter should have been the one to come out victorious, “On the night I thought James had won. I haven’t watched it back though. It is next on my list to watch I have watched all the other fights Groves has had. My first thought might be wrong I will have to see,”

“‘Smigga’ believes he can stop Groves but will be preparing to go the distance in his quest to win both British and Commonwealth belts, “Without doubt I can prevent this going the distance. We will have to see on the night, I have prepared for a very brutal 12 rounds.”

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