England’s George Groves hopes to take belt from Las Vegas’ Badou Jack

George Groves has already envisioned the next step he’ll take after accomplishing his intended goal of defeating World Boxing Council super-middleweight champion Badou Jack on Saturday night on the Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Andre Berto undercard.

“After Sept. 12, I’ll be announcing I’m No. 1 in the division and let fans dictate things from there,” Groves (21-2, 16 knockouts) told the Los Angeles Times.

That’d be a bold statement, considering the 168-pound division includes unbeaten Andre Ward and a Brit who wears the International Boxing Federation belt, James DeGale.

Yet, Groves, 27, has already beaten DeGale -- once as a pro, once as an amateur -- and he says Ward’s extended inactivity -- one fight since November 2013 -- makes him “like a retired champion.”

So to pursue his plan, Groves and his training team set up for eight weeks of camp in Big Bear to prepare for Jack (19-1-1, 12 KOs), a Swedish member of Mayweather Promotions.

“I only try to speak what feels like the truth and I’m very confident for this fight,” Groves said.

“I think Jack’s a good fighter, someone to be respected, but technically I think I’m better. I think I’m quicker. I hit harder. When the openings are there, I’ll find him and make him pay.”

Coming to the United States -- to Jack’s training hometown -- for the title shot is a bold move, but Groves said, “I feel like this is small fries.”

He has fought in the United States twice previously, beating Mexico’s Francisco Sierra in San Jose in 2012.

He has also fought fellow Englishman Carl Froch twice. In their 2013 bout, Groves knocked Froch down in the first round, then lost by technical knockout in the ninth round.

Six months later, in May 2014, there were 80,000 fans inside Wembley Stadium for the rematch that Froch won by eighth-round TKO.

“It’s hard to win people’s minds over. The only way to change their minds is to perform,” Groves said.

“I’ve been on the other end of sticky decisions, have been the ‘B’ side, but I never go in there thinking, ‘Is this going to go against me?’

“Plus, I know if I take care of business, Jack won’t hear the final bell.”

Twitter: @latimespugmire