• George Groves v Christopher Rebrasse, Super-middleweight

Groves targets win to save his sanity

George Groves said he would beat Carl Froch if he ever faced the Nottingham fighter again © Getty Images

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George Groves says he needs to beat Christopher Rebrasse on his return to the ring - just to save his own sanity.

Super-middleweight Groves, who suffered his second successive defeat by Carl Froch in May, looks to get back to winning ways when he faces Christopher Rebrasse in a final WBC title eliminator at Wembley Arena on September 20.

Groves won his first 19 professional fights before coming up against British rival Froch, who has beaten him in two fights, the latter in front of 80,000 people at Wembley stadium.

But while he admits recovering from the physical and psychological effects of that fight took time, Groves is fully focused on the task ahead.

"Every fight as a pro you can't afford to lose, but this fight more than ever," Groves told ESPN. "Obviously coming off the back of two losses now, you don't want to lose at European title level [Rebrasse's title is also on the line on September 20], but it's a world title eliminator and this guy is ranked No.3 by the WBC, so you know it's going to be a real fight.

"But for my own sanity rather than to prove my potential, I don't want to lose. I'm fully capable of winning and I will win."

After the intense pressure that surrounded both of the Froch fights, Groves has admitted fighting against a lesser known opponent is a breath of fresh air as he continues his quest for a world title.

"It's refreshing to be honest," he said. "It's almost back to the normality of boxing. It's a smaller venue, fighting a foreigner, some people care, some people don't. It's nice. You haven't got the verbal battles, you haven't got people coming up to you in the street.

"It means I can be in the gym more and concentrate on myself more. There's a time and a place for everything and we certainly enjoyed the build-up to the Froch fight, but it's nice to get back to what feels like normal boxing.

"It's frustrating that I've got another loss, but I don't need to go back and check myself or ask myself 'am I good enough?'. It hasn't dented my confidence, not in the slightest.

"If you said 'do I want to fight Carl Froch next week', I'd say 'yes, 100% and I'll beat him, don't worry about it.'"

Tickets for George Groves v Christopher Rebrasse at Wembley Arena on September 20 are available via ssearena.co.uk and axs.com or by calling 08448 24 48 24.

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