Groves sees potential DeGale fight in summer

By Boxing News - 01/28/2016 - Comments

Image: Groves sees potential DeGale fight in summerBy Scott Gilfoid: The struggling former three-time world title loser George Groves (21-3, 16 KOs) believes he could be fighting for yet another world title by this summer despite having lost 3 out of his last 5 fights and all of his fights against quality opposition.

Groves, 27, thinks there’s a possibility of him fighting IBF super middleweight champion James DeGale by this summer if the two of them keep winning their fights. Groves has a mismatch this Saturday night against little known 2nd tier fighter Andrea Di Luisa (18-3, 14 KOs) at the Copper Box Arena in London, UK.

It’s seen as a mismatch in the eyes of a lot of boxing fans, but with Groves, you just never know. He was bludgeoned by Carl Froch in two knockout losses in 2013 and 2014, and then after Groves dined on a couple of soft opponents to get back to his winning ways, he was beaten by WBC 168lb champion Badou Jack by a 12 round decision last September. If the fight had been a six rounder, Groves would have won. The problem is the fight was a 12 round fight for Badou’s WBC strap, and Groves ran out of gas after six rounds and ended up red-faced, tired and well-beaten by the end of the 12 round contest.

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“I should be in contention for another world title in the summer because I have the profile and the performances to match,” Groves said to skysports.com. “If James is still world champion then maybe our paths will cross. I am just focused on getting myself into range of a world title shot and that’s what I want.”

DeGale would likely jump at the chance to fight Groves again and avenge his loss to him from 2011. DeGale lost a controversial 12 round majority decision to Groves in a fight that DeGale appeared to in in the eyes of a lot of fans. A rematch between them would likely make them both a lot of money. There would be no real loser in a fight of that kind because both would be so well paid.

It’s unclear who Groves will be looking to fight after the Di Luisa fight on Saturday. My guess is Groves will take one more Di Luisa level fighter before looking to get a title shot in the summer against one of the champions. Groves is ranked #3 by the WBC despite the fact that he’s been beaten repeatedly in the last three years. The only fighter that Groves could force a world title fight against is Badou, and that’s only if the World Boxing Council gives him a No.1 ranking.

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The WBC has a habit of making their contenders fight for the right to become the No.1 mandatory, but they don’t always do this. Look at Amir Khan. He’s No.1 with the WBC at 147, and he’s beaten no one that I can recall in an eliminator. Callum Smith is in front of Groves at No.1, and presumably that would be the guy that Groves would need to fight if he wanted to lock himself in for a rematch against Badou. Of course, Groves’ management at Sauerland Events could always give Badou’s management an offer that he can’t refuse and then they’d get the fight before Callum.

“As long as he’s still winning, good luck to him. My time will come and I am not worried about him, I just have to concentrate on myself, get the win this weekend to kick 2016 off in style,” Groves said.

I do believe Groves will soon get another title shot. I can’t believe how some fighters get title shots over and over again no matter how many times they get whipped. Guys like Groves, Martin Murray and Matthew Macklin have all had it very, very good in getting title shots despite them failing repeatedly. Then you have talents like Andre Dirrell, who loses a fight or two, and finds himself not getting title shots forever. It just shows you the importance of being signed to a good promotional company that can open doors for you. Groves only had to beat Denis Douglin and Christopher Rebrasse to get his last title shot. If Groves gets a fourth title shot off of a win over Di Luisa, then it shows you how easy it can be.



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