Does anyone else fancy Groves over DeGale?

[IronLiver]

Groves is tough and brave but to slow to cope with James

Degale tko round 5 booth throws towel in after multiple knockdowns in a one sided fight.

[Asterix]

Does anyone else fancy Groves over DeGale?

I don't swing that way.

I favour DeGale at the moment. I think Groves is too open and not fast enough to get away with it (against DeGale). There would be competitive rounds, though, imo.

[Bennyblanco]

Its hard not to favour Degale in this clash after the smith fight and Groves's anderson fight. Nothing can be taken at all from there last outings as they were nothing but keep busy fights.

Id also like to see Degale shut all Groves's arse lickers on facebook up.

[lefty]

I know there remains some confusion as to whether DeGale vs Groves will go ahead and when, but if it happens is there anyone on the forum who genuinely believes that Groves will win? If so, I'd be interested in hearing everyone's views.

My personal gut feeling is that Groves will prevail. I think that DeGale was somewhat flattered by his victory against Paul Smith who had hardly shone in his previous fights and so it came as no surprise to me when DeGale beat Smith with something to spare. It's what I expected, but not necessarily because I'm convinced that DeGale is going all the way to the top. In contrast, perhaps Groves didn't get the credit he deserved for battling back to overcome Kenny Anderson though clearly George looks worryingly open defensively. I'd argue though that both Anderson and Charles Adamu (both stopped by Groves) would give DeGale a harder night' work than Smith was able to do.

Groves will force DeGale to fight at pace and exert far more pressure on him than Smith was able to. It will be interesting to see how DeGale copes with this intensity, whether he'll start making mistakes and get dragged into a brawl with a (possibly) harder puncher. I wouldn't rule out a DeGale win, particularly early, as Groves is wide open and there to be cracked with the uppercut as he comes in, but I lean towards a Groves points win.

Does anyone agree?

Im with you mate,I dont think Groves was given enough credit for the anderson victory.Anderson isnt the most skilled or athletically gifted but the guy is definietly very strong and very durable aswell.Groves was hitting him with huge shots and they were just bouncing off his head!It wasnt because groves lacked power either because you could see the damage to the face from the shots were landing.People go on about degales speed,etc and yes whilst he is fast so is groves!I also agree that the smith victory flattered degale somewhat,to me smith has average power,average speed and he's also small for the weight.

[yiddo14]

I think DeGale will take groves apart to be honest.

He is a fighter that responds when faced with a challenge. Thats why I think it's important he keeps on moving up despite his lack of pro experience. Treading water won't do him any good at all.

[hurlock]

groves is a hurtfull puncher & there is allway's a big chance of complaincency & being over confident.

[McCannW14]

Groves is so easy to hit it is embarrassing.

DeGale will have a field day.

[wrimc]

Who is saying that Groves would dispatch of Smith so easily? I think that is a good 50/50 fight Smith has a great chin and decent power and could rough Groves up easily enough

[Final round]

Groves seems to throw himself around a bit with the shots, good hard punches but Degale seems a more fluid puncher switching right to left with a nice ease about his work. A bit of a mean streak too when going for the stoppage.

DeGale around 8.

(hopefully my blind confidence will cover up the fact I'm shite at predicting rounds...oh and fights sometimes.)

[DIRT SUGAR]

This is what makes boxing great. Two undefeated former gym-mates and amateur rivals in a good ol' domestic shootout.

Both bringing youth, potential, skill, swagger and belief in themselves and putting their 'O's on the line. Quality match-up.

For me the pendulum has swung in Degale's favour since the Anderson and Smith fights. Degale just fights with that bit more belief in his own style, whereas I don't think Groves has quite found his comfort zone and doesn't know if he wants to be a puncher or slickster and struggles to put the two together and walks a fine line between success and disaster.

Degale fights up to the level of his opposition and the better the opponent the more they bring out of him. Kind of what you'd expect from an Olympic gold medallist to be fair.

Degale in five highly competitive rounds.

[Twinkle Toes]

I rate Degale highly, but with all the history involved, I fancy Groves to take the win - I believe Groves is mentally stronger.

Degale looks to me, to be very untidy when things aren't quite going to plan - I wouldn't be surprised to see this fight go the distance actually, with Groves taking the decision.

[Burberry Belt]

Groves is platinum, Degale is diamond.


Groves has the ultimate style

Degale has the infinite style

[DIRT SUGAR]

Think with his development in the Olympics and how he's performed against Smith, that Degale has come on more.

Whatever, it's a great fight.

[damianhucker1]

I rate Degale highly, but with all the history involved, I fancy Groves to take the win - I believe Groves is mentally stronger.

Degale looks to me, to be very untidy when things aren't quite going to plan - I wouldn't be surprised to see this fight go the distance actually, with Groves taking the decision.

To be fair i dont recall a time when things havent been going his way in any of his 10 pro fights , even his debut , when he got boo'd he was still well on top

Get the Winner in with Adonis Stevenson http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_ ... &cat=boxer
be a good way of moving onto the international stage against a credible opponent but beatable and could also be a commonwealth title defence .

[Scrap]

Think Groves.

[mcjarvo]

TBH I would rather see it a few years down the like when they both have a world title belt, making the fight a lot bigger. Plus I am worrid that the loser might not come back or give up on himself. :(

[damianhucker1]

TBH I would rather see it a few years down the like when they both have a world title belt, making the fight a lot bigger. Plus I am worrid that the loser might not come back or give up on himself. :(

Thats the sort of crap that stops these fights happening , why put off a big fight between them now , whos to say it will be a big fight in 3 years for example , both mens careers could have gone in complete different directions , but if there both world title worthy then usually both would still rise to the top even if one loses now , meaning another bout between them could still happen in the future anyway .

