George Groves vs. Callum Smith Betting Tips and Odds

Quick Tips:
On September 29th, British Super-Middleweights George Groves and Callum Smith will finally meet to conclude the World Boxing Super Series that began in September 2017. The venue for their final will be unfamiliar to both fighters and for those of greater vintage too, even the circus that followed the sport’s greatest showman, Muhammad Ali, never pitched tent in Saudi Arabia after all.
Since its inception the World Boxing Series has refused to kneel to the cynics or the financial conventions of the past and has been an integral part of markets at top boxing betting sites. All of the contests have thus far delighted fans with their high quality production, the clarity of the format and the entertainment offered. Illustrating what can be achieved with investment and purpose.
The Road to Jeddah
Callum Smith, 24-0 (17ko), the latest sibling of the fighting Smiths to emerge into world title contention – following brothers Paul, Liam and Stephen – opened the tournament on September 16th last year, boxing the unheralded Erik Skoglund.
The fight proved more difficult than the Liverpudlian anticipated though he ultimately prevailed by a wide points margin embellished by a late knockdown. It would prove to be Skoglund’s final professional contest; he suffered a brain haemorrhage during preparation for a subsequent fight with Rocky Fielding. Thankfully, the gallant Swede is recovering well.
Seeded two in the eight-man tournament and favoured to reach the final once the draw unfolded more kindly for him than compatriots George Groves and Chris Eubank, Smith was then due to meet German veteran Jurgen Brahmer in the Semi-Final. A wily campaigner with noted victories at Super-Middleweight and Light Heavyweight, Brahmer represented a significant threat to Smith’s unbeaten record and his place in the competition.
Following a number of weeks of negotiation, in which the Smith camp fought to secure home advantage unsuccessfully, Brahmer succumbed to a virus and withdrew. The World Boxing Super Series turned to a contracted reserve, Nieky Holzken, as a stand in. Despite being patently under qualified for the test, the former kick-boxer fought aggressively throughout and provided some entertainment for boxing betting fans.
Smith Opts for Caution
Smith opted for caution, working behind his jab and later confirmed to James Helder of IfL TV that despite not being pleased with his performance, he often felt too comfortable:
“I boxed safety first, he was a bit wild, a bit novicey, so I wasn’t going to go swinging with him. I was never in bother. I got a bit bored at times in there tonight, but I won’t get bored with Groves. It’s a ‘live’ fight; a big fight and I really like my chances in that fight.”
The stature of George Groves, 28-3 (20 ko), both as the WBA’s champion and as an attraction, ensured his ‘half’ of the draw, attracted greater interest. His first contest with Jamie Cox confirmed Groves’ fight ending power but also illustrated punch precision and superior shot selection too. A right hand uppercut cum hook landed perfectly to the body and electrified the brave Swindon man’s nervous system sufficiently to end the contest in the fourth.
Slow Mo Captures Spite
Slow motion replays captured the spite, timing and quality the shot was necessarily embroidered with and it was a conspicuous counter balance to the drama of Chris Eubank Junior’s stoppage of Avni Yildirim in three rounds the preceding weekend.
With Groves and Eubank now set as the semi-final, in a bout some observers, perhaps hypnotised by the latter’s aesthetic frame and that destruction of Yildirim, felt amounted to the ‘real’ final. A conclusion drawn in haste and one that has proven to overrate Eubank’s gifts and could yet significantly underestimate Callum Smith’s too. The Groves v Eubank bout was an electrifying occasion however. A generation of supporters were transported back to the peak of Eubank Senior’s career and all that it meant to British Boxing.
Groves proved immoveable, durable and technically a league or two above Eubank, despite the younger man’s natural speed, aggressive style and THAT surname. Only an injury in the final round, with Groves on the cusp of a wide points victory, ever threatened to disrupt this natural order.
That injury is the principle reason for the delay in the final taking place, it was originally scheduled for June; Groves dislocated his right shoulder in an awkward exchange and required surgery to repair the damage. And it is within that recuperation, and the sense of the unproven it creates, that introduces doubt to any conclusions one may draw about September’s final.
