By Scott Gilfoid: James DeGale is hoping that IBF/WBA super middleweight champion Carl Froch (32-2, 23 KO’s) can somehow beat challenger George Groves (19-1, 15 KO’s) in their rematch this Saturday. DeGale not only wants Froch to beat Groves, he wants him to score a knockout in this fight.
DeGale has serious doubts whether the 36-year-old Froch will win this fight because of how Groves was able to dominate him the previous time they fought. DeGale doesn’t think that Froch can change his fighting style and improve at this point in his career. Froch will be what he was before, and the only one that can change for the better if the younger Groves, who will likely box Froch this time instead of slugging with him.
“I don’t know if Carl can change and come out and dominate the fight, because it was so easy for Groves [the last time they fought],” DeGale said to IFL TV. “Groves was hitting him when he wanted to. To be honest, I hope Froch knocks him out.”
DeGale doesn’t say why he wants Froch to beat Groves, but it’s likely because a fight between DeGale and Froch would make a lot more money potentially than a fight between DeGale and Groves. Froch has been a world champion for a long time now, and he’s had a lot more time to build up a huge fan base compared to Groves. That’s why it makes sense for DeGale to be pulling for Froch to win instead of Groves.
It makes good financial sense. But DeGale also likely wants Froch to beat Groves because Groves is such a bad style match-up for DeGale compared to Froch. Groves boxed DeGale in their fight in 2011 in beating him by a 12 round majority decision. DeGale is one of those fighters who doesn’t move well around the ring, and he really struggled with Groves’ movement, feints and better hand speed. Groves was able to hit DeGale with a lot of clean right hands to the head in that fight. And, yeah, Groves did fade in the 2nd half of the fight, but he did such a good job of building up a big lead in the first half of the fight, he was still able to win.
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