GEORGE Groves’ WBA super-middleweight title defence against Chris Eubank Jnr will take place at Manchester Arena on February 17.
The champion, from London, had hoped their highly-anticipated World Boxing Super Series semi-final would take place in the capital, potentially at one of its football stadiums.
The series’ promoters have now said he will instead return to the Manchester Arena for the first time since one of his finest performances in his first fight with Carl Froch, in 2013, when he dropped the then-defending champion and outboxed him before the controversial late stoppage.
Brighton’s Eubank Jnr faces his most dangerous fight to date, but like Groves impressed during the competition’s quarter-final stage.
The 28-year-old travelled to Germany, where he defeated Avni Yildirim of Turkey via knockout in the third round, and will fight for a recognised world title for the first time.
A mutual rival of Eubank Jnr and the Groves, IBF champion James DeGale, returns to the ring against America’s Caleb Truax on December 9 .
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