Groves and DeGale could be headed for a clash if they win their next fights

By Sean McDaniel: Unbeaten super middleweight Commonwealth champion George Groves (10-0, 8 KO’s) and unbeaten former 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist James DeGale (8-0, 6 KO’s) could be facing each other for the British super middleweight title in 2011 if they both win their next fights. Groves, 22, is defending his super middleweight Commonwealth title against Kenny Anderson (12-0, 8 KO’s) on the undercard of the WBA heavyweight title bout between champion David Haye and challenger Audley Harrison at the M.E.N. Arena, in Manchester, England.

DeGale, 24, faces British super middleweight champion Paul Smith (29-1, 15 KO’s) on December 11th at the Echo Arena, in Liverpool, England. DeGale is taking a big step up at an early point in his career, but his promoter believes in him and feels that he has enough skills and power to beat Smith. It’s a big gamble, because DeGale hasn’t been matched against anyone nearly as talented as Smith. But then again, Smith hasn’t faced anyone as difficult as DeGale, so this makes two of them.

DeGale appears to have the better power and the overall better boxing skills compared to Smith. He should win this fight without too many problems and move onto a fight against Groves. DeGale has been wanting to fight Groves for a little while now, but Groves’ management didn’t seem ready to put him in with the dangerous DeGale. This will be a huge test to see if they’ll allow Groves to step up and fight Groves provided that they each win their next fights.

In an article at thesun.co.uk, Groves says “We’ve got him. Kenny Anderson has signed. It’s going to be a defense of my Commonwealth title and also, more importantly, a final eliminator for the British title. Everyone’s heard me moaning and whining about not being in the mix for the British title, but now we’ve well well and truly wedged our way in. Provided I deliver the goods against Anderson, I’ll be fighting the winner of the British title fight.” Lets hope that Groves’ management allows him to fight DeGale this time, because this is a fight that Groves may not win.