• George Groves v Robert Stieglitz

Groves pulls out of title fight with Stieglitz

ESPN staff
April 17, 2012
George Groves is out of his fight with Robert Stieglitz © PA Photos
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British and Commonwealth super-middleweight champion George Groves has been forced out of his WBO title fight against Robert Stieglitz due to injury.

Groves was scheduled to challenge for the title on May 5 in Germany, but has had to postpone the bout. Specifics of the injury have not been revealed, but it is expected a new date will be announced for the pair to engage battle later in the year.

"We tried to work through it, but soon realised I wouldn't be able to perform the training needed to prepare for this fight," said Groves in a statement released by promoters Hayemaker Boxing.

"After immediately coming back to London and seeking medical advice, I hope this problem will be quickly sorted and cause only a short delay.

"I am truly sorry to everyone who will be affected by this. This is without doubt the toughest decision I have ever had to make, and I am gutted, but nothing worth having is given away.

"It has only made me more determined to achieve my goal of becoming world champion."

News of Groves' withdrawal comes on the back of his March 12 disappointment, when he again had to pull out of a British title bout with Kenny Anderson. James DeGale, who lost to Groves a year ago, insisted on Monday that it was "nuts" that his compatriot had even been given the title fight in the first place.

"I've got a better title than him but he still gets the world title shot? It doesn't make sense but once again it's boxing politics," commented DeGale.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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