Dont just repeat something youve heard a commentator or so called expert say on tv .

[whiskey]

So many people are writing of Groves on account of the Anderson fight.

Kenny is a bloody good operator. And young George knocked him out after getting off the deck.

Degale is awesome for his ring age / experience . But we've only seen him in fights where he is a landslide favourite. I want to see how he fairs when he gets hits flush. He might cave in, his legs may go to jelly. We dont know that yet folks. It could be he has a granite chin but we just dont know.

Groves is chinny, but has proven he gets right back up and stops people.

I don't forecast Degale blowing Groves out in any fashion.

[MightyWarrior]

Could be wrong, but I get the impression that DeGale has a very good chin - no signs so far, and you'd expect a fighter like Smith to find any weakness in that area ( not a massive puncher, but far more experienced ) and I don't think DeGale has ever been knocked out in the ams either.

So if you assume he's ok there, the rest of his talent looks just fantastic, and I reckon he'll beat Groves, maybe by late TKO.

Groves is a big puncher though, which makes this the UK fight of the year.

[gobbles]

Could be announced on Thursday. Can't see DeGale taking Groves lightly.

[watson748]

So many people are writing of Groves on account of the Anderson fight.

Kenny is a bloody good operator. And young George knocked him out after getting off the deck.

Degale is awesome for his ring age / experience . But we've only seen him in fights where he is a landslide favourite. I want to see how he fairs when he gets hits flush. He might cave in, his legs may go to jelly. We dont know that yet folks. It could be he has a granite chin but we just dont know.

Groves is chinny, but has proven he gets right back up and stops people.

I don't forecast Degale blowing Groves out in any fashion.

This is kinda how I see it.

DeGale has been in flattering fights to help sell him but he has never been tested or prepared like Groves has. Hayemaker have consistently put Groves in with tougher opposition every time, whether they have been durable Eastern Euro guys that don't just fall over or tough guys like Anderson and Adamu that will actually fight back. In other words I think Groves is the better prepared fighter.

I think DeGale is the more talented mover and generally slicker of the two but that means nothing. I just feel he has been in showcase fights that were tailor made for him to look good rather than to learn. We have no idea what hes like under pressure or what his chin is like if cracked by a huge hitter because hes never fought one. We know he can take a punch but the biggest puncher to land on him was Smith. We know hes fast but only against UK level guys. Groves is way better than UK level in both the skill and power department. DeGale's not faster than Dirrell. We know he has good combos but there not better or as explosive as Taylors. And we know he can KO average UK title holders, but he hasn't got Abraham or Froch type power. So basically DeGale is somewhere between UK and Euro level at the moment and so is Groves. To suggest anything else is just bullish speculation based on nothing.

While Groves hasn't got the same attributes as DeGale he beats him in other areas that are just as important as speed and slickness. He has good power which goes a long way. Look at the Dirrell vs Abraham fight. Dirrell was making Artur look like a statue until he got cracked on that jaw and then he went to pieces instantly. Same with Froch vs Taylor. I think it was Tyson that said 'All plans go out the window when you get punched on the nose'. Yes DeGale is faster and should hit and move in and out leaving Groves at sea for the first few rounds. But its only when Groves connects....that is the first time we will truly know what DeGale is made off.

DeGale is young, has plenty to learn and maybe ultimately the better of the two, but my point is...is he or has he actually learned anything in the fights hes had compared to Groves? I don't believe so and I think the advantage is with Groves. At this stage they're both way off the second coming. They both have stacks of potential but imo stacks of flaws and so in this particular match up nothing is a certainty and the fight is a 50/50.

Just on another note. Is it possible that this match up could be on the Haye Klit undercard? I can see how this would be very appealing to Frankie because DeGale would have a world stage that any fighter would give his right arm for. The publicity would be enormous and if there was to be any rematch it could then occur on Hayes next bout. If the fight was really exciting and close it could actually help sell Hayes next fight. Also, with the money Booth paid for the rights, they would really have to make this a ppv fight and although we are salivating over this fight as hardcore boxing fans, DeGale and Groves are not nationally that well known. So I don't know how well this would sell. But we do know that the main event will sell massively.

[sweetscience]

Groves is going to get whalloped

i like the Haye v Macca resemblance... see it going a simerlar way but not as brutal as he doesnt quite have that power

Degale by serious ownage !

[lefthook82]

At the risk of getting laughed off this forum

I would look forward to this fight as much as a proposed Pac v Floyd contest. No, I'm not joking/exagerating.

Even if it lasts 30 seconds, it will be 30 seconds of intrigue/incident/controversy

Coldwell, pull your finger out and make this happen

[lefthook82]

There is about a 0% chance of this fight happening anytime soon

Changed it for you

The fact that you are probably right sums up all that is wrong with boxing at the moment

[THEBUTCH]

I still make DeGale a favourite, but the more I think of it a win over Kenny Anderson is probably better and harder to achieve than a win over Paul Smith, so for me Groves is coming in with better credentials.

Great to see two top prospects facing off for the British title at this stage of their careers. And this is how it should be...not boxing each other after they've lost their youth and fire. For me, we owe this to Groves and his team, not DeGale and his lot.