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 v DeGale 
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