George Groves - 'The memories of our last fight are haunting Anderson'

Undefeated British and Commonwealth super-middleweight champion George Groves is in confident mood ahead of his March 16th showdown with former opponent Kenny Anderson at London’s Wembley Arena, proclaiming, “It’s going to be extremely one-sided."

The Saint has racked up three wins out of three since their first fight in November 2010, and has made clear his intentions to not just win, but win in style.

“This time, for me, the most important thing is to beat Kenny clinically”, said Groves. “It’s going to be extremely one-sided. He’s not going to be able to box long with me, he’s not even going to be able to stand up close with me and trade punches. He’s going to be beaten in all aspects.

“I’ve got a better boxing brain, better all-round boxing ability, I have quicker hands, I think I hit harder, and I’m much stronger than I was a year and a half ago when we did share a ring.

“The way I’m going to approach this fight and the preparations I’m going to do, I can’t see him being able to last out until the final bell.

“Whether or not Anderson has made improvements, I still envision this to be an easier fight.”

The two fighters were scheduled to go head to head following the press conference to announce the March 16th clash, but ended up appearing separately after Anderson declined to appear alongside Groves. The Hammersmith fighter admitted to being surprised by the Scot’s decision.

“I expected more of him”, said Groves. “It would have been great being face to face, telling it as it is. There would have been home truths and he wouldn’t have had any answer to it, which would have dented his confidence a bit.

“Maybe those memories he’s got of our last fight are haunting him. He’s made a lot of excuses since then, his trainer’s made a lot of excuses. Those excuses will probably get you through a training camp, but once you get in the ring and its for real they quickly dissolve and it gets very real very quickly and that’s what’s going to happen to Kenny on March 16th."

The fighters meet for the second time after a thrilling contest first time around in which Anderson had his man on the canvas in the third before being stopped in the sixth after a Groves onslaught. Londoner Groves expects his power to tell this time around in a similar manner.

“I knew once my shots did start landing he wouldn’t be able to last.  Throughout the fight the body shots were working, and then in the sixth round I thought that’s it, I’m gonna dig my heels in now and throw every shot to try and hurt him.

“Every body shot that went in I could see him wincing on his face. It was knocking the soul out of him really, he just didn’t want to be in there. I could see him folding in on himself.

“I’ve read articles saying Anderson will beat me because he’s stronger and he’ll get to me but last time, if that is his best chance, that’s what failed him last time because I out-strengthed a strong guy.

“I dug my heels in and I out-willed him and in the end he couldn’t cope and the referee had to save him.”