George Groves vs. Jamie Cox
{{Short description|Boxing match}}
{{use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox boxing match
| Fight Name = George Groves vs. Jamie Cox
| image = File:George_Groves_vs._Jamie_Cox.jpg
| caption =
| fight date = 14 October 2017
| location = Wembley Arena, Brent, London
| titles = WBA (Super) super middleweight title
| fighter1 = {{flagicon|GBR}} George Groves
| nickname1 = "Saint George"
| hometown1 = Hammersmith, London
| purse1 =
| record1 = 26–3 (19 KO)
| age1 = {{age in years and months |26 March 1988 |14 October 2017}}
| height1 = 5 ft 11+1/2 in
| weight1 = 167+1/10 lb
| style1 = Orthodox
| recognition1 = WBA
Super Middleweight Champion
The Ring/TBRB
No. 3 Ranked Super Middleweight
| fighter2 = {{flagicon|GBR}} Jamie Cox
| nickname2 =
| hometown2 = Swindon, Wiltshire
| purse2 =
| record2 = 24–0 (13 KO)
| age2 = {{age in years and months |24 August 1986 |14 October 2017}}
| height2 = 5 ft 11 in
| weight2 = 167+4/5 lb
| style2 = Southpaw
| recognition2 = WBA
No. 9 Ranked Super Middleweight
| result = Groves defeats Cox in the 4th round via KO.
}}
George Groves vs. Jamie Cox was a professional boxing match contested on 14 October 2017, for the WBA super middleweight championship.{{cite web |title=George Groves vs. Jamie Cox |url=https://boxrec.com/wiki/index.php/George_Groves_vs._Jamie_Cox |website=boxrec.com |publisher=BoxRec |access-date=18 April 2024}}
Background
Having successfully won a world title at the fourth time of asking against Fedor Chudinov, George Groves entered into the World Boxing Super Series as the number one seed and second favourite to win the tournament behind undefeated contenter Callum Smith.{{cite web |author1=Joe O'Neill |title=World Boxing Super Series Betting Odds |url=https://www.irish-boxing.com/world-boxing-super-series-betting-odds/ |website=irish-boxing.com |publisher=Irish Boxing |access-date=19 April 2024 |date=10 July 2017}}
At the WBSS draft Gala, held at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco on 8 July 2017, Groves choose to fight undefeated follow Brit Jamie Cox.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/40547011|title=World Boxing Super Series: George Groves to fight Jamie Cox in quarter-final|date=9 July 2017|work=BBC Sport|access-date=10 July 2017|language=en-GB}} Groves claimed that picking Cox was a '"strategic" move and due to the tournament being long, it would be best to "pick the easy guy first".{{Cite web|url=http://www.boxingscene.com/groves-cox-strategic-move-i-picked-easy-guy-first--118333|title=Groves: Cox Was a Strategic Move, I Picked Easy Guy First - Boxing News|website=www.boxingscene.com|date=9 July 2017 |language=en-us|access-date=10 July 2017}} The fight would take place on 14 October at Wembley Arena London with the winner advancing to the semi-finals to face the winner of the second quarter final between Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Avni Yildirim held the week before. Groves would take back his earlier words of saying Cox was the easiest, "I know there are no easy fights in this tournament and there are no easy fights at world level, but Jamie is the guy I know the most about."{{Cite news|url=http://www.espn.co.uk/boxing/story/_/id/20145154/george-groves-jamie-cox-bout-wbss-set-oct-14-london|title=Groves-Cox bout set for Oct. 14 in London|work=ESPN.com|access-date=25 July 2017}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.skysports.com/boxing/news/12183/10959846/george-groves-tournament-fight-with-jamie-cox-will-take-place-on-october-14-at-wembley-arena|title=George Groves' tournament fight with Jamie Cox will take place on October 14 at Wembley Arena|work=Sky Sports|access-date=25 July 2017|language=en}} Speaking at the weigh in Groves claimed he would "not give up his world title for anything".{{cite web |title=World Boxing Super Series: George Groves expects to beat Jamie Cox and retain title |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/41612936 |website=bbc.co.uk |publisher=BBC |access-date=19 April 2024 |date=13 October 2017}}
