Groves’ Wembley fight is off because of cut

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George Groves’ proposed defence of his British and Commonwealth titles at Wembley Arena on 14 September is off, it has been confirmed.

The bout was pencilled in before the Hammersmith super-middleweight’s bruising encounter with Francisco Sierra in California took place on Saturday.

But a nasty cut suffered by Groves on the way to his sixth-round stoppage of the Mexican means he will not be ready to fight again so soon.

He was expected to face a rematch with Kenny Anderson, who floored him before Groves fought back to stop the Scot when they met in 2010.

The size of the wound close to Groves’ right eye meant it was immediately clear the Wembley date was unlikely to go ahead.

Earlier this year the Londoner had to withdraw from a clash with Anderson and a world title challenge against WBO champion Robert Stieglitz because of a back and nose injury respectively.

It meant his victory over Sierra was his first outing since a second-round crushing of former British champion Paul Smith in November.

The Frank Warren-promoted show will go ahead without Groves but will now take place at York Hall in Bethnal Green.

Harrow Weald prospect Mitchell Smith will be appearing on the bill.

See also:
Groves eyes fight at Stamford Bridge
Warren vows to get Groves a world title fight

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