LONDON, England — Former world super middleweight champion George Groves has embraced the media space since hanging up the gloves in January 2019, two months shy of his 31st birthday.

To put that into perspective, the bulk of Britain's best and most recognisable faces are 30 and older - including two of his former foes in Chris Eubank Jr and Callum Smith.

As we meet, he's enjoying the summer weather and looking forward to an undisputed heavyweight title fight which doesn't quite go to plan for Dale Youth alum Daniel Dubois.

Groves has spoken publicly in several interviews about wrestling with the decision to embrace a hands-on role with rising cruiserweight prospect Lucas Roehrig (5-0, 2 KOs), eventually opting to train the 22-year-old as well as manage the youngster's career.

When asked about a willingness to take on more coaching responsibility, by potentially bolstering his stable, Groves delves deeper into the dilemma at hand.

"I love my talking job - broadcasting, podcasting, punditry, doing live events - sometimes they clash. I love being at live boxing, it makes me a better coach through seeing action like that so if someone else were to knock on the door? I'll be selective with my time," he tells The Ring.

"If I believe I can improve, add and gel with them, never say never, I would. I would love to spend time in the gym with an Andy Lee, Ben Davison-type coach.

"I've spent time with Shane [McGuigan], seen how he operates, always used to watch fighters and their coaches but while I'd love to learn as much as I can, there's a lot of ego in the sport. Coaches can't just say, 'can I spend some time in the gym?'"

Groves' contacts book is deep and unsurprisingly, he's helped immerse Roehrig in an environment few professionals get to be around in the early stages of their careers.

So while he has boxed to some impressive victories in six-round contests at leisure centres and football conference suites, he's also mixing it in sparring with IBF/Ring cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia (28-0, 22 KOs) and ringside for marquee fights abroad too.

"We were out with Opetaia in Saudi Arabia - his dad is his coach - I'm watching and listening. If you can pick someone's brain, whether you think their philosophy is right or wrong, it's important to do."

Groves then shares an anecdote about how he handled his first sticky moment as a professional, when he boxed Kenny Anderson for the Commonwealth super middleweight title at Manchester's M.E.N. Arena in November 2010 in his 11th fight. It was a final eliminator for British honours, held by longtime divisional rival James DeGale at the time.

"Adam Booth was my coach and I thought he knew everything about boxing. Adam's chief second was Dave Coldwell, who was head of Hayemaker Boxing and a very experienced boxing man. I got dropped [in round three], Booth shouted at me to move, slip and slide.

"Coldwell told me to hold him and if I didn't? I might've got knocked out, my career wouldn't be what it was. With reflection, Booth would've thought 'I'm coaching the world heavyweight champion [David Haye was WBA champion at the time] and who are you training, but he got it right."