Related: For bonus and offers check out New betting sites.
Bookmakers Struggle to Decide Too
In a sport criticised for the infrequency of its 50-50 bouts, in which money or circumstance too often protects the most commercially viable from undue risk, the Groves v Smith fight and the tournament that created their meeting is a refreshing breakthrough.
Groves remains the marginal favourite, 4/6 with 888sport, in a bout likely to be cautious, tactical and slow to begin with. The tall, rangy Smith, 5/4 to win with Ladbrokes, has craved a contest like this, against an established fighter, for a very long time. A victim of the complexities of a sport that can marginalise those not connected to the right party – boxing insiders have long mooted that Callum is the best of the fighting clan that formed him – Smith will bring a long, accurate jab, height and reach advantages and a good deal of freshness to the bout.
In the opposite corner, Groves provides power, both on the front foot behind a good double jab and on the counter when forced to retreat. The 30-year-old champion has the edge in knockout power but all conclusions about his chances in the fight are with the asterisk of his injury.
For the bold, adding the possibility of a recurrence of Groves’ injury to the range of outcomes covered could prove shrewd. Ladbrokes offer 3-1 on Smith to succeed via a points or technical decision, the latter would include an accidental injury which forces one party to retire, providing four rounds have been completed. At that point judges scorecards are reviewed to determine a winner.
3/1 is entirely more attractive than the 5/4 or 11/10 widely available for backing a head-to-head victory for Smith. If Smith were to win, he would do so behind his long jab and a higher work rate than Groves over the 12 round distance.
A knockout of Groves, despite his two stoppage losses to Carl Froch, appears unlikely and, therefore, in a match-up so difficult to predict, the 3/1 on a Smith decision victory offers interest, though I would recommend only a modest investment.
It would reward those who believe Callum Smith is a world-class fighter who simply needs a world-class opponent against whom he can demonstrate it.
Recommended Betting Sites



- 18+, Welcome Bonus: New Players only, 1st Deposit, Min Deposit,: £10, max £10 free bet valid for 14 days, bets must be placed at odds of 1/1 or greater and be settled within 14 days of placement. System bets not eligible. Neteller,Skrill and Paypal not eligible. T&Cs apply. Gamble responsibly. www.begambleaware.orgFully Mobile-Optimised InterfaceInteractive Football Match Centre‘BoostItOn’ Accumulator Boostsnot requiredBonus Code
The code required to claim this sign-up bonus (if any)
Live StreamingIs there live streaming of sporting events?
YesIn-Play BettingThe number of sports with in-play betting available
27Bet BuilderCan you build your own personalised bets?
NoCash OutCan you cash out of bets before an event has finished?
YesAcca InsuranceRefund or free bet when one selection in an accumulator lets the bet down
NoBetItOn have ex-Liverpool striker and Champions League winner Djibril Cissé as their brand ambassador and resident football expert. - Min deposit £/€/$10 • A qualifying bet is a ‘real money’ stake of at least £/€/$10 • Min odds 1/2 (1.50) • Free Bets credited upon qualifying bet settlement and expire after 7 days • Free Bet stakes not included in returns • Casino Bonus must be claimed within 7 days • To withdraw bonus/related wins, wager the bonus amount 40 times within 14 days • Casino Bonus expires after 60 days • Withdrawal restrictions, payment methods, country & Full T&C’s apply. - Full Terms ApplyCreate your own Multiples with Bet BuilderLive Streaming of all UK & Irish RacingDaily Price Enhancements & SpecialsGET40Bonus Code
The code required to claim this sign-up bonus (if any)
Live StreamingIs there live streaming of sporting events?
YesIn-Play BettingThe number of sports with in-play betting available
16Bet BuilderCan you build your own personalised bets?
YesCash OutCan you cash out of bets before an event has finished?
