George Groves: Age, height, weight, marriage, personal life, career

George Groves is a former professional boxer from the United Kingdom who competed from 2008 until 2018.

Early life

George Groves was born on March 26, 1988, in Hammersmith, West London, England. His parents raised him with a brother and a sister; The boxer’s father was a painter and decorator. While his mother, on the other hand, used to work for Playboy and Decca Records.

Growing up, the boxer was quite introverted and nervous. But then his athletic father introduced him to the Fulham Kickboxing Club, where he got his start as a kickboxer. Groves was fighting 15-year-olds when he was just 11 years old, thanks to his ability and hard effort. He was a British, European, and international junior kickboxing champion as well as a black belt martial artist by the age of 15.

Before becoming pro in 2008, Groves, popularly known as Saint George, had a successful amateur career in which he fought 76 times and won 66 of them, including 40 by stoppage.

Career

George Groves has gone a long way in his boxing career, as evidenced by his record. In 2008, he had his first bout, which he won on points over Kirilas Psonko. He won the following five fights via technical knockout, unanimous decision, and knockout before defeating Ghana’s Charles Adamu to claim the Commonwealth super-middleweight title in 2010.

He defended the championship against Kenny Anderson in 2010 and again against James DeGale in 2011 to retain the championship and win the British super-middleweight belt. Later that year, he faced Paul Smith to retain the championship before facing Jamaica’s Glen Johnson in 2012 and retaining it.

In April 2016, he defeated David Brophy to win the vacant WBA International super-middleweight title. He continued to defend the championship until 2018 when he was defeated by Callum Smith in a match that also featured The Ring super-middleweight title; World Boxing Super Series: super-middleweight final.

Notable Matches

Groves vs. DeGale

Groves and DeGale clashed in a highly anticipated grudge match for the Commonwealth and British super-middleweight titles on May 21, 2011, at the O2 Arena in London. Groves was judged the winner by majority decision after twelve intense rounds of fighting. Two judges scored the bout 115–114 in favour of Groves, while the third judge scored it equal at 115–115.

Groves vs Paul Smith

Groves defeated former British champion Paul Smith in two rounds at the Wembley Arena in London on November 5, 2011, to retain his British and Commonwealth titles.

Groves vs Noe Gonzalez Alcoba

Groves overcame 34-year-old Noe Gonzalez Alcoba (30-2, 22 KOs) on the undercard of Carl Froch vs. Mikkel Kessler rematch in May at the O2 Arena. As a result, he won the vacant WBA Inter-Continental super middleweight title. In the first minute of the fifth round, Groves unleashed a right hand that caught Noe Gonzalez rushing forward and knocked him down for a count of five.

Gonzalez rose to his feet, but he stood on wobbly legs as the referee waved the fight off. Gonzalez’s corner threw in the towel practically as soon as the referee called a halt.

Groves vs Froch

The IBF appointed Groves as the mandatory challenger to titleholder Carl Froch in mid-2013, with a fight scheduled for November 23, 2013, at the Phones4u Arena in Manchester, with both Froch’s IBF and WBA super-middleweight belts on the line. Groves parted ways with trainer Adam Booth on September 17. During the battle, Froch stopped Groves in the ninth round after contentious circumstances.

The IBF ordered a rematch between Froch and Groves on January 24, 2014, giving Froch 90 days to fight Groves or surrender his IBF title.

Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing confirmed on 13 February 2014 that Froch v Groves II would take place on May 31, 2014, at Wembley Stadium in London, England. According to Froch, the fight is what the ‘British public want to witness,’ which is why he chose to give George Groves a rematch while defending his IBF and WBA super-middleweight titles.

The bout was more cagey than the previous, with both competitors trying to outbox each other at first. Froch was stronger in the early rounds, with Jim Watt unofficially placing the champion ahead in the early rounds on his Sky Sports scorecard.

Groves came out fighting in the eighth round until Froch pushed him against the ropes and knocked him out with a right hand strike. Charlie Fitch, the referee, immediately stopped the fight, recognising Groves was plainly in no condition to continue. The Ring later named it Knockout of the Year for 2014.

Groves vs Callum Smith

On February 13, it was confirmed that the super-middleweight tournament final would be held on June 2, 2018, at the O2 Arena in London. Groves defeated Eubank Jr. on February 17 and Callum Smith (24-0, 17 KOs) defeated Nieky Holzken on February 24 to make up the final. Groves announced on Twitter on February 26th that he would be undergoing surgery.

On July 27, Sauerland confirmed that the fight will take place on September 28, 2018, at a 10,000-capacity arena at the King Abdullah Sports City Complex in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. It was claimed that the prize money for the final was £6.1 million, with the winner receiving a bigger percentage.

Smith defeated Groves by round 7 knockout after a close battle with the judges even on the scorecards.

Personal life

George Groves’ mother frequently took him to the Sands End playgroup when he was just three years old. He met a small girl named Sophie there, who subsequently became his companion and is now his wife. They were blessed with two children. Sophie Groves is a primary school teacher who is known as Mrs. Groves by her students.

As of 2021, the boxer is recorded to hold a net worth of £15,000,000.

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