RINGSIDE tonight- Groves-Degale in the studio head to head

[TheCobra]

Definetely round 1 to grooves. Degale really is a tool, actually fancy groves to get the job done just going by the head to head think groves nailed it when he said degale cant handle pressure i reckon he will fold. Got to take your hat off to Adam Booth seems to have some sort of aura about him that he passes off to his boxers they seem to have huge belief in themselves in a calm but assertive manner.

Agree with the Booth comment, I think he is a great mentor and knows that psychology plays a big part in the game.

[hurlock]

Definetely round 1 to grooves. Degale really is a tool, actually fancy groves to get the job done just going by the head to head think groves nailed it when he said degale cant handle pressure i reckon he will fold. Got to take your hat off to Adam Booth seems to have some sort of aura about him that he passes off to his boxers they seem to have huge belief in themselves in a calm but assertive manner.

watch the press confrence groves get's properlly mugged off. by the stage of the studio show degale is sick of the subject & groves can only redeem some sort of respect.people forget the stupid groves video tapes & saying he'll knock out smith & degale.

[Old bones Ian]

Thing is 98% of the general public will still not know who these 2 boxers are, it needed to be on BBC or ITV. I know it won't be because of the SKY PPV , but no-one really knows who Groves is in the general public

yep it's a real shame because this is pure entertainment and we know its exactly the kind of fight that the British public could have been captured by. Look how everyone fell for Harrison v Haye (me included and i go to at least a dozen shows a year so i'm not exactly the casual punter) - this is far more realistic, has genuine needle and there's a lot on the line. It's a great story and just a shame that terrestrial TV isn't involved as it would be huge.

Sadly Harrison v Haye actually set boxing back because the casual fan felt ripped off by the embarassing nature of the fight, and the horrendous undercard when Sky/Hayemaker actually had the chance to showcase something great to less avid boxing fans didn't help.

People still remember Sibson, Kaylor, Christie, Graham because they fought on terrestial TV, its a shame this fight between DeGale and Groves isn't getting the coverage it should. PPV i hate it

[TheCobra]

Definetely round 1 to grooves. Degale really is a tool, actually fancy groves to get the job done just going by the head to head think groves nailed it when he said degale cant handle pressure i reckon he will fold. Got to take your hat off to Adam Booth seems to have some sort of aura about him that he passes off to his boxers they seem to have huge belief in themselves in a calm but assertive manner.

watch the press confrence groves get's properlly mugged off. by the stage of the studio show degale is sick of the subject & groves can only redeem some sort of respect.people forget the stupid groves video tapes & saying he'll knock out smith & degale.

Just watched the press conference, I just heard a lot of shouting from DeGale and Booth/Groves were a bit quiet. If shouting down the other guy means you've 'won' an argument then DeGale won, but he hasn't really got a lot of substance in the things he says other than playground taunts.

[Old bones Ian]

Definetely round 1 to grooves. Degale really is a tool, actually fancy groves to get the job done just going by the head to head think groves nailed it when he said degale cant handle pressure i reckon he will fold. Got to take your hat off to Adam Booth seems to have some sort of aura about him that he passes off to his boxers they seem to have huge belief in themselves in a calm but assertive manner.

watch the press confrence groves get's properlly mugged off. by the stage of the studio show degale is sick of the subject & groves can only redeem some sort of respect.people forget the stupid groves video tapes & saying he'll knock out smith & degale.

Just watched the press conference, I just heard a lot of shouting from DeGale and Booth/Groves were a bit quiet. If shouting down the other guy means you've 'won' an argument then DeGale won, but he hasn't really got a lot of substance in the things he says other than playground taunts.

DeGale is looking like a poor mans Mayorga, and no-one wants to look like that.

[mickey1975]

Thing is 98% of the general public will still not know who these 2 boxers are, it needed to be on BBC or ITV. I know it won't be because of the SKY PPV , but no-one really knows who Groves is in the general public

yep it's a real shame because this is pure entertainment and we know its exactly the kind of fight that the British public could have been captured by. Look how everyone fell for Harrison v Haye (me included and i go to at least a dozen shows a year so i'm not exactly the casual punter) - this is far more realistic, has genuine needle and there's a lot on the line. It's a great story and just a shame that terrestrial TV isn't involved as it would be huge.

Sadly Harrison v Haye actually set boxing back because the casual fan felt ripped off by the embarassing nature of the fight, and the horrendous undercard when Sky/Hayemaker actually had the chance to showcase something great to less avid boxing fans didn't help.

All lot more people will know about this than you are expecting.Its already had more coverage in the tabloids than some World title fights,and Sky Sports News ran with it straight after the first press conference.In this era,most people in the target audience have access to Sky or at least SSN.If they have put up the purse money you can guarantee thhey will be flogging the arse off it.Olympic champion James Degale MBE is not exactly unknown either.This will be a blockbuster,mark my words.Who is the most popular British boxer of this generation? Ricky Hatton,shown exclusively on satellite...

[jBacca]

Definetely round 1 to grooves. Degale really is a tool, actually fancy groves to get the job done just going by the head to head think groves nailed it when he said degale cant handle pressure i reckon he will fold. Got to take your hat