YesAcca InsuranceRefund or free bet when one selection in an accumulator lets the bet down
Yes888sport offer a wide range of sports betting markets, combined with regular enhanced specials, plus an exclusive 'Acca Club' (bet £20 on Multiples or Bet Builder to get a £5 free bet - every week). - T&Cs apply. New customers on mobile only. 7 days to claim and stake £10 minimum bet at odds of 1.5 or greater to qualify. Free, void, cashed out or partially cashed out bets do not qualify. Max 3x £10 free bets credited on bet settlement. Free bets must be used on 4 or more selections with selection odds of 1.3 or greater. Free bets are non-withdrawable and stake not returned with winnings. 7 day expiry. 18+ BeGambleAware.orgWide Range of In-Play MarketsLive Streaming of UK Horse RacingBetting App for Android & iOS Devicesnot requiredBonus Code
The code required to claim this sign-up bonus (if any)
Live StreamingIs there live streaming of sporting events?
YesIn-Play BettingThe number of sports with in-play betting available
9Bet BuilderCan you build your own personalised bets?
YesCash OutCan you cash out of bets before an event has finished?
YesAcca InsuranceRefund or free bet when one selection in an accumulator lets the bet down
NoBetUK have leading National Hunt trainer Neil Mulholland and celebrity horse racing enthusiast and model Vogue Williams as brand ambassadors and betting experts. - 18+, Welcome Bonus: New Players only, 1st Deposit, Min Deposit: £10, max £15 bonus, valid for 14 days, bets must be placed at a min. odds of 1/1 (2.00) or greater and be settled within 14 days of placement. System bets no eligible. Click to see full T&CsDual Sportsbook & Casino PlatformDistinctive ‘Moustache’ Branding‘PlayBoost’ Accumulator Boostsnot requiredBonus Code
The code required to claim this sign-up bonus (if any)
Live StreamingIs there live streaming of sporting events?
NoIn-Play BettingThe number of sports with in-play betting available
21Bet BuilderCan you build your own personalised bets?
NoCash OutCan you cash out of bets before an event has finished?
YesAcca InsuranceRefund or free bet when one selection in an accumulator lets the bet down
NoMr.Play Sports has a fun style of its very own, with a memorable handlebar 'tache wherever you look, but it boasts a serious amount of betting markets, plus Premier League & 'Euro Elite' betting battle tournaments. - Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. - Full Terms ApplyAwarded 'Sportsbook of the Year' 2018/19/20/21Live Streaming of 1000's of Events2 Goals Ahead Early Payout Offernot requiredBonus Code
The code required to claim this sign-up bonus (if any)
Live StreamingIs there live streaming of sporting events?
YesIn-Play BettingThe number of sports with in-play betting available
31Bet BuilderCan you build your own personalised bets?
YesCash OutCan you cash out of bets before an event has finished?
YesAcca InsuranceRefund or free bet when one selection in an accumulator lets the bet down
NoBet365 offer the most comprehensive online sports betting service, including live steaming of a huge range of sports, plus a unique 'Edit Bet' functionality. - The Promotion operates as a £/€20 Surprise Bet when you place a bet of at least £/€10 on any market with odds greater than or equal to 1.50 as your first bet. The Promotion runs from 09/08/2021 / 12:00 (BST) until 31/12/2021 / 12:00 (BST) (the “Promotional Period”). The Promotion is only valid to: (a) new customers; (b) customers aged 18 years or over. To qualify for the Promotion, participant must deposit and place a £/€10 bet as their first bet on any market (excluding each way) in the sportsbook with odds greater than or equal to 1.50. Only original odds count toward the promotion. Supercharged odds do not count towards the promotion. An accumulation of smaller stakes will not count. Cashed out bets do not count towards this promotion. Only available once per customer. Rewards will be credited to qualifying participants within 48 hours after placing the qualifying bet. Potential winnings from the Surprise Bet are paid in withdrawable cash, excluding the stake. This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer.Random Supercharged PayoutsWeekly ‘kwiff Club’ Cashback & Free Bets‘Acca Shield’ Refund (if One Leg Fails)not requiredBonus Code
The code required to claim this sign-up bonus (if any)
Live StreamingIs there live streaming of sporting events?
NoIn-Play BettingThe number of sports with in-play betting available
13Bet BuilderCan you build your own personalised bets?
