DeGale: I won’t give Groves a shot once I’m the champion

By Boxing News - 06/14/2011 - Comments

By Scott Gilfoid: James DeGale (10-1, 8 KO’s) says he won’t be giving unbeaten George Groves (13-0, 10 KO’s) a shot at his title after he captures one of the super middleweight belts by late 2012. The reason why DeGale won’t give Groves a shot is because Groves doesn’t want to give him a rematch after winning a controversial 12 round majority decision against DeGale on May 21st. DeGale tried to get a rematch, but Groves and his promoters made it clear that they don’t won’t be giving him one.

DeGale was told that he and Groves will fight against at some point in the future, but DeGale doesn’t believe it unless he’s the one doing Groves a favor by giving him a shot at his own world title. DeGale has a point. I can’t see Groves ever fighting DeGale again unless DeGale captures a belt and Groves is the needy one. What Groves questionable when showed us is that he really doesn’t have the power to stand and trade to get his wins.

Groves may have been able to run and spoil his way to a close controversial win over DeGale while fighting in the UK, but you can’t make a career out of that kind of style. You have to possess the power to beat the stronger fighters in the division, and Groves showed that he wasn’t able to trade with DeGale when he did stand in front of him for any length of time. Grove just looked like a weak runner. DeGale noticed this as well, saying in an interview at Sky Sports News “Every time I hit him, he was so fragile.”

DeGale said this about Groves wanting a title shot: “I will still be a world champion by the end of next year, And you know what? If I am and George Groves comes knocking on my door? Sorry, you’ve had your chance. The door ain’t opening.”

I agree with DeGale. He would be crazy to give a spoiler like Groves a second chance at a fight. Groves would only try to run around and win another controversial decision if given the chance. He won’t stand and fight with DeGale, because he doesn’t have the power to trade with him. If the fight were to take place in the United States where the judges score for better shots and bigger power, DeGale would win by a landslide. However, in the UK, Groves might win another controversial decision just like the first. If Groves wants to win a title, he needs to go knocking on the door of WBA super middleweight champion Andre Ward, IBF champ Lucian Bute or WBc champion Carl Froch. I don’t give Groves one chance in a billion of beating any of those guys no matter how much running Groves does. I see Groves as a domestic/European level guy and when he steps up some day against a quality guys, he’s going to get smacked down and hard. DeGale should forget about him and face guys that actually fight and not run around the ring stinking up the joint.



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