Groves primed for Alcoba challenge!
Undefeated George 'The Saint' Groves weighed in bang on the limit for his super-middleweight clash with hard-hitting Uruguayan Noe Gonzalez Alcoba at the O2 Arena on Saturday night.
Alcoba is a former world title challenger who has only ever lost twice - to Felix Sturm and Adonis Stevenson. With 22 knock outs in his 30 wins, Alcoba has a 69% KO ratio and should provide a stern test for the Saint.
"He's been in with good company and he's got a big KO record so it will be an explosive fight," said Groves.
"He's a bit of a banger so I'll have to be on my toes. But I feel that I'm right on track for a world title shot now and there's no margin for error.
"I'm at that stage now where I'm one more step to a world title but that one more step is a giant leap. Getting huge exposure on a Sky pay-per-view show in a huge arena is something I've had before so I know exactly what to expect.
"But it's going to help build to an exciting fight down the line hopefully for a world title."
That world title fight could well come against the winner of Froch v Kessler, with Groves having sparred with both men - most notably the Dane in the build-up to the re-match in a move which Froch took exception to.
The Cobra labelled groves a traitor for sparring with Kessler, but Groves again says the offer was too good to turn down for his own development.
"Carl was the main instigator in that, traitor's a tough word to use - so he's the King is he and I'm traitorous against his throne?
"At the end of the day I was preparing for a fight so I needed some good quality sparring, Carl didn't offer me any but Mikkel did - it was a great opportunity to go out there and spar with a guy who is a world champion at my weight preparing for a fight at the same date.
"It's priceless sparring that I couldn't possibly turn down. There's lots of needle going around, but Carl knows the last time we sparred was before the first Kessler fight and it didn't do him any favours, so maybe I've gone out there and softened Mikkel up for him so maybe he should be thanking me.
"You've got the IBF and WBA titles on the line, I'm number two with the WBA so I'm very close to being the mandatory for that belt so that could mean I could fight the winner of these two, because the winner's going to come out with two more titles than I've got which is what I want.
"But I need to go out and do the business on Saturday night, I know how good this guy is so I need to go out and not only win but win well and force these guys' hands."
The bout will provide chief support to the huge Froch v Kessler rematch for the IBF and WBA super-middleweight titles at the O2 Arena on May 25th and will be broadcast live on Sky Box Office.
Read George's Biography HERE and Fight History HERE
Warrior's Call - Weigh-in
The Saint weighs in bang on the super-middleweight limit ahead of his clash against Noe Gonzalez Alcoba at the O2 Arena on Saturday night...
