Magee to look for Groves if he beats Barboza

June 21 Jonny Stapleton

BRIAN Magee will look to become WBA super middleweight world champion or seek a clash with Commonwealth Champion George Grooves if he defeats Jamie Barboza in Costa Rica tomorrow, according to manager Pat Magee.

The former British champ faces the WBA World number 4 in San Jose for the vacant WBA interim title and his manager stressed if he, as most people expect, emerges victorious he will have no shortage of fight offers.

However, whilst the fighter stressed he would like a rematch with British super star Carl Froch his manager revealed a clash with emerging British star Groves is more likely.

“If Brian wins in Costa Rica, which we believe he will he will have plenty of options. As interim champ Brian would be mandatory for the WBA title, but regardless of that he can defend the interim title and there are plenty of big fights out there for him. The obvious one at the moment would be George Groves. If Brian wins we won’t have to go looking for people. The Important thing is he will be number 1 for the title or champion in waiting, ” Magee explained.

Magee believes the Belfast veteran’s display when challenging the man deemed the best super middleweight out side the Super Six, Lucain Bute has further reiterated that the former European champion is a world level fighter.
And despite the 35 year old’s veteran status his long term manager obviously believes you can teach and old do new tricks stressing Magee has learned and subsequently improved from his display in Montreal.

“Opportunities like this don’t come along often and he is going to take it. There are good few big fights left in Brian. We believe the experience in Montreal, albeit he lost, will stand to him. Brian is a better fighter for challenging Lucian Bute. He has proved he is at world level. He is a top ten fighter and he is worthy of a world title shot.”

The veteran boxing manager confirmed his charge is in great shape after an stint that was more sweat, sacrifice and sparring and than sun, sea and sand in Panama with Panamanian coach Bernardo Checa.

“He is great shape now. He had a week of training and sparring in Panama and we utilised Bernardo’s contacts down there. He has had time to acclimatise and get used the heat and travels to San Jose in Costa Rica now. All the travelling doesn’t face us. We are well used to it and Brian is a good away fighter he has proved himself on the road before.”