Smith KOs Groves, Wins Super Middleweight WBSS

Callum Smith defeated George Groves by knockout to win the World Boxing Super Series’ super middleweight tournament, as well as the WBA Super Middleweight Title, on Sept. 28 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Smith was awarded the Muhammad Ali Trophy for his victory.

After a fairly even opening round, Smith landed a hard straight right on Groves, though Groves landed several jobs and managed to dodge Smith’s right for quite a bit. The two traded in an intense third round, which saw Smith appear to again hurt Groves with a right hand — this time a counterpunch. Smith attempted to capitalize and attack, but Groves landed a combination that forced Smith into retreat. Smith hurt Groves with a right again in the fourth, and this time Groves kept his challenger at bay by utilizing his jab.

After a quiet fifth, Smith laid into Groves in the sixth, mounting pressure and forcing Groves’ back to the ropes. Groves came back with two rights to the body in the seventh, but Smith landed a hard hook and uppercut combo that ultimately dropped Groves, who could not answer the referee’s 10 count.

Original Story: Boxing Scene