Britain's leading super-middleweight prospect George Groves stretched his unbeaten run to ten last night (July 31), as he halted game Mexican Alfredo Contreras inside six rounds at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.
The 22-year-old Commonwealth champion was making his American debut, as part of the undercard to Juan Manuel Marquez' lightweight world title clash with Juan Diaz, and also boasted the presence of world heavyweight champion David Haye in his corner.
With star power aplenty, it was no surprise, therefore, that Hammersmith's Groves took a round or two to truly settle down into the fight. Nervy in the early stages, Groves was clipped by a right hand in the first and struggled to finds the kind of punches and flow that has seen him emerge as Britain's best young fighter.
However, once the first two rounds established some focus and fear within Groves, the London talent began to drive home his jab and control Contreras from the outside. No longer willing to concede height and reach advantages, Groves refused to trade with a fighter who relied and thrived on a brawl.
From the second round onwards, Groves speared Contreras, 11-7-1, with any number of long and hurtful jabs and right hands, and soon appeared levels above his gutsy Mexican foe. Groves' jab was thrown with expert variation and his slashing right hands were beginning to unravel the import as the bout wore on.
As the pair entered the sixth round, the pattern of the action had become incredibly one-sided, and Groves was able to choose when he wanted to box and when he wanted to trade. Messy in places, Groves looked lightyears better when he stood at range and schooled Contreras with long, clean and accurate punches.
It was these type of punches that eventually forced referee Russell Mora to take a look at Contreras in the sixth round, and decide to wave the bout off with 48 seconds gone in the round. Groves was on top, unrelenting and moving through the gears, and the referee felt Contrearas was in danger of being left behind and hurt.
Groves scored his eighth stoppage win in ten bouts and now looks forward to a Commonwealth title defence later in the year.