Groves pull-out sees Olympian headline as show switched to York Hall

Thursday, August 2, 2012
1:11 PM

Boxing: Promoter moves Wembley show to Bethnal Green with Billy Joe Saunders headlining

Frank Warren’s September 14 event, originally due to take place at Wembley Arena, has switched venues and will now take place at York Hall following the withdrawal of George Groves.

The unbeaten [15-0] super-middleweight British and Commonwealth champion stunned Francscio Sierra with a six-round stoppage in California on July 28, but a clash of heads in the third session saw a cut open up above the Hammersmith puncher’s eye.

Trainer Adam Booth had told BoxingScene.com that the wound would take up to a month to heal, making it difficult to take the Wembley fight and so it has proved.

Former Olympian Billy Joe Saunders will now top the bill in London’s Bethnal Green with a mandatory defence of his Commonwealth Middleweight Championship against unbeaten Australian Jarrod Fletcher.

Saunders won his title in stunning style back in April with a devastating early stoppage against Tony Hill, before registering an impressive points victory against former champion Bradley Pryce in his first defence in June. Saunders however, will have to put in a career best performance to overcome Australia’s mandatory challenger who also boasts an impressive amateur background that includes a win over Olympic gold medallist James DeGale.

The rest of the card for next remains unchanged. Chief support comes in the form of Penge welterweight Bradley Skeete’s first pro title challenge, as he challenges Chas Symonds for his Southern Area welterweight championship. While Enfield super-middleweight Frank Buglioni gets his sixth pro outing, as he looks to build on the impressive early form that has got many industry insiders earmarking him as one to watch.

Also in action are some of the London area’s most exciting unbeaten prospects Mitchell Smith, Gary Corcoran, Billy Morgan and Ediz Hussain.