EXCLUSIVE
George Groves has boxed some seriously talented operators - but two stood out above the rest.
During a professional career spanning from 2008 to 2018, 'Saint George' was involved in several high-profile fights.
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None more so than his two barnstorming bouts against Carl Froch.
When the fierce rivals first met in November 2013, Groves boxed brilliantly early doors and appeared to be getting the better of his fellow Brit.
However, their contest was controversially stopped in the ninth round when Howard Foster stepped and waved off the bout after Groves was caught on unsteady legs.
There were no such qualms with the result when they ran it back at Wembley Stadium five months later though.
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Froch flatlined Groves with a clubbing right hand in the eighth stanza to close the show in front of 80,000 fans.
Although Groves didn't name Froch as the most talented boxer he had shared the ring with, he was under no illusion that he hit him the hardest.
"The hardest punch I took must be from my old buddy Carl Froch, which 10 years on now we are doing a live show to look back on," Groves told talkSPORT.com in reference to the upcoming Froch-Groves 3 live event at the O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire on May 22.
When it came to the most skilful operator, Groves picked two boxers - one he fought and one he sparred.
The most adept pugilist he sparred with was Andre 'The Matrix' Dirrell, the younger brother of two-time WBC super-middleweight champion Anthony Dirrell.
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Andre never won a world title during his 31-fight pro career (28-3) but pushed Froch all the way back in 2009 when he challenged for the Brit's WBC super-middleweight crown.
"The most skilful fighter, in the gym in sparring was Andre Dirrell, he was really skilful. This is post his fight with Carl Froch but pre his fight with James DeGale so I was still a bit of a newbie pro but he was very good.
"He was lightning fast and very explosive, he had decent power and a lot of boxing IQ.
"He was slick you had to stick to your boxing fundamentals to stick with him which a lot of people forget when they are in there.
"He was very elusive with the head, great angles, I remember he kept catching me with a lead uppercut, so from a southpaw stance it was a right uppercut which is the muggiest shot you can get hit with."
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When it came to the most talented fighter Groves had shared the ring with, that distinction fell to former three-weight world champion Badou Jack.
Jack and Groves met back in 2015 for the Swede's WBC super-middleweight strap.
Groves was sent tumbling to the canvas in the opening stanza but battled back to lose narrowly on a split decision.
"In the ring, Badou Jack was pretty good at being a solid all-rounder," he added.
"He dropped me in the first round, he caught my brain cold because he shoots low and comes high.
"Once you get to elite level that is 101 you shouldn't fall for those tricks but I did."
Groves retired from professional boxing in 2018 after being stopped by Callum Smith in the final of the World Boxing Super Series: super-middleweight tournament.
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En route to that fight, he knocked out Jamie Cox and bested Chris Eubank Jr over the distance.
Groves bowed out of the sport with an impressive 28-4 record and a WBA (super) super middleweight world title to his name.