Groves v DeGale – Full Fight

Groves 2-0 Degale

Commonwealth Super-middleweight champion George ‘The Saint’ Groves claimed a second victory over bitter rival James DeGale to be crowned British champion at a packed O2 Arena in London.

Boxing fluently off the back foot, Groves landed continuously with his excellent jab and was able to tag DeGale with the straight right on numerous occasions in a superb display of controlled boxing.

Many experts had picked DeGale to win ahead of the grudge match, but it was Groves who was again the better man on the night in a bout that lived up to the hype and thrilled the Hammersmith man’s huge following.

Just as in their famous amateur bout, Groves claimed a majority decision with judge Richie Davies calling it a 115-115 draw, whilst Dave Parris and John Kean both awarded it to Groves 115-114.

“Everyone was raving about him. Only two favoured me in a boxing news poll, but I have self belief,” Groves told BBC 5 Live.

“It feels good. I knew I’d won. I knew I’d done enough.”

Talking of a rematch Groves said: “How many times do I have to beat this man? After this fight I’ll go on to bigger and better things.

“He has no titles, he’s just come off a loss, I’m pretty sure I can find a better opponent than James DeGale.

“I’ve always said, once I’ve finished with James DeGale I’ve cleared up the domestic scene and I’m looking at bigger and better things.

“Possibly I can see it happening a few years down the line, when we’ve both got different versions of the world title. He’s got a good promoter, I’m sure he can get there, he’ll just have to take a different route from me. I’m taking a more direct one.”

So, After all the hype and all the talk, after 2 1/2 years as professionals and 5 years after their amateur encounter, George Groves has proved once and for all he is better than James DeGale.

Groves & DeGale both make weight

There were no problems making the weight for either fighter at today’s weigh in, as both men weighed in under the 168lbs Super-middleweight limit.

Groves stepped on first and scaled 11st 13lbs 7oz, with DeGale – roundly booed – just an ounce lighter at 11st 13lbs 6oz.

Sky ‘Behind the Ropes’ Special

Final Press Conference for Groves v DeGale

Public workouts for Groves & DeGale

McCrory & Nelson on Groves v DeGale

Carl Froch on Groves v DeGale

The Countdown is ON!!

The countdown is on for the long-awaited clash between George Groves and James Degale – this Saturday at the O2 Arena in London and live on Sky Box Office Pay-Per-View.

The weigh-in for the fight is on Friday at 1pm at the O2 Indigo (O2 Arena) and is open to the public (and free).

Nelson: DeGale has it all to lose

From Skysports.com

I hope the red mist has cleared for James DeGale because if he loses to George Groves, I fear for him. I really do.

Of course in terms of age he is young enough to come back but mentally I wonder what losing will do to him.

No fighter I can think of has been under this much pressure after only 10 procfessional fights. I can’t think of anyone who has been in this situation, where his confidence, his performance and his ego are being scrutinised so early in his career.

DeGale will be ashamed if he loses to Groves, I am certain. He will have been going to bed at night thinking of how bad it felt when he lost to him in the amatuers and he will be dreading having to go through all that again.

He looked a mug back then and if it happens again here, he’ll look an even bigger mug.

Part of that is down tothe way he has behaved in the build-up, but part of it is also because he has that Olympic gold medal and the expectations that go with it.

Even Amir Khan, who brought our only medal back from Athens in 2004, didn’t have to live with that burden – and he had it tough enough.

The only situation I can equate it to that I am aware of is Nigel Benn’s career. When he lost to Michael Watson he had leave the country and when he lost to Chris Eubank he did the same.

He couldn’t bear being in England, it was that painful, that hard to take. And I know Eubank and Benn both say they’re cool now, I don’t believe that; deep down. I am sure Benn is still fuming.

I remember when my old mate Herol Graham beat Mark Kaylor and it had a similar effect on him; he was the tough lad from East End who had lost to an absolute fancy dan in Herol. Kaylor boxed again but never won a big fight and was just never the same.

Pressure

I can honestly see that happening to DeGale, even so early on. He has put himself in a position where defeat will be a real bitter pill to swallow.

That’s why I think Groves did the right thing in going to Miami beforehand. Just being in England, DeGale would have had the world and his wife asking him about the fight, encouraging him, wishing him luck, just mentioning it.

That is nice but believe me, it puts more and more pressure on you. And they will have been living, eating, drinking this fight as it is, 24/7.

I would much rather be in George’s position because no-one really expects him to win. If he does it will do him the world of good but if he loses, and comes out with some respect, he knows he can come again. I am not sure mentally, DeGale would ever get that confidence back.

DeGale though, has to get this out of the way, get this over and done with. If he comes through it the positive is I think he will be on the verge of a world title within a few fights, he is that good. But if he loses, he might never get close again.

If he lets the emotion get to him and if he takes it into the ring, he might suddenly find himself with nowhere to go – and no way back.