Does DeGale need a new trainer?
May 23rd, 2011
By William Mackay: Both James DeGale and George Groves looked lost out there last Saturday night. Two fighters with domestic level skills trying to find their way around the ring and looking pretty amateurish for the most part. With that said, Groves at least looked like he had a plan and stuck with it. His team came up with what turned out to be a good strategy for him to use a lot of moment against the plodding DeGale it ended up working for Groves.
DeGale didn’t have answer for Groves’ movement and didn’t show a sense of urgency to move quickly to start cutting off the ring until the second half of the fight. By then, DeGale already given away some crucial rounds that he had to try and make up for. I don’t know why DeGale wasn’t adapting to Groves’ movement early, but you have to wonder whether DeGale’s trainer is the root of the problem.
It isn’t like Groves was springing a surprise by showing movement in the fight, because that’s what Groves had been saying all along what he would be doing. And even with him giving DeGale a heads up, DeGale didn’t seem very prepared for the lateral movement and handled it poorly throughout the fight. Even in the second half, DeGale didn’t press the attack hard enough and seemed to fight with a lazy style. There was no jab, which he really needed to use to pick Groves off on the outside while he was moving in circles. This is something DeGale’s trainer should have been on top of. And DeGale showed Groves far too much respect until it was far too late. He treated Groves like a project that he didn’t really want to start because of how much hard work he’d have to put into it.
By the time he realized how desperate the situation was late in the fight, Groves had already built up a sizable lead that forced DeGale to be almost perfect to win enough rounds to get the victory. I think DeGale might need to consider getting a new trainer after this. He needs a fresh outlook from someone that can possibly give him some new ideas so that his kind of thing doesn’t happen again.
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I thought the same thing. It was a victory for Booth, his tactics meant his guy won those few more crucial rounds
can see him doing a Khan-Freddie loves big names with fast hands!
Degale needs to grow up and stop acting like such a tool. His attitude was all wrong going into this fight. He spent too much time trying to wind up Groves with immature comments like the “Chinny, ugly ginger kid”. I bet he feels like a right fool now and if he doesn’t then he’s a bigger fool than he sounds. I will agree that if he wants to develop and become a top contender then he does need to change trainers. It worked for Khan after his loss but I think Manny Steward would be better for his type of style. Whether that means turning him into another boring Chad Dawson type southpaw or not. He does need to get his attitude sorted out first though.
degale does need to move on to fulfill his potential. perhaps he should join up with freddie roach,manny stewart or adam booth.the best 3 trainers in boxing today.
Some good points in the article. DeGale looked stronger but he also looked un-coached. Clueless really. In the long run DeGale’s gonna have the Career but he needs tuning by a far better mechanic than wee man McDonnell. And this was defo NOT a ppv event.
he needs Floyd Sr
I do think Degale would benefit from a new trainer. Jimmy Mac had nothing to say to a DeGale that needed a bit of advice. DeGale is the mosre talented of the two boxers. It was a poor decision, and should have been a draw at Best for Groves.
DeGale’s trainer is an East End Barrow Boy and little else ! I have never rated him as a ‘great’ trainer, just average at best.
yes, DeGale does need to move onto a better trainer that can tutor him a little better than what he currently gets. Hopefully the trainer can doe something about that childish, school yard bully boy mentality that DeGale has hanging round his features ?!!
Mackay should donate what little brain he has left to the medical profession in the hope of finding a cure against mental disorders.
William Mackay, You should write for WWE
Degale does need a new coach/trainer……. it looked as if he was still fighting as an amutuer tha whole fight…..the only decent sparring degale seemed to do was against cleverly and thts it but where as groves got some top american sparring and learnt sum thing…..if degale wants to fulfill his olympic gold medal potentialhe has to move out to tha usa and find a good old school trainer who can teach him everything aboot boxing from his outside game to inside game….how to play dirty in a PRO way not being blatant with headbuts elbows…ya know its an art in it slef look at some ov tha top guys WARD,HOPKINS,JOHNSON nd tha master in his day MIKE TYSON they know how it works JAB, STRAIGHT,RIGHT HOOK followed by an LEFT ELBOW LOL…i think he defo needs new trainer needs to put a bit more thought and practice into what he’s going to do, needs to learn how to fight as the fight happens rather than jus making silly prediction/second guessing on how tha other guy is gonna fight
i do agree with mackay for once here, however we need to remember that these guys are still novice fighters and are not the finished package just yet.
I agree. McDonnell behaves like a little kid. He looks like a hyperactive character running and jumping around. Too much sugar? Obviously not Ray Leonard. He might be a good gym coach but not a tactician. Every time there was a close up on DeGale’s corner he was blabbering sth. like…. Listen, listen…. yeah, yeah. Yeah? Listen, listen. You’re strong, yeah. Listen….
I can’t say I like everything about James DeGale but he is undoubtedly an incredible talent. He showed more in there in order to win it. I do not understand british mentality of boooing their Olympic Gold medalist. You don’t do that. He’s a flamboyant kid, full of himself but he is not a ‘BAD’ guy.
Patchy article but not without merit. Degale needs to follow Khan to USA. Like Khan he will never be loved in UK, despite his gold medal, and despite his obvious potential. Fact of the matter is, he lost the decision because nobody wanted him to get the decision, including the judges. Groves was always going to win a close fight, just like their ABA fight, when Degale seemed to come out on top. Trainer Jim McDonell came across as a chump throughout from pre-fight press conference to the end of the fight .. no Plan b. The next fight Degale has in UK, you can bet that he will be booed no matter who he fights. Time to move on, and what better time than now?
The very thought came into my head straight after the fight! Groves had to implement the plan but without that particular plan he wouldn’t of won the fight! Same goes for Haye against Valuev, wouldn’t of won it any other way!! Tactics are so important and I agree with Nathan, when your fighter comes back into the corner, he needs specifics to go back in with not general stuff! Its easy to say from my sofa but I wanted more output from Degale each round, double jabs, quick right lefts and I was crying out for the uppercut all night, he hardly through any at all!!
I heard at one stage jimmy mac saying your power is good your fitness is good! What about tactics ? The fight was even or groves ahead by one at this stage
Let’s face it he has been in boxing for a while but as a trainer he revealed himself at the weigh in and during the fight … Not sure about this writer and his motive fir this article but it is a good point I think they both could do so much better
I agree the kid needs a qualified trainer and not some old name guy where he will get lost in the shuffle. Wards trainer would be a good move for him because ward is moving up to light heavy in 2013 and that would be the time degale would be ready for a shot at the belt. Ward adapts effortlessly and when you listen to his coach speak in that corner he quides ward through the fight. A lot of trainers start ego tripping and try to shine in the fighters spotlight but degale needs to be guided and have a understanding of what he is doing. There is quite a bit of hate on ward but no one can deny that he isn’t a well coached fighter and chucky needs fundamentals bad.
“ADAM I’LL HAVE 20 GRAND WITH YOU” DEGALES TRAINER IS AN IMATURE PRAT!!!!
He doesnt need a new trainer he (both) need experience, which will come on time. They havent had many fights and are still learning their trade
sure Jim McDonnell has tourettes, all he kept blurting out was ‘listen.’ surprised how much stronger degale looked!
Personally I dont rate DeGales trainer as a person, but I cant comment on him as a trainer or whether DeGale should move on.
From what I have heard the trainer is rated well in the industry.