Video: Callum Smith knocks out George Groves to win World Boxing Super Series tournament

The World Boxing Super Series super-middleweight tournament concluded on Friday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and fans saw Callum Smith (25-0, 18 KOs) score a minor upset win over fellow Englishman George Groves (28-4, 20 KOs) to become the new WBA super-middleweight champion with a dramatic seventh-round KO. It’s the biggest win of Smith’s career and the end of Groves’ reign as a world champion, having beaten Fedor Chudinov in May 2017 and defended the belt successfully twice during the WBSS tourney.

It was a closely fought contest through six rounds, with scorecards leaning towards Groves on a fourth-judge tiebreaker, but Smith turned things permanently in his favor with a left hook that crashed against Groves’ skull. Beautiful combination work against the ropes sent Groves down (with an illegal shot landed at the end by Smith), and Groves was unable to get up until it was too late.

Watch the highlights below, courtesy of DAZN US. Please note that geoblocking may prevent you from watching these clips.

Here’s our play-by-play of the finish:

Round 7 – Nifty combination work in the center of the ring by Groves. Left hook by Groves gets countered with a right from Smith. Groves covers up well against the ropes. Down goes Smith but that was more of a push so no knockdown. Right hand by Groves behind the glove of Smith. Tries it again and it’s blocked. Jab comes in from Grove to the bride of Smith’s nose. Groves rocked with a left hook! Smith going for the finish against the ropes! Down goes Groves after a barrage of punches! He will not beat the count! Callum Smith wins by knockout and we have a new world champion!

Official result: Callum Smith def. George Groves by KO at 2:04 of round 7to become the new WBA super-middleweight champion and win the World Boxing Super Series super-middleweight tournament