George Groves vs Callum Smith: World Boxing Super Series super-middleweight final to be decided in next 10 days

Groves is yet to be passed fit for the clash with Smith having suffered a dislocated shoulder when defeating Chris Eubank Jnr in February

The pair are set to face off in July - if Groves is passed fit in time (Bongarts)

George Groves' hopes of fighting Callum Smith in the World Boxing Super Series super-middleweight final will be determined in the coming 10 days.

The IBF champion had planned to make the latest defence of his title against his domestic rival in July but he is yet to be passed fit having suffered a dislocated shoulder when defeating Chris Eubank Jnr in February.

Rumours had begun to circulate that that injury meant he had already withdrawn and that Eubank Jnr, a losing semi-finallist, would replace him, but the competition's promoter Kalle Sauerland insists that that is not the case.

It is understood Groves would ideally like longer to recover from such a serious injury but Sauerland is adamant the competition must conclude by the end of July, before the launch of the second season of the WBSS. The same applies to the postponed cruiserweight final between Murat Gassiev and Oleksandr Usyk.

It is also understood that London's 02 Arena and the Manchester Arena remain the favoured locations for Groves-Smith, but that if the 30-year-old is forced to withdraw, his replacement will come from within the WBSS, which makes Eubank Jnr and Juergen Braehmer the favourites.

Asked if Groves had withdrawn, Sauerland responded: "No. There's no decision yet. We're waiting for the final (medical) reports. We have different scenarios for different outcomes, and those will be announced in the next 10 days.

"As long as it's within the timelines of the tournament; the tournament won't stop for anyone. We don't put 50million US dollars into a project and then change the project in one season.

"I'm looking for solutions for lots of different scenarios, and in the next 10 days we'll know."