NoCash OutCan you cash out of bets before an event has finished?
YesAcca InsuranceRefund or free bet when one selection in an accumulator lets the bet down
YesWhen a customer places a bet with kwiff, they may find that their bet is “kwiffed” - where you receive increased odds after placing your bet. - T&Cs apply. New reg only. Claim by placing a min deposit £10 via "My Offers" page within 30 days. Skrill/Neteller deposits excl. 7 days to stake max £10 in-play. Max. extra winnings £100. 18+ BeGambleAware.org. - Full Terms ApplyMobile First Betting Interface'Leo King' Sports Prediction Game24/7 Customer Servicenot requiredBonus Code
The code required to claim this sign-up bonus (if any)
Live StreamingIs there live streaming of sporting events?
YesIn-Play BettingThe number of sports with in-play betting available
34Bet BuilderCan you build your own personalised bets?
YesCash OutCan you cash out of bets before an event has finished?
YesAcca InsuranceRefund or free bet when one selection in an accumulator lets the bet down
NoLeo Vegas Sports is the sportsbook from this multi-award-winning casino operator, with a focus on mobile users - including a sport betting app for Android & iOS Devices. - New ‘brand’ customers that have yet to make a first deposit on the site. Must be aged 18+. Only valid on first deposit. Not valid with any other offers on the site. Offer expires after 14 days. T&Cs apply. Play Responsibly www.begambleaware.org.Rewards Points for Every BetWeekly Free Bet ClubHigh Betting LimitsSPORTS200Bonus Code
The code required to claim this sign-up bonus (if any)
Live StreamingIs there live streaming of sporting events?
YesIn-Play BettingThe number of sports with in-play betting available
27Bet BuilderCan you build your own personalised bets?
YesCash OutCan you cash out of bets before an event has finished?
YesAcca InsuranceRefund or free bet when one selection in an accumulator lets the bet down
YesSportNation offer unique money back promotions and special offers, such as 'First Five' where your football bet is paid out as a winner if your team scores first in the first 5 minutes. - New customers only. Qualifying bets must be placed before midnight 31/8/21. Free bet credited when your first bet on Glory Goals settles. Qualifying min odds 1.5. Free bet min odds 1.1 and must be used in 7 days. T&Cs apply. 18+. Play Responsibly www.begambleaware.org.Extensive American Sports MarketsUnique 'Glory Goals' BettingRegular Enhanced Odds & SpecialsRZGG20Bonus Code
The code required to claim this sign-up bonus (if any)
Live StreamingIs there live streaming of sporting events?
YesIn-Play BettingThe number of sports with in-play betting available
12Bet BuilderCan you build your own personalised bets?
NoCash OutCan you cash out of bets before an event has finished?
YesAcca InsuranceRefund or free bet when one selection in an accumulator lets the bet down
NoRedZone is an American-style sportbook who offer innovative markets, such as 'Glory Goals' where you can bet on two teams playing in different games - selecting who scores most. - New players only. Free Bet is a one-time stake of £10, minimum odds of 1.5, stake is not returned. 10X wagering the winnings. Wagering occurs from real balance first. Wagering requirement is calculated on bonus bets only, wagering starts from real funds. Max conversion: £20. Valid for 7 days from issue. Excluded Skrill deposits. 18+. Play Responsibly www.begambleaware.org.10% Cash-Back on Various Sports'Wager Wars' Cash PrizesFull & Partial Cash-Out Optionsnot requiredBonus Code
The code required to claim this sign-up bonus (if any)
Live StreamingIs there live streaming of sporting events?
NoIn-Play BettingThe number of sports with in-play betting available
16Bet BuilderCan you build your own personalised bets?
YesCash OutCan you cash out of bets before an event has finished?
YesAcca InsuranceRefund or free bet when one selection in an accumulator lets the bet down
NoBritainBet is a relatively new sportsbook and casino platform, which offers Bet Builder and Cash-Outs, plus 24/7 customer service.
Stay In The Loop With Free Bets, Insider Tips & More!
Live Betting. Sports Promos. Sent Weekly.