Fighting on Mayweather’s final undercard, the Londoner will be looking to steal the show in what is arguably the most competitive bout of the night
Just over a year on from the phenomena that was Froch-Groves 2, “Saint George” is back boxing for a world title and looking to put those devastating memories of Wembley behind him.
Groves will be debuting at the MGM Grand looking to secure the WBC World Super Middleweight title against recent champion and student of Mayweather, Badou Jack.
Jack stripped previous champ Anthony Dirrell of the title in April in an extremely close fight, winning by mixed decision.
Groves however, is a class above anybody Jack has previously fought in my opinion, which makes the Englishman a 1/2 favourite heading into the encounter.
Saying that, Mayweather’s protege will be no pushover and will have the luxury of the Vegas crowd on his side after making the city his own since migrating from his native Sweden.
Jack is 13/8 to cause what would be a minor upset come fight night.
Yet it is the experience that Groves has in big fights that makes him the favourite.
Huge domestic fights against James DeGale and of course Carl Froch mean the 27-year-old knows how to deal with big pressure and that will count for much against the inexperienced Jack.
It has certainly been a very productive training camp for Groves, who once again headed to the California Mountains in Big Bear for some high intensity altitude training.
Groves looks in great shape to go the full 12 rounds in Vegas, with Groves priced at 5/2 to win on points.
He has both the technique and foot movement to outbox Jack – a fighter who scraped a mixed decision win to gain the world title and once drew with the unthreatening Marco Antonio Periban.
This bout is a real clash of styles.
Groves usually starts in an explosive manner, sending Froch to the canvas in the opening round of their first fight.
Yet the Brit has been criticised for fading badly in the later rounds which was ultimately the reason why he lost that fight with Froch, albeit by a premature stoppage decision.
Jack, on the other hand, is known for starting at an extremely laboured pace- suffering a KO in the very first round against 34-year-old American Derek Edwards in February 2014.
However, the Swede is always in good condition and has no problem going the full 12 rounds if necessary.
Groves is therefore likely to enjoy most of his success by pouncing on the usually sleepy Jack early on.
The Englishman has a hefty 70 per cent KO ratio and is 6/4 to improve that even further this weekend, with a price of 11/1 for him to win between rounds one and three and 7/1 between rounds four and six.
In contrast, “The Ripper” will look to avoid the early barrage and then dominate from round six onwards should Groves tire – which is no guarantee given the productiveness of his preparation.
Nevertheless, Jack is the taller man with a slightly longer reach and if he is able to establish his jab in the mid-late rounds then he could frustrate Groves and scrape a points victory at 100/30.
However, if Groves stays true to previous form and starts to fade badly in the championship rounds, memories of that fatal KO at Wembley could return with Jack 9/2 to win by KO in rounds 10 to 12.
That will prove a big ask for the Swede, who holds only a fraction of Froch’s power and has a fairly modest 54 per cent KO ratio.
Groves ought to be too quick and too smart for Jack come fight night, and if he can seize his moment then expect to see another Englishman be crowned as a champion of the world.
