By Miguel Assuncao

O2 Arena, London - In a very important crossroads super middleweight battle, George Groves (24-3, 18KOs) boxed and powered his way to a twelve round unanimous decision over Martin Murray (33-4-1, 16KOs). The fight was also a WBA final eliminator for a world title shot. The scores were 118-110 by all three judges.

Groves was very calm, just staying away and boxing from the distance with a good jab. During the fourth round, Murray began to turn up the heat with a barrage of punches when he pressed Murray against the ropes. Groves suffered a cut above his right eye and it wasn't clear if it came from a punch or a clash of heads. Groves went back to boxing in the fifth to regain control of the action.

The action got more active in the sixth, with Groves starting to land some very telling punches to the head and body of Murray. In the seventh, Groves started dominating Murray with big shots and had him in trouble. Groves continued to go after him in the eight, wobbling his legs with hard hooks to the head and body. Murray was not really throwing back and just taking punishment against the ropes. Near the end of the round Murray was trying to exchange and was rocked bad by a counter hook.

Groves went back on the attack at the start of the ninth. Murray stayed at a distance and was trying to get himself back in the fight, but was rocked once again very hard at the end, from a big right hand, and nearly went down. Between round Murray's trainer threatened to stop the fight if Murray continued to take more punishment.

Murray started the tenth going for broke, throwing punches with both hands and trying everything to change the tide. Murray was landing some good shots and Murray seemed very uncomfortable. Groves managed to regroup after Murray used up his energy, and started putting his punches together again. Groves controlled the action in the eleventh. During the twelfth, Groves rocked Murray again when they were close against the ropes. Murray was able to weather the storm until the final bell.

ON THE UNDERCARD

British middleweight champion Chris Eubank Jr. (23-1, 18KOs) battered and stopped previously undefeated Tom Doran (17-1, 7KOs) in the fourth round.  Doran went down four times in the contest.

Eubank Jr. showed his speed and accuracy at the star. Doran was not intimidated and did well in spots, but Eubank Jr. was landing very clean shots. In the third round, Eubank really picked up the pace with big punches to the head and body. Doran eventually went down from a barrage of punches. He beat the count, but Eubank was now just looking for the finish with big shots flying with both hands.

During the fourth, series of body shots sent Doran down for a second time. Once again Doran got up and he was crushed by more shots that sent him down a third time. After another series of shots, Doran went down for a fourth time and the fight was waved off.

Eubank Jr. now moves forward to a potential fight against WBC/IBO/WBA/IBF middleweight champion Gennady 'GGG' Golovkin (35-0, 32KOs) in the fall. The negotiations are ongoing between both sides and Eubank's promoter, Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Sport, says a deal is very close.