Groves climbs off the canvas to win

Hammersmith’s George ‘The Saint’ Groves retained his Commonwealth super-middleweight title against Edinburgh’s Kenny Anderson at Manchester’s MEN Arena last night - but he had to climb off the canvas after facing the biggest scare of his short career so far.

Groves (11st 13 ½ lbs) prevailed by stopping a tired Anderson (12st) at 2:35 of the sixth round. The champion began the contest in typical style – nice lateral movement, quick hands whipping out the occasional accurate shot. Anderson marched forward, trying to get in range which allowed Groves to clip him with an uppercut on one foray inside.

Groves was concentrating on quality rather than quantity and almost gave away the second through a lack of attacking before two classy right hooks towards the end of the round swung it his way.

The third session was crisis time for Groves. Building on a nice little spell, Anderson got through with a right hook which forced Groves to bang back. Then Anderson clipped Groves with a right hook to the top of the head which definitely buzzed the champ. No one seemed to notice though and Groves tried to kid his way through it. Anderson threw some more leather forcing Groves to hold. He was undoubtedly shaky but the general insouciance continued. Then people realised the lad was in bother when a right hook sent the champion to the canvas. Groves got up, took the count and Anderson ploughed forward. Groves had not recovered but Anderson foolishly threw him to the floor offering to buy him some time. He didn’t need it as the bell tolled to end the worst round of Groves’ career.

All champions have to deal with adversity and it was going to be interesting to see how Groves coped. He did so admirably. Anderson predictably and rightly tried to pour on the pressure but Groves would not be bullied and dug in. He clattered Anderson with a left hook which the Scot ate; he then took a right hook too. Groves was still not out of the woods though and Anderson knew it. Groves slipped down Anderson’s body to the canvas in instalments. Credit to Groves though – he had weathered the storm.

Anderson opened the fifth throwing hooks with both hands but Groves still would not be bullied. Then the Edinburgh man just seemed to implode, fitness wise. He was plodding forward but throwing very little. A jab from Groves snapped the Scot’s neck back, he suddenly looked dispirited and the champion took the round, growing in confidence.

A second wind appeared to have visited the challenger at the opening of the sixth but it was just the benefit of the minute’s rest. Anderson dug in a right hook prompting Groves to again fight fire with fire. The champ popped in a sharp three-punch combination and visibly grew in stature. Anderson’s early flush was bust and a series of right hooks from Groves, entirely unanswered, prompted Dave Parris to step in.

Anderson just didn’t look right, physically speaking. Yes, he took what was a hard fight at short notice, but he was in training for an eliminator against Tony Quigley scheduled for November 26th (out the window now, obviously) to fight the winner of the British title showdown on December 11th between Paul Smith and James DeGale. Apparently he really struggled to make the weight for tonight’s clash – it showed.

In truth, a mixed night for Groves. Fantastic that he climbed off the floor to win in resounding fashion; worrying that he was there in the first place.

Southampton heavyweight Colin Kenna needs to think long and hard about returning to the ring. His record, now 16-12-3, looks presentable enough but he’s on a terrible run and he looks as if he’s content with that. In a chilly foreshadow of the main event, I don’t think the underdog landed a punch on the favourite, German Edmund Gerber, who effortlessly moved to 13-0 by stopping Kenna after 2:00 of the opener.

Gerber got through with several rights to the head. Kenna looked all at sea regardless. A right to the body sent him to the canvas. I don’t doubt he was in pain but his effort to rise at 9 ½ seconds seemed a token gesture; to confirm to the underwhelmed masses that he was in agony, he grimaced theatrically.

In a fight that wasn’t listed, Venezuelan Johan Perez was messed about by experienced East Ham journeyman Johnny Greaves for four rounds. Perez won 40-36 on Steve Gray’s scorecard. For anyone who has seen Greaves before (which rules out more than 90% of tonight’s press section), his showboating antics were no surprise. For the most part, Perez took them in good humour. Greaves spoiled things at the final bell by gesturing to Perez that he was still on his feet, doing a little jig and then giving him a clip to the head which he didn’t manage to do much in twelve minutes of action. Perez, 10st 2 1/2 lbs moves to 10-0; Greaves, 10st 2lbs, drops to 3-57. From crowd favourite in round one, Greaves was booed at the end.

Dave Coldwell’s prodigy from Rotherham, Navid Mansouri, shared an experience with Groves tonight. Unused to adversity, he had to walk through some and come out on the other side. He didn’t hit the deck but in the last of four rounds, Redhill’s Darryl Setterfield cracked home four clean hooks to the chin whilst Mansouri had his back to the ropes, hands down by his side. Mansouri showed heart and maturity, sorted himself out and dropped the Surrey man with a left hook to the body. Game Setterfield rose; Mansouri repeated the trick. Thankfully, the bell went to end the contest with Setterfield on his feet. He deserved to see it out. His industry had earned the opener from me before Mansouri pulled away with some nice boxing in the middle two rounds. Referee Gray’s scorecard at 40-35, didn’t really reflect Setterfield’s good effort. Mansouri, 10st 10lbs, moves to 6-0; Setterfield, 10st 12 3/4 lbs, is now 4-6-1.

For the record book, Frankfurt-based Serbian, Enid Licina (14st 2lbs, now 19-2) beat Texan Felix Cora Jr (14st 1/4 lb, now 22-4-2) by unanimous decision in what was billed as an eliminator for the IBF cruiserweight title. Scores were 117-112, 116-112 and 116-113.