‘Snipers everywhere’… George Groves was warned ‘you could get shot’… boxing legend tells crazy story

EXCLUSIVE: George Groves was told that he could get shot during an extremely memorable boxing trip.

In his remarkable career, the gifted fighter headlined Wembley Stadium, triumphed over James DeGale and even won a world championship belt. However, one of his craziest experiences came long before he ever turned professional.

George Groves was warned he could get shot

Prior to his days in the professional game, George Groves flew around the world, competing as an amateur.

However, he didn’t always travel to the safest of places, with one particular trip still at the forefront of his mind.

In an exclusive interview with Sporf, via Lottoland, Boxing Betting, the icon reminisced: “Bosnia, I won gold there. We flew into the capital for a multi-nations tournament. That trip really stuck with me. I’d already been to Azerbaijan, Russia – all places no one I knew had been to. Coming from a working-class background, people I knew went to Spain or Portugal, but none of these places.

“When we landed in Bosnia, we saw buildings still riddled with bullet holes in the walls in the buildings from the war that ended in the mid-90s, and we were there in 2001. Our hotel wasn’t even a hotel; we stayed in an orphanage. Even at 16 or 17, I remember thinking, ‘What am I doing here’? We must have kicked some kids out to sleep there. It was shocking. I was there as part of the English team, along with Anthony Ogogo and Kal Yafai.

“We were told not to go out alone. They said, ‘If you walk outside the complex and people didn’t know who you are, they might shoot you. If you’re walking down and they don’t regonise you, there’s snipers everywhere, you might get shot’. I don’t know if it was true or just a way to keep us in, but someone had apparently been shot the week before while looking for ice cream.

“I went to some fascinating places as an amateur, maybe even dangerous at times, but it gave me stories I’ll never forget. Bosnia was probably the top of the list of places we definitely shouldn’t have been.”

John Fury drove all the way to Morocco to watch Tyson Fury

While fighting in Bosnia was undoubtedly an experience to remember, it isn’t the only boxing tournament that Groves recalls, with the icon once travelling to Morocco with Tyson Fury.

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The power puncher explained: “I was fortunate enough to travel the world as an amateur. I boxed all over, predominantly as a cadet under-17, and boxing for Young England under-19s.

“There were a few memorable trips. One that stands out was Morocco, for the Under-19 World Championships. That team included Luke Campbell, Tyson Fury, and Darren Barker’s younger brother, Gary, who was our captain. A strong team – many of guys went on to do great things.

“We boxed in Agadir. Tyson Fury’s dad drove all the way there, probably in a camper van, made a holiday of it. I think he didn’t want to fly. Fury won a bronze medal. He was exactly like he is now, but at 17, 6ft9 and over 100 kilos!

“I boxed really well – beat a Kazakhstani in the first round, then lost to a very similar fighter from Uzbekistan. After that, we hit the beach and rented jet skis.”

Featured Image Credit: Sky Sports