Good year ahead for Groves?

[WelshDevilRob]

QUIETLY DOES IT FOR 'SAINT' GEORGE

 

By Phil Barnett, Press Association Sport

 

David Haye promotes him, Oscar De La Hoya rates him and James DeGale lost to him. So why isn't George Groves already a household name?

 

After a steady first full year in the professional ranks, Londoner Groves is ready to explode in 2010.

 

While his peers have grabbed most of the limelight in a year which has seen the emergence of several high-profile young prospects, Groves - who shares manager/trainer Adam Booth with Haye - has been steadily building the foundations which many believe will take him to the top.

 

Within just over a year of turning professional, former ABA champion Groves has built a seven-fight unbeaten record, sparred some of the world's best talent, survived the collapse of his television backers, boxed abroad and caught the eye of some of boxing's key players.

 

Top that off with his boss winning the WBA heavyweight title and 21-year-old Groves, who beat Olympic gold medalist and former amateur stablemate DeGale in their only fight, is a happy boy this Christmas.

 

"After my first full year I genuinely feel I'm ahead of schedule," he said.

 

"We're going to have a sit down and a long chat about the right moves because we're big on fighting the right opponents even if they cost more money or it takes longer to put into place. In the long run we need to look at the big picture."

 

Haye himself is similarly enthused by Groves' potential.

 

The world heavyweight champion said: "We'll be looking to move George towards titles in early 2010, simply because we feel he is already good enough to compete with the best super-middleweights in Britain.

 

"George has already completed one eight-rounder and he can do 12 rounds in the gym with ease.

 

"I truly think George will take the boxing world by storm next year and it's only a matter of time before he becomes British champion and then world champion."

 

The demise of Setanta earlier this year left Groves and Haye's Hayemaker promotional firm without a television deal and things looked bleak for all concerned.

 

However, an agreement was reached for Groves to box on some of Frank Maloney's live Sky Sports shows while Haye beat Nikolai Valuev to take the WBA heavyweight title live on Sky Box Office.

 

Haye's working relationship with Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions also gives Groves cause for optimism - especially after catching the eye of the great man himself.

 

"Everyone knows David is the flavour of the month, he's the heavyweight champion of the world, the 'saviour of the division', as such, so people want to help him out and he's throwing a few things my way as well," said Groves.

 

"We went out to Las Vegas for the Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto fight, which was fantastic. Golden Boy and Oscar De La Hoya presented David with the belt and then held a press conference with the American press.

 

"I was chatting with Oscar and he said 'if you ever want to come out here (to box) you're more than welcome' and he said to Adam 'you need to get this kid out in America soon because he's going to be big'.

 

"Oscar's a really nice guy, he must meet young fighters like me who look up to him all the time but he had some kind words and said 'you've got to stay focused and stick with it, if you've got the talent you'll go all the way to the top'. They were nice words."

 

Nice words indeed, and not merely flattery. While DeGale and co have enjoyed the lion's share of the limelight so far, the man they call 'Saint' is preparing for his time to shine.