By Jake Donovan
 
Among the many in town in Chicago this weekend for the latest entry of Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions series are interested observers of the evening’s main event. 

Anthony Dirrell puts his super middleweight title and unbeaten record on the line as he faces Badou Jack in the main event, which airs live on Spike TV from UIC Pavilion in Chicago. The audience to which they will perform includes a few key players in the division, with former champ Lucian Bute in attendance as well as top contender George Groves, who is due next in line for a shot at the winner.

Groves (21-2, 16KOs) suffered back-to-back heartbreaking stoppage losses to Carl Froch, but has since won two straight. 

A 12-round win over Christopher Rebrasse put the bruising contender from London in contention for the very super middleweight belt at stake tonight. Groves affirmed his position as the leading contender with a 7th round knockout of Denis Douglin last November. 

A mandatory defense hasn’t been made since Dirrell-then an unbeaten challenger-twice faced Sakio Bika, winning the belt last August after fighting to a draw in their Dec. ’13 meet. As such, the winner of the Spike TV headliner will likely be immediately ordered to face Groves. 

Given the strong likelihood of being next in line, Groves and his team preferred an up close and personal view rather than watching from home on the other side of the pond. 

“We wanted to be here to see our next opponent,” notes Nisse Sauerland, Groves’ promoter. “We’re not here looking for a fight, just looking at the fight. 

Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox