Fresh off his points victory over James DeGale, George Groves had a quick night defending his Lonsdale and British super-middleweight titles when he beat Paul Smith inside two rounds at Wembley arena.
Groves started the fight using his left jab and bided his time, waiting for an opening. Smith occasionally took his chances to land something by charging forward and had most success near the bell when he caught Groves with a right and left hook combination to the head. But that was about as good as it got for him as Groves found a well timed right hook to the jaw of Smith early in the second round to send him down on all fours. Smith quickly rose but Groves never gave him an inch as he landed another right to send him back down and Victor Loughlin stopped the fight, trying to hold Smith in the process, who fell to the canvas once more after rising.
“I’m happy. I could control him. I just used my jab and waited for the opportunity to land my right hand. I saw the opening and it was over. I’m happy to stay at British level but if I run out of opponents then I’m happy to bash up James DeGale agai. I’d like to be out again before Christmas”, said Groves after the fight.
Adam Booth (trainer of George Groves) –
“He’s still a baby. It was a good win to get. He has a world class jab. There are a lot of good super middleweights in the world. We have a lot of time.”
David Haye (former British world heavyweight champion) –
“I was over the moon. He’s starting to do what he does in the gym in the ring now. He is a solid, durable fighter. He’s not far away from the European title. It wouldn’t surprise me to see him fight for a world title in six or seven fights.”
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