George Groves appoints Paddy Fitzpatrick as his new trainer

[Mofo2]

George Groves has added to the mystery of his split with Adam Booth by appointing Booth’s former assistant Paddy Fitzpatrick as his new trainer ahead of his November 23 world title fight with Carl Froch.

 

Groves announced today that Fitzpatrick will take over his training duties with immediate effect, saying: “I am extremely happy to name Paddy Fitzpatrick as my new trainer going into what is the biggest fight of my life.

 

“Paddy and I have worked closely together in the past and already have a very good relationship, one built over many years.

“Not only has he worked my corner for important fights, we have also spent a lot of time together when abroad on training camps, where Paddy has overseen a number of significant sessions.â€

 

Fitzpatrick worked with Groves in the build-up to his British title win over James Degale in May 2011 and was also part of the David Haye camp in the build-up to his ill-fated attempt to wrest the world heavyweight title from Wladimir Klitschko later that same year.

 

Fitzpatrick sparked uproar at the final head-to-head press conference when he accused Klitschko’s trainer Manny Steward of illegal hand-wrapping, prompting angry scenes in which Steward claimed Fitzpatrick had been deliberately planted to stir up trouble.