On the undercard tournament reserve Patrick Nielsen was upset by John Ryder, who knocked him out in the fifth round.{{Cite web|url=http://www.boxingscene.com/john-ryder-crushes-patrick-nielsen-five-results--121428|title = John Ryder Crushes Patrick Nielsen in Five, Hopes for Zeuge Shot| date=14 October 2017 }}
The fight
The fight started with both boxers feeling each other out and trading sporadically. Cox would box well if somewhat recklessly for the first two rounds while Groves patiently waited to land counter punches.{{Cite web|url=http://www.boxingscene.com/george-groves-knocks-out-cox-four-results--121430|title=George Groves Knocks Out Cox in Four, Chris Eubank Jr. Next - Boxing News|website=www.boxingscene.com|date=14 October 2017 |language=en-us|access-date=15 October 2017}}
Halfway through the fourth round Cox missed with a left hook leaving him open for a perfectly placed counter right hand to the body from Groves that sent Cox down in pain. He failed to beat the count of referee Steve Gray giving Groves a knockout victory.{{cite web |author1=Michael Emons |title=Groves v Cox - text commentary |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/boxing/41550184 |website=bbc.co.uk |publisher=BBC |access-date=19 April 2024 |date=14 October 2017}} Groves landed 48 of 163 punches thrown (29%) while Cox landed 36 of 131 thrown (28%).{{Cite web|url=http://www.boxingscene.com/george-groves-vs-jamie-cox-compubox-punch-stats--121433|title=George Groves vs. Jamie Cox - CompuBox Punch Stats - Boxing News|website=www.boxingscene.com|date=14 October 2017 |language=en-us|access-date=15 October 2017}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.badlefthook.com/2017/10/14/16476738/world-boxing-super-series-results-george-groves-knocks-out-jamie-cox-in-fourth-round|title=World Boxing Super Series results: George Groves knocks out Jamie Cox in fourth round|date=14 October 2017}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.espn.co.uk/boxing/story/_/id/21023873/george-groves-demolishes-jamie-cox-four-rounds|title = Groves demolishes Cox inside four rounds|date = 14 October 2017}}
Aftermath
Chris Eubank Jr., who was sat ringside following his victory over Avni Yildirim, entered the ring, giving his thoughts on the fight, "It was a good fight, he did what he had to win, not too many cuts and bruises so it looks like we're on for January. That's what we wanted."{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/41625200|title=World Boxing Super Series: George Groves beats Jamie Cox with fourth-round knockout|date=14 October 2017|work=BBC Sport|access-date=15 October 2017|language=en-GB}} Groves spoke about his fallen opponent, "I picked him because I believe he was the most dangerous of the unseeded fighters. I didn't want an easy fight."{{Cite news|url=http://www.espn.co.uk/boxing/story/_/id/21023873/george-groves-demolishes-jamie-cox-four-rounds|title=Groves demolishes Cox inside four rounds|work=ESPN.com|access-date=15 October 2017}}
The final quarter final was held two weeks later between Jürgen Brähmer and Rob Brant.
Undercard
Broadcasting
References
{{reflist}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-bef | before=vs. Fedor Chudinov}}
{{s-ttl | title=George Groves's bouts |years=14 October 2017}}
{{s-aft | after=vs. Chris Eubank Jr.}}
{{s-bef | before=vs. Giorgi Kandelaki}}
{{s-ttl | title=Jamie Cox's bouts |years=14 October 2017}}
{{s-aft | after=vs. Harry Matthews}}
{{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Groves, Cox}}
Category:2017 in British sport
Category:2017 in sport in London
Category:October 2017 sports events in the United Kingdom
Category:Boxing matches at Wembley Arena
Category:International sports competitions in London