Does anyone else fancy Groves over DeGale?

[Hagler2002]

This won't even be close, DeGale inside 8

[Captain Hook]

Some serious dismissal of Groves' ability, I'm surprised. Find this one really close to call.

[Scottrf]

I have a feeling it may be one where afterwards you wonder why you ever thought Groves would win Hooky. We will see I guess.

EDIT: Don't mean that in an insulting way, just think it's one that looks a bit like a 50/50 fight but will be conclusive.

[Captain Hook]

I don't think I'll think that but thanks for burying my optimism Scott :)

Win, lose or draw I think Groves is a quality operator, just depends on whether DeGale is a very good fighter or a great one.

Anyway, somebody has got to root for the "ugly kid"...bless him.

[Scottrf]

To be fair, I'll look sillier if I'm wrong but where's the fun in sitting on the fence? I liked some of the new things he tried out in his last fight, catching punches with his gloves, patiently looking for openings, slipping shots etc, I just don't think he will have spent long enough working on them before the fight comes around.

[Dan Dares]

Some serious dismissal of Groves' ability, I'm surprised. Find this one really close to call.

Me too. I see DeGale as a slight favourite, but the people saying he will get punched out in four, five etc are in for a surprise methinks. Groves always throws plenty back when he's under pressure. Yes, he's been on the deck a couple of times, but thats all experience, and as for those who say he's 'chinny' - I had always assumed that the 'chinny' tag was applied to fighters that get sparked out (Khan, Macarinelli), not fighters that go down and are straight back up again. Maybe I'm wrong.

[Captain Hook]

To be fair, I'll look sillier if I'm wrong but where's the fun in sitting on the fence? I liked some of the new things he tried out in his last fight, catching punches with his gloves, patiently looking for openings, slipping shots etc, I just don't think he will have spent long enough working on them before the fight comes around.

We'll see Scott, a pint says Groves wins this....I'll cash it in somewhere along the line, or disappear if he loses :)

[Captain Hook]

Some serious dismissal of Groves' ability, I'm surprised. Find this one really close to call.

Me too. I see DeGale as a slight favourite, but the people saying he will get punched out in four, five etc are in for a surprise methinks. Groves always throws plenty back when he's under pressure. Yes, he's been on the deck a couple of times, but thats all experience, and as for those who say he's 'chinny' - I had always assumed that the 'chinny' tag was applied to fighters that get sparked out (Khan, Macarinelli), not fighters that go down and are straight back up again. Maybe I'm wrong.

Good post...George Groves is a very talented fighter.

[Scottrf]

Good post...George Groves is a very talented fighter.

No doubt, I just think a few too many weaknesses which will show against a fast accurate guy, and a southpaw to boot. Think it will be too much too soon, but I wouldn't be looking forward to it so much if I was 100% confident. I think Groves has a toughness to him if he needs it.

[palooka]

There's no denying that Groves is very good; DeGale though came with the Olympic gold and has not put a foot wrong, has not struggled and has looked better as the opposition has improved. Groves v DeGale should be a cracking bout. If Groves lands a big shot flush DeGale will not like it one bit.

[mickey1975]

Groves has beaten the better men.

He destroyed Paul Samuels in only his third fight. Adamu and Anderson were no mugs.
Smith is the biggest scalp, no doubt, and DeGale looked terrific that night.
...but Groves is slicker, younger, faster and punches harder than anyone DeGale has beaten. He will give Chunky problems nobody else has, and vice versa of course.
A real 50/50 match-up for me, but I'm leaning towards Groves, as I have since they made their debuts in 2008/9.

You could argue Dilks was robbed against Adamu and then lost in a round to DeGale.

[jBacca]

Groves has beaten the better men.

He destroyed Paul Samuels in only his third fight. Adamu and Anderson were no mugs.
Smith is the biggest scalp, no doubt, and DeGale looked terrific that night.
...but Groves is slicker, younger, faster and punches harder than anyone DeGale has beaten. He will give Chunky problems nobody else has, and vice versa of course.
A real 50/50 match-up for me, but I'm leaning towards Groves, as I have since they made their debuts in 2008/9.

You could argue Dilks was robbed against Adamu and then lost in a round to DeGale.

Beat me to it.

