Fans who bet on boxing favor WBA International super-middleweight champion ‘Saint’ George Groves is scheduled to retain his title against fellow British boxer Martin Murray at the O2 Arena on 25th June, 2016 (in the same card as Breazeale vs. Joshua). This is how the boxing betting odds stack up:
M Murray 9½ (-300) +235
G Groves 9½ (+220) -275
Groves is a former European, British and Commonwealth super-middleweight champion, and a former two-time amateur English middleweight champion. The Saint turned pro in 2008 with a victory over Kirilas Psonko, and went onto win 19 straight fights before succumbing back to back to Carl Froch in 2013 and 2014.
Groves has won four of his last four bouts – the most recent of which saw him become the WBA International super-middleweight champion by virtue of defeating David Brophy on 9th April, 2016. The 28 year old orthodox fighter and boxing betting favorite has a record of 23 wins (18 via KO) and 3 losses.
As for the underdog for people who bet on boxing in this fight, Murray is a former British, Commonwealth, WBC Silver and WBA interim middleweight champion. Murray went professional in a winning effort versus Jamie Ambler in 2007 – the start of a 23-0 winning streak (as well as a 25-0-1 undefeated streak).
His first loss came to Sergio Martinez in 2013, and two more came in 2015 to Gennady Golovkin and Arthur Abraham – though if you last 11 rounds with GGG and still walk out of the ring on your own power that counts as a moral victory. Murray won his most recent fight against Cedric Spera at the Manchester Arena on May 7th, 2016.
Of course, it would not be a proper boxing match without the customary exchange of pleasantries that fans who bet on boxing have come to expect. For example, Murray has called Groves – who has been criticized for lack of stamina – “a quitter.” On the other hand, Groves has said that there is “no quit” in him. And certainly neither fighter can afford to quit. In addition to being for the WBA international title, the match will double as an eliminator for a shot at the WBA super-middleweight title currently held by Badou Jackson (who has already beaten Groves).
Between the two, Groves and Murray combine for seven failed world championship attempts (three for groves and four for Murray), so this Saturday’s is a do-or-die affair, in which the loser will have to go all the way to the back of the line. It’s a case of two otherwise successful boxers who just can’t seem to win the big one, so they will have plenty to prove.