George Groves considering retirement after World Boxing Super Series final loss to Callum Smith, reveals trainer Shane McGuigan

The 30-year-old suffered the fourth loss of his professional career at the King Abdullah Sports Hall in Jeddah

George Groves will take the rest of 2018 to consider his future in boxing after losing the World Boxing Super Series final to Callum Smith, trainer Shane McGuigan has confirmed.

Smith stopped Groves with a flurry of punches after a powerful left hook in the seventh round of the fight at the King Abdullah Sports Hall in Jeddah, in what was the first-ever boxing event to be held in Saudi Arabia.

It was the fourth defeat in 32 professional fights for Groves, who had previously been stopped twice by Carl Froch and lost once by split decision against Badou Jack, and McGuigan revealed that the 30-year-old is far from certain to return to the ring.

“George is spending some time with his family and having a good rest,” McGuigan said. “It has been a long camp ever since the [Chris] Eubank Jnr fight what with the shoulder.

“We spent seven months in camp making sure it was coming back, because it is a really complicated joint to recover and rehab so we had a deadline at the end of September and luckily for us the WBSS, the tournament pushed the date of the final back.

“In the meantime it was an exhausting camp in this stage of George's career. He's 30 years of age, he's been a pro for 10 years, so it was a very long camp and we did our best to get him in the best condition possible and he unfortunately didn't win on the night.

Smith overwhelmed Groves in the seventh round after a big left hook (Getty)

“The first six rounds it was a pick-them fight, George was starting to get his jab off, was starting to work the body as well but Callum hit him and hurt him in the third round.

“It was a great fight for him to be involved in, though. It was a shame it was in Saudi Arabia as it would have got a lot more attraction if it was back here in the UK but no matter what I was very proud of George and he is taking some much needed rest right now.

“He is going to spend the rest of the year out from the gym and then we can make a decision on what he wants to do in the future.

“The decision is up to George, he is his own man but I will be a part of his decision. Everyone wants to find out what he wants to do, the only way he will know that is with time. If he spends four months out and doesn't get that bit between his teeth, then it's time to pack it in and we can make the decision when it comes.”

Groves, who surrendered the WBA world super-middleweight title with the loss to Smith, insisted in the ring immediately afterwards that he did not consider retirement an option.