Boxing

Groves to face Gutknecht at Wembley Arena


George Groves will face Eduard Gutknecht at Wembley Arena on 18 November.

Hammersmith’s former British, European and Commonwealth super-middleweight champion, 28, is targeting a fourth attempt to win a world title.

In the meantime he will defend his WBA international belt against the 34-year-old Gutknecht in a fight screened on Channel 5.

While Groves’ previous bids to become world champion ended in two defeats against Carl Froch and a points loss to Badou Jack, Gutknecht has twice challenged for world titles.

Groves lost his first fight against Froch after a controversial stoppage

Gutknecht was beaten on points by Robert Stieglitz for the WBO super-middleweight title in 2010 and has more recently campaigned at light-heavyweight, losing – again on points – to Juergen Braehmer in a challenge for the WBA belt earlier this year.

Groves said: “I am approaching a world title. I don’t want to be boxing puddings on my route like others – I want real fights. This is a real fight.

“I’m extremely happy to announce this fight and am excited to be headlining on Channel 5.

“The opportunity to be back headlining in front of a home crowd close to west London is the perfect move for me.”

Gutknecht, who is from Kazakhstan and based in Germany, beat middleweight king Gennady Golovkin as an amateur.

“George Groves is a winner and a world class fighter but so am I. The fans in London are in for a hell of a fight,” he said.

“I am ready. I have fought for the world title twice and just come up short. This is my time.”

This post was last modified on 07/10/2016

James Ross
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James Ross