George Groves beats Martin Murray by unanimous decision to step closer to fourth world-title shot
Hammersmith boxer saw off his fellow Brit after 12 tough rounds in the WBA title eliminator
GEORGE GROVES won his Battle of Britain with Martin Murray to move a step closer to a fourth world-title shot.
Londoner Groves, 28, lost twice to retired super-middleweight king Carl Froch and was beaten on points by WBC champ Badou Jack.
But he remains determined to exorcise the ghosts of those defeats by finally getting his hands on championship gold.
And it was Saint George who won this WBA eliminator via unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring it 118-110 in his favour.
Groves said: "I think I performed great. I got caught with a lot of punches but Murray is a class act. He should be a world champion.
"I had him out on his feet seven times and his powers of recovery were unbelievable."
Murray, 33, added: "I got beaten by a better man. He hurt me a couple of times. I'm gutted.
"I got beaten clearly and there's no denying that. I'm going to spend some time with my family and friends and just chill out, but I'm not ready to retire."
A tentative opening round saw Groves look to establish his jab as a pro-Murray crowd made it a hostile environment for the Londoner.
The second followed much the same pattern, with Murray reluctant to engage and Chelsea fan Groves flicking out his left hand.
Both fighters briefly exchanged at close quarters in the next session before Murray tried to rough his man up against the ropes.
Groves sustained a cut eye above his right eye in the fourth round as Murray began to step on the gas.
But the Hammersmith fighter was back in control in the fifth, touching his opponent with the jab before looking to unload the big right.
With gym-mate David Haye giving advice from ringside, Groves continued to look for the gap in round six but Murray remained behind a tight guard.
The instruction from Haye in the next session was to “play with him” and Groves obliged with some neat footwork and crisp defensive skills before finding the target with a big right hand.
Groves poured on the pressure in the eighth and Murray spent too much time on the ropes as the fight continued to slip away from him.
The London fighter landed a stinging right hand just before the bell at the end of the ninth and Murray appeared to touch his knee down, only for the ref to say he did not.
Murray burst into life in the tenth as he attempted to prove his pre-fight prediction that Groves would run out steam in the latter rounds.
Groves withstood the barrage but had to cover up again in the next session with Murray again trying to force the issue.
Both fighters went for it in the final three minutes but it was Groves who ended the night with his hand raised.
