By Scott Gilfoid: #3 WBC George Groves (21-3, 16 KOs) will be trying to keep alive his sinking career this month against 2nd tier Italian fighter Andrea Di Luisa (18-3, 14 KOs) on January 30th at the Copper Box Arena in London, UK. Despite three defeats in his last five fights, Groves doesn’t think this is the last-chance saloon for him. He thinks he’s got more to offer the sport despite the fact that he keeps losing left and right.
Groves says he’s feeling good in training and looking forward to getting in the ring and wiping out the 33-year-old Di Luisa.
Groves says he hasn’t felt this way in a long time. Lately, Groves has been going out and just trying to get a victory. This time though he’s wanting to go out and KO Di Luisa for some reason. It obviously helps Groves that he’s not facing a particularly dangerous opponent. Di Luisa was recently knocked out in four rounds by Lucian Bute last August. Di Luisa has also been stopped by Christopher Rebrasse and Mouhamed Ali Ndiaye. If Groves can’t KO Di Luisa too, then obviously will reflect negatively on him.
Groves has switched out trainer Paddy Fitzpatrick for Shane McGuigan. I’m not sure if the change of trainers is going to help matters any for Groves, because he’s lost his fights more due his problems handling hard head shots and struggling with stamina issues.
Groves ran out of gas in his last fight against WBC super middleweight champion Badou Jack last September in losing by a 12 round decision. Groves was also knocked out twice by Csarl Froch. I’m not sure that you can blame any of those losses on trainer issues. I think it was more Groves having too many flaws for him to beat those fighters.
“I’m looking forward to going out there and tearing someone’s head off,” Groves said to the mirror.co.uk. “The last few fights I haven’t felt like that was going to happen. I’ve thought I was going to beat people soundly, but not knock them unconscious. And after just a few pad sessions with Shane I’ve got the feeling back I’m going to make it happen.”
Well, if Groves loses to Di Luisa then he really needs to think seriously about retiring from the sport, especially if he gets knocked out in the fight. Di Luisa has a little bit of pop in his punches, so it’s not as if Groves is fighting a weakling.
“I don’t think this is a last-chance saloon with me. I’ve got more to offer,” Groves said.
If this isn’t the last-chance saloon for Groves, then it’s definitely a crossroads fight for him. If he loses the fight to Di Luisa, then we could be talking Groves heading for the domestic/journeyman level circuit, which isn’t a bad thing. I’m sure Groves could still carve out a decent living as a domestic level guy, but obviously his chances of another huge pay-per-view fight would be slim to none. Groves’ promoters at Sauerland Events might want to put him in with James DeGale as soon as possible win or lose on January 30th. The rematch between DeGale and Groves won’t generate much interest if Sauerland doesn’t make that fight soon before Groves suffers more defeats.
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