George Groves is a popular former world champion who was involved in one of modern boxing’s greatest rivalries.
The London man rose up through the ranks after turning pro in 2008 and got a big first win when he beat fellow British rival James DeGale in 2011.
After that, he also beat Paul Smith and Glen Johnson before manoeuvring himself into position for a shot at then IBF world champion Carl Froch in Manchester in 2013.
Although he was the underdog, he had Froch down in round one and boxed well, but was controversially stopped, many people think too early, by referee Howard Foster in round nine.
The rematch came at Wembley Stadium the following May and this time ‘The Cobra’ was more on point and knocked Groves out cold in the eighth round before retiring as champion.
Speaking to talkSPORT, ‘The Saint’ revealed that it was his long-term foe who indeed hit him much harder than anyone else in his career.
“The hardest punch I took must be from my old buddy Carl Froch, which 10 years on now we are doing a live show to look back on.”
Groves fought on, rebuilding with wins over Christopher Rebrassé and Denis Douglin before losing in a world title fight with Badou Jack.
However, he rebuilt for a second time and eventually won a world title in May 2017 when he stopped Fedor Chudinov. After defending against Jamie Cox and Chris Eubank, he then lost to Callum Smith in the final of the World Boxing Super Series in 2018 and walked away from the ring for good.
