EDMONTON, Canada (October 11, 2017) – An All-British battle is on tap this Saturday as World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) tournament action continues when World Boxing Association (WBA) Super World Super Middleweight Champion “Saint” George Groves makes his first title defense against undefeated challenger Jamie Cox, airing live in Canada exclusively on Super Channel from Wembley Arena in London, United Kingdom.
The “Groves vs. Cox” card, starting at 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT,allows Canadian boxing fans to continue watching all $50-million WBSS tournament action live, exclusively on Canada’s boxing destination network, Super Channel, which acquired the rights in Canada to broadcast the World Boxing Super Series from MP & Silva, a leading international media company that provides media rights, digital, technology and sponsorship services.
(L-R) – George Groves & Jamie Cox
Groves, 29, has an experienced advantage over Cox in terms of quality opponents fought. Last May, Groves stopped Fedor Chudinov in the sixth round to capture the WBA Super World Super Middleweight Championship. In addition to Chudinov, Groves has defeated two other world champions, fellow Brit and Olympic gold medalist James DeGale (MDEC12), and Glen Johnson (UDEC12). All three of Groves’ career losses as a professional have been to world champions, twice to fellow Brit Carl Froch, along with Badou Jack.
“Experience is very important,” Groves explained. “You don’t understand it until you got it and even when you got it it’s still difficult to understand. I’m sure it will play a part. Cox has boxed at a high level as an amateur but he’s yet to do it as a pro. Let’s see if he can cope. I’m sure he will be well rehearsed in the build-up and well drilled in the gym but putting it together under the spotlight on the biggest stage is always the most difficult task. I’ve been there and done it before, but let’s see if he can.
“I’ve still got the hunger. I’ve still nowhere near achieved what I set out to achieve as a little kid. I haven’t won enough belts, I haven’t won enough fights, I haven’t made enough money, and until all those and a few other things are crossed off the bucket list, I’m more-hungry than ever. I finally know what it feels like to be a World Champion and I don’t plan on surrendering that anytime soon. Now I would like the feeling of winning the Muhammad Ali Trophy.”
“He’s (Cox) a competent chap. When I knew him, he had a lot of desire. Although his professional record doesn’t suggest any desire because he’s been a pro longer than me and he still hasn’t been in a real fight. He’s had breaks, he’s had injuries, he’s had personal issues. I’m sure now he decided this is his last crack at the whip as a professional boxer he’s going to try to knuckle down and prepare to the best of his abilities. I’m preparing for the best Jamie Cox. He’s fit, he’s strong, he’s aggressive, he’s ballsy, but they are all things I possess as well so I’m sure it will make for a great fight. I certainly feel I have the measure of him and I have a few advantages, which I’m going to reveal on the night.”
Cox (24-0, 13 KOs), 31, hasn’t been in nearly as tough as Groves in terms of fighting quality opponents. He is the reigning WBA Continental super middleweight champion, as well as a former WBO European titlist.
“It’s an honor to be part of the World Boxing Super Series,” Cox said. “Some great names, some great fights, the best fighting the best, that’s what it should be about with The Muhammad Ali Trophy as the end result. I set my targets high and this is the big one.
“I have done it in the gyms with world champions, now it’s time to do it on the big stage. I am looking forward to showcasing myself and show people what I am about and how hard I work in the gym and the dedication I have for the game. “I don’t care about my trophies and what I have achieved so far, the past is irrelevant, I care about the future and the future is now. The goal is to win the Muhammad Ali Trophy. Beating George Groves is the first step and step by step I will reach my goal.”
The Groves-Cox winner will advance to the WBSS semifinals to face another Brit, IBO champion Chris “Next Gen” Eubank Jr., who knocked out previously undefeatedAvni Yildirim in the third round of last Saturday’s quarterfinals fight in Germany.
Seven thrilling matches on the “Groves vs, Cox” card, promoted by Sauerland Event, will air in Canada exclusively on Super Channel. The Groves vs. Cox 12-round main event is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT.
The 10-round co-feature is a WBSS Substitute Fight between British southpaw John “The Gorilla” Ryder (24-4, 12 KOs) and WBC International super middleweight champion Patrick Neilson (29-1, 14 KOs), of Denmark.
Other undercard bouts scheduled to air on Super Channel are British welterweightLouis Adolphe (6-0, 1 KO) vs. Nathan McIntosh (13-2, 1 KO) in an eight-round bout, British welterweight Kian Thomas (7-0, 3 KOs) vs. Ferenc Katona (10-7-2, 6 KOs), of Hungary, in a six-round match, and in four-round fights: British cruiserweight Mikael Lawal (3-0, 2 KOs) vs. Michal Plesnik (4-1, 4 KOs, of Slovakia, British welterweightDaniel Keenan (6-0) vs. Angel Emilov (6-14, 3 KOs), of Bulgaria, and Michael Devine (15-5-1, 5 KOs) vs. Michael Mooney (8-37-1, 3 KOs) in a match-up of British lightweights..
All fights and fighters are subject to change.
WBSS RESULTS & UPCOMING EVENTS ON SUPER CHANNEL
Sept. 9 – Cruiserweight Quarter-Final in Berlin, Germany
Oleksandr Usyk (13-0, 11 KOs), Kiev, Ukraine
WTKO10
Marco Huck (40-5-1, 27 KOs), Berlin, Germany
(Usyk retained WBO cruiserweight title)
Sept. 16 – Super Middleweight Quarter-Final in Liverpool, UK
Callum Smith (23-0, 17 KOs), Liverpool, Merseyside, UK
WDEC12
Erik Skoglund (26-1, 12 KOs), Nykoping, Sweden
(Smith won WBC Diamond super middleweight title)
Sept. 23 – Cruiserweight Quarter-Final in San Antonio, Texas, USA
Yunier Dorticos (21-0, 20 KOs), Miami, Florida, USA by way of Cuba
WKO2.
Dmitry Kudryashov (21-1, 21 KOs), Challenger, Volgodonsk, Russia
(Dorticos retained WBA cruiserweight title)
Sept. 30 – Cruiserweight Quarter-Final in Riga, Latvia
Mairis Briedis (23-0, 18 KOs), Champion, Riga, Latvia
WDEC12
Mike Perez (22-3-1, 14 KOs), Challenger, Cork, Ireland by way of Cuba
(Briedis retained WBC cruiserweight title)
Oct. 7 – Super Middleweight Quarter-Final in Stuttgart, Germany
Chris “Next Gen” Eubank Jr. (26-1, 20 KOs), Brighton Sussex, UK
WKO3
Avni Yildirim (16-1, 10 KOs), Sivas, Turkey
(Eubank Jr. retained IBO super middleweight title)
October 14, 2017 – Super Middleweight Quarter-Final
The SSE Arena, Wembley, London, United Kingdom
WBA Super Middleweight World Championship
“Saint” George Groves (26-3, 19 KOs), Champion, Hammersmith, London, UK – The Ring #3
vs.
Jamie Cox (24-0, 13 KOs), Swinton, Wiltshire, UK
October 21, 2017 — Cruiserweight Quarter-Finals:
Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey, USA
IBF Cruiserweight World Championship
“Iron” Murat Gassiev (24-0, 17 KOs), Champion, Vladikavkaz, Russia – The Ring #2
vs.
Krzysztof “Diablo” Wlodarczyk (53-3-1, 37 KOs), Challenger, Piaseczno, Poland – The Ring 10
Former IBF & WBC Cruiserweight World Champion
October 27, 2017 – Super Middleweight Quarter-Finals:
Sport and Kongresshalle in Schwerin, Germany
Juergen Braehmer (48,3 35 KOs), Schwerin, Mecklenburg-Vorpommem, Germany
Former WBO & WBA Light Heavyweight World Champion
vs.
Rob “Bravo” Brant
(22-0, 15 KOs), Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA
SEMIFINALS
Cruiserweights
Usyk vs. Briedis, Dorticos vs. Gassiev/Wlodarczyk winner
Super Middleweights
Smith vs. Braehmer/Brant winner, Groves/Cox winner vs. Eubank
All WBSS fights will also be available on Super Channel On Demand.
Super Channel has recently aired major boxing events live like Brook vs. Spence Jr., Pacquiao-Horn, Eubank, Jr. vs. Abraham, Lomachenko vs.Marriaga and Crawford vs. Indongo.
To watch all the World Boxing Super Series action live, as well as more exciting boxing to come, fight fans in Canada can contact their local cable provider to subscribe to Super Channel and all that it offers, including premium series, movies and much more, for as low as $9.95 per month.