Groves is a good fighter, I just can't see past a Degale stoppage though.

If Groves can takes Degale's shots then I'm not entirely sure how the fight will pan out, but I really can't see him lasting long enough to clear this up for me.

[Finn]

just watching ringside i thoughtdegale looked a bit gittery, whereas groves looked very composed.

There is a real danger of degale loosing he composure in the ring and getting tagged.

Also i may be off the mark but degale looked a little fleshy to me in his last fight.

I still think degale will win though dont get me wrong.

[Cyclops]

I don't know. I like em both and want them to do well. But like other people I can't help thinking about the Haye-Macca fight which everyone was calling a genuine British 50-50 at the time, with both sides very confident. Warren REALLY fancied that fight, and I'm pretty sure he said something like he'd retire if Haye won that one. We all remember the result: I was there (still the best atmosphere I've felt at a boxing match) and I was a Haye man before and a Haye man after. The Hayemaker boys knew something then and I can't help feeling they see something in DeGale that's beatable now. He's been so well groomed by Warren and he's done so well. Warren made a mistake with Kevin Mitchell (and we all expected him to come through) and he made a mistake with Macca (which was actually a total mis-match). I still expect DeGale to come out on top, but I think the ugly ginger kid brings something to the table, too many people are being quick to discredit him. Groves comes to fight and I might swing toward him as the fight draws near.

It's a great match up.

[Glass Joe]

Groves and Degale appeared on Groves Youtube channel

[margaret thatcher]

both their hair lines made a comeback

very good fight they had wasnt it. good quality boxing, good action, real drama and tension between them. very nice careers they both went on to have after too, fair play

[SeanBrennan]

both their hair lines made a comeback

very good fight they had wasnt it. good quality boxing, good action, real drama and tension between them. very nice careers they both went on to have after too, fair play

defo both became world champs, both earned well, Groves got out at exactly the right time.

[wrighty]

Groves and Degale appeared on Groves Youtube channel

I'll have a watch of this.

[SeanBrennan]

Groves and Degale appeared on Groves Youtube channel

I'll have a watch of this.

was worth a watch

[Frostieballs]

I don't know. I like em both and want them to do well. But like other people I can't help thinking about the Haye-Macca fight which everyone was calling a genuine British 50-50 at the time, with both sides very confident. Warren REALLY fancied that fight, and I'm pretty sure he said something like he'd retire if Haye won that one. We all remember the result: I was there (still the best atmosphere I've felt at a boxing match) and I was a Haye man before and a Haye man after. The Hayemaker boys knew something then and I can't help feeling they see something in DeGale that's beatable now. He's been so well groomed by Warren and he's done so well. Warren made a mistake with Kevin Mitchell (and we all expected him to come through) and he made a mistake with Macca (which was actually a total mis-match). I still expect DeGale to come out on top, but I think the ugly ginger kid brings something to the table, too many people are being quick to discredit him. Groves comes to fight and I might swing toward him as the fight draws near.

It's a great match up.

This was a great post Cyclops!

[TheLeprechaun]

Nobody predicted the tactics by Groves.

Taking a serious risk to win a close fight on the backfoot/countering. Turned out to be the right move.

Those fight tactics clearly win the Froch fights for me but George always thought he'd bang Carl out because Carl was too hittable...

[Delta Jay]

Do you lads thibk this was a good fight? I seem to remember it wasn’t a great viewing back then

[mickey1975]

Do you lads thibk this was a good fight? I seem to remember it wasn’t a great viewing back then

I went. The undercard wasn't very good. Good atmosphere, sold well, good fight for me.

[TheLeprechaun]

I could feel the tension in the air before the fight and I was just watching it at home. Must have been a great atmosphere.

Groves/Booth made it an awful spectacle of a fight but Groves fought the right fight. Shame he didn't do that against Froch, which was such an easy fight for him if he fought with those tactics.

[Boxerbeetle]

I could feel the tension in the air before the fight and I was just watching it at home. Must have been a great atmosphere.

Groves/Booth made it an awful spectacle of a fight but Groves fought the right fight. Shame he didn't do that against Froch, which was such an easy fight for him if he fought with those tactics.

I dunno, I think the rematch proved Froch would always get to Groves within 12.