George Groves believes he is on top of his game as he prepares to face Denis Douglin at Liverpool’s Echo Arena on Saturday.

The super-middleweight is in line to face Anthony Dirrell next year should he get through the fight with Douglin as expected.

The 26-year-old, who grew up in Hammersmith and boxed for Dale Youth ABC as an amateur, believes he is back firing on all cylinders after his loss to Carl Froch in May, but is wary of Douglin’s threat all the same.

“This is not a ‘keep-busy’ fight, it’s certainly very real,” Groves told the Times. “I wanted another fight before Christmas so I could enjoy some time off and some downtime before getting back into it next year. He’s a southpaw and a very tough guy, who of course is trained by his mother – but I’ve never lost to a southpaw.

“I don’t like to watch too much of my fighters and get caught up in what they can do, but I’ve seen a little bit of him and I’m confident. It will be good preparation for me before fighting Dirrell next year, I can get some more rounds under my belt.”

Groves took time out of his preparation for American Douglin to help raise money for the British Legion last week. Barry O’Connell, Groves’ fitness and conditioning coach, is a former Royal Marine commando and was invited down to the London Poppy Appeal bus to raise money for the armed services.

O’Connell spent 12 years serving as a physical training instructor in both Afghanistan and Sierra Leone and won a ‘Be The Boss’ scheme to set up his own gym in west London after leaving the army.

Groves was more than happy to put some time aside to help his coach.

“It was great to be honest, I really enjoyed it. If anything we didn’t get to do it for long enough,” said Groves. “Barry is a former marine and he’s a great guy. He has an awesome gym that he set up from a grant he was given when he left the marines.

“The gym is really popular and is doing so well so I can see why they wanted him down there.

“I was glad I could go down and help. People would come up and ask for pictures but then felt inclined to put some money in the pot – it was great.

“I think we raised £200 in the first 15 minutes! There’s been a real increase in Remembrance Day this year across the country, I think, and I’m just glad I could do my bit.”