By William Mackay: Former 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist James DeGale (8-0, 6 KO’s) made quick work of Carl Dilks last Saturday night, stopping him in the 1st round in the Magnificent Seven card in Birmingham. After the fight, DeGale issued a challenge to unbeaten super middleweight Commonwealth champion George Groves (10-0, 8 KO’s) for a bout that will take place in December.

Groves, 22, has yet to accept the offer. And earlier today, DeGale’s promoter Frank Warren gave Groves 48 hours to accept an offer for a fight with DeGale on December 11th. Warren said “I have written to Groves formally, offering him a fight against DeGale.” This is the formal request that Groves was looking for. Now it’s up to him and his promoters whether he’ll accept the fight or not. My guess is Groves won’t take it, and I don’t blame him. DeGale is no joke and is loaded with talent. With all the different looks that DeGale gives his opponents, he would likely have Groves tied in knots and would beat him badly.

I can see DeGale stopping Groves in four or five rounds. I don’t see it as being a 1st round knockout like DeGale’s win over Dilks last Saturday night, but I think DeGale will out-box Groves and confuse him. Groves is a pretty much one-dimensional fighter, and with DeGale, he would be exposed. DeGale would give him so many different looks that I think Groves would be paralyzed and unable to figure out what to do. But like I said, I don’t see Groves accepting this fight. He’ll steer of DeGale and save himself a beating.