Friday 16 June 2017 18:35, UK
George Groves will put his WBA belt on the line in the World Boxing Super Series in a bid to show he is the "best super-middleweight on the planet".
Groves, who stopped Fedor Chudinov last time out to be crowned world champion at the fourth time of asking, has officially entered the 16-man, two-weight elimination tournament which boasts the Muhammad Ali Trophy.
"I see the World Boxing Super Series as a chance for me to show everyone that I'm the best in the division," said Groves. "I believe I am the best super-middleweight on the planet and certainly the man to beat at 168lbs.
"I am proud to bring my WBA super-middleweight title to the tournament. I want to continue to test myself against the best and I am ready and willing to fight anyone. It will be exciting to see who else has the courage to enter such a brutal competition.
"The World Boxing Super Series is exactly what fighters and fans need - a simple and straightforward way to determine the best fighter in the division. I am really keen to be the first super-middleweight to lift the Muhammad Ali Trophy."
Groves is the first super-middleweight to sign up for the series, while IBF champion Murat Gassiev, WBC holder Mairis Briedis and two-time former champion Krzysztof Wlodarczyk have already entered the cruiserweight division.
In the inaugural season of the World Boxing Super Series, 16 elite fighters - eight super-middleweights and eight cruiserweights - will battle out a bracket-style elimination tournament. In both divisions, there will be four quarter-finals (September / October 2017), two semi-finals (early 2018) and one final (May 2018), making for a total of 14 high-class fights.
Further details and pairings will be revealed at a Draft Gala in Monaco in July.
