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Groves eager to grab his chance
By Ben Kosky
COMMONWEALTH champion George Groves is determined to prove himself on the other side of the Atlantic when he makes his belated American debut this weekend.
The Hammersmith super-middleweight had been due to box in Las Vegas twice earlier this year, but the first bout was cancelled due to the earthquake in Haiti and the volcanic ash cloud ruined his second opportunity in May.
It should be third time lucky on Saturday, however, as Groves squares up to Mexico's Alfredo Contreras on the undercard of the WBO lightweight title clash between Juan Manuel Marquez and Juan Diaz at Mandalay Bay.
"I keep checking the news to make sure there's no forecast of natural disasters or anything like that!" Groves told the Times.
"I can't wait to get out there and show the Americans what British boxers are all about. I was in Vegas for Manny Pacquiao's fight against Miguel Cotto in November and just to be part of an atmosphere like that was amazing.
"Anything like that would be a dream. Contreras is an opponent that's going to ask questions, but I'm going to give him hell and show off my skills at the same time."
Saturday's clash will be the 22-year-old's first return to the ring since he overcame Charles Adamu to claim the Commonwealth belt in Manchester three months ago.
That title will not be on the line against Contreras, 25, who has won 11 and lost seven of his 19 professional contests to date, with one draw.
Nevertheless Groves - who will have Hayemaker stablemate and WBA world heavyweight champion David Haye in his corner - regards the Vegas bout as an important step in his own blossoming career.
"It'll be good to have David's expertise in my ear during the bout," Groves added. "If someone asked me to write a list of the things I wanted to achieve when I turned pro, a lot of the stuff on that is being ticked off. Boxing on a main event in Vegas is something I always hoped to do.
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