Promoter Frank Warren has confirmed that George Groves’ British Super-Middleweight title defence against Kenny Anderson will headline the Wembley Arena on Friday 16th March.
The fight will be televised live and exclusive on the New Home of Boxing BoxNation (Sky Ch. 456/Virgin Ch. 546).
Warren this week won the purse bids to stage the fight which will be a rematch of their November 2010 war that saw Groves heavily floored in the third round, only to come back and stop the Edinburgh hardman in the sixth.
Hammersmith star Groves, 23, says he will have the edge on experience to deal with Anderson and that this time he will make it much easier.
“Anderson did well to get to the mandatory position and I’m more than happy to take him on again,” Said Groves.
“I’m really going to relish it this time around and I’ll do a much better job on him. Since I beat him I’ve faced a much higher calibre of opponent than he has and picked up much more experience against the likes of James DeGale and Paul Smith,”
“With the tougher fights my confidence has come on loads especially after the way I won my last fight against Smith and I believe that I’m a much better fighter now,”
“It will be far more one-sided this time, he’s a strong man, but I won’t let him get in the fight at all – it will all be one-way traffic,”
“That doesn’t mean I’m underestimating him, he’ll be out to beat me and I’ll be training harder than ever against him,”
“It’s great that the fight will be live on BoxNation after making such an explosive debut on the channel and the fans are going to be in for a treat.”
Warren said, “The British Boxing Board of Control ordered the fight and I’m delighted to win it and bring yet another great quality fight to BoxNation,”
“Anderson complained that he didn’t get enough notice to prepare the first time, but he’s got plenty of notice this time.”
“The first fight was exciting and I’m sure that the rematch will live up to all expectations.”
BOB ARUM IS ATOP HIS THRONE!
By Reni M. Valenzuela: Bob Arum is atop his throne. He has been playing god as though he has the world at his command. He is in his twilight years, yet still looks at money as though he can bring it to heaven or hell. Leaving a great legacy is normally what old people are most concerned about, but not Arum.
The Top Rank honcho is a bigwig in fight sport, a top-notch promoter with a burly Buddha stature and with so much kingly stubborn “power” to direct the destiny of the boxing world today. Bob is different and he may not think so that he conducts himself like he is the king of kings in boxing when he, Michael Konz or the entire Pacquiao camp blurted out, “That’s crazy,” only to insist that it’s not possible to make the biggest boxing event in history, the proposed Mayweather-Pacquiao in May of this year because, allegedly, it doesn’t make sense “economically.”
Obviously, money is all what they see by saying that, and it’s lamentable that they treat boxing as pure business. So if that’s the case, they don’t have the right to be in the sport.
Arum may be correct in his analysis of the proposed fight in May between Floyd and Pacman from the point of view of “business” or greed. But is boxing really just about money, money and money? And given the circumstances in light of the real picture, does the Arum analysis make sense at all? And who knows (but God), if Mayweather or Pacquiao would still be around after May or even before Mayweather finishes his 90-day jail term? It would do us all well to remember the potentially very exciting fight of Pacquiao that never happened and will never ever happen in this kind of world we have. “Sayang!” The unbeaten and great “knockout monster” Edwin Valero took his own life at the height of his career and at his most eager mood to challenge Pacquiao.
The world has been kept holding its breath long enough to be happy hearing Mayweather tweet to challenge Pacquiao and I believe the heart of the unbeaten boxer when he did that. It was such an emphatic initiative from an uneducated great champion that should ring a bell loud and clear for all those concerned to connect at once threshing out the details and negotiations of the mega bout in May.
But it seems like the people around Pacquiao and Mayweather are the ones who are uneducated. Pride and greed, get out of the way!
renimvalenzuela@yahoo.com
“ASK AMIR” LIVE ON YOUTUBE, 3rd FEBRUARY
Boxing fans around the world will get the chance to put their questions direct to two of Britain’s greatest world champions when Ricky Hatton & Amir Khan take part in an exclusive live programme on YouTube on Friday 3rd February.
Following the worldwide success of last month’s “Ask The Hitman” show when Ricky fielded questions from his fans around the globe, Hatton TV is staging a spectacular follow-up show live from Amir Khan’s gym in Bolton from 8pm GMT.
“It’s the chance for a bit of fun and banter,” said Amir, the former WBA & International Boxing Federation (IBF) Light Welterweight Champion. “Its good for boxing fans around the world who want to ask us questions. We’re glad to give them the chance and it’s good to interact with the fans because that’s what it’s all about. We are People’s Champions and we want to do it.”
Ricky Hatton commented: “Amir is a good friend and a great champion & has a lot of fans. I am sure we will have some interesting questions from the viewers once again. It should be a brilliant programme.”
Fans are invited to submit their questions in advance by Email & Twitter and mark them “Ask Amir” and then watch the live show on YouTube www.youtube.com/hattonboxing from 8 o’clock.
Send your questions to:
Email: tv@brandhatton.com
Twitter: @hattonboxingtv
or via the website: www.hattonsports.tv