Boxing Betting / Ralph Ellis / 06 December 2011 /

British Boxing is in for a big month with Amir Khan fighting Lamont Peterson on Saturday before Carl Froch's Super Six final against Andre Ward a week later. Betfair went to see British and Commonwealth super middleweight George Groves - David Haye's protégé - to get some insight on what we can expect.

Hi George, your year is finishing on a down with your hand injury, but has it been a good one?
Definitely. I've had a lot of tough, high-profile fights and come out on top. I knew I could, but walking the walk is always the hardest bit. I've learned a lot about myself, I'm top of the domestic pile and I have true belief I can go on to the world stage next.

Tell us about working with Adam Booth, and the help you get from David Haye...
I think sometimes you need a bit of luck, and I had it by walking into the right club and meeting the right people at the right time. When Adam came to my amateur gym he brought one of his people for sparring, and I ended up bashing him - and I think he and David both identified a bit of talent and kept a close eye on me.

What's the secret?
I think it's how Adam works as much on your mind as your body. He's very intelligent, and David Haye is a very intelligent guy too, and I try to keep pace with those two. You have stimulating conversations, he'll talk about ways to approach a fight or training, and it is thought about methodically. He's one of these people where the wheels in his brain are always spinning. It must be torture for him because he goes to bed still thinking about strategies and I just have to show up at the gym and mostly follow what he says because it is bang on.

It's an exciting time for British boxing with yourself and Tyson Fury emerging.
I feel like we're that second wave coming through, and we'll both be competing at the highest level very soon. I think the days of fighters having 30 fights without a real challenge, and then get in a real fight and have forgotten what it's like, have gone. I wanted stimulating fights from the get go. I didn't want four rounders and easy jobs. I wanted to be in fights where if I don't perform I get beaten. That's helped me make the quick improvements that you need.

Will you watch Amir Khan's fight against Lamont Petersen this week, and are you a fan of his?
Yes I am. He's immensely improved, doing it the tough way by going to the States and training under one of the best in the world in Freddie Roach, and training alongside Manny Pacquiao and I think that's they key for Khan. He's training there, seeing what it is like to be the very best in the sport, not just at his own weight.

A bit like you and David Haye?
Exactly. When I first started training with him he'd just unified the cruiserweight division and moved up to heavyweight. I was watching him, and all you think as a fighter is: "I can do that, let me try it." You want to be progressed, and that's what happened with Amir too. You are in a winning mentality, people around you are supremely confident and believe nobody can beat you. That's what I got from David from day one. It rubs off.

What about the guy who's top of your division, Carl Froch?
I think he's great. He's got that crossover appeal where he is an old school sort of fans' favourite. He will get in and fight anybody and give it his all. Deep down inside you admire that a lot. You hear the phrase of a fighter who will win or be carried out on their shield, and he has that sort of mentality.

Sounds like you think [3.85] to beat Andre Ward in the Super Six final is a good bet then!
Really? Is he that price? That's not right. One thing you'd say about Carl is whenever he's been told he can't do something, he's always proven that he can. The only fight he ever lost was Kesler and that was a close decision, and away from home. It seems for a while he's gone in and you've said: "That's his toughest test yet", but he goes on and deals with it. I think it will be the same for this one. Andre Ward probably should be just favourite, but you can't write Carl off. He's a true champion and he always finds a way.

Thanks for your time and we've a free £50 bet in aid of a favourite charity.
I support Shelter - I already send them something every month because they do such an important job. I'll try to get them a bit more by going for my team Chelsea to beat Manchester City on Monday night. It's at Stamford Bridge and [2.6] for Chelsea to win a home game, whoever they are playing, is a good price.

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