WBA super-middleweight champion George Groves says he could happily retire from boxing should he win the World Boxing Super Series.
The Londoner enters the 168lb tournament as the top seed and sole world champion of the eight fighters included, and will box fellow Brit Jamie Cox in the first round of fights.
Although fellow world champions Gilberto Ramirez and James DeGale are not involved, Groves sees the Super Series as an opportunity to become the division leader and should he do that, he could hang up his gloves for good.
“If I win this tournament I could walk away from boxing satisfied as a unified world champion. If they want to do it the following year at light heavy then I might get involved!” he said
“You can go into this as an unknown and come out a pound-for-pound star. I’m the only current world champion in it and I want to be the only current world champion in it at the end.
“I think this is the perfect chance for me to show I’m the best super-middleweight. You haven’t got all the top guys in there but you got a lot. The ones that are fit to fight right now are in it.”
The WBC have added their Diamond title to the tournament – Callum Smith fights for it in his quarter-final against Erik Skoglund – meaning the winner of the Super Series will be matched with whoever holds the WBC world title when the tournament finishes next year. David Benavidez and Anthony Dirrell will vie for the vacant strap in September.
IBF champion DeGale is currently sidelined through injury after undergoing surgery on a long-term shoulder issue last month. He would be an ideal opponent for the Super Series winner, and while George – who has beaten James as both an amateur and professional – is keen on facing him again, it is not a necessity in his view.
“DeGale has a substantial amount of time out and he is going to fight his mandatory. Hopefully he comes through that because if he doesn’t have a belt then the fight won’t be able to get made. That does add to it,” he said.
“It’s a shame he is not in it because he is a champion. His body wouldn’t have been able to fight three times a year, he is more of a once a year fight otherwise he fights with injures.
“He would need me more than I need him. I have two wins against James DeGale. The reason I would fight him would be I’d enjoy the build-up, I’d enjoy the pay day and I’d enjoy punching him in the face. I can live without it really. We have to wait and see how I am feeling after this. I’ll probably be on a big high and looking to set something up. I can’t look past this tournament.”
