On this day in 2011: George Groves stops Paul Smith at Wembley

The stoppage came 1:18 into round two and kept the British and Commonwealth super-middleweight titles with Groves, then 23.

George Groves needed less than two rounds to beat former British champion Paul Smith at Wembley Arena in London 15 years ago today. The win, on 5 November 2011, kept his British and Commonwealth super-middleweight titles in his hands.

The fight was scheduled for 12 rounds and ended by technical knockout 1:18 into the second. It was also the first fight Groves had with Warren.

Groves had twice won the ABA middleweight title as an amateur before turning professional in 2008. He held the European, British and Commonwealth super-middleweight titles at various points between 2010 and 2014.

A world title came later. Groves held the WBA (Super) super-middleweight title from 2017 to 2018, and his win over Chris Eubank Jr. on 17 February 2018 put him in the final of a super-middleweight tournament.

That final took him to the King Abdullah Sports City Complex in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on 28 September 2018, where Callum Smith knocked him out in round seven. After six rounds, one judge had the fight level at 57-57, two had Groves ahead and one had Smith ahead. The defeat cost Groves the WBA title, which Smith won along with the vacant Ring Magazine belt. Groves competed as a professional until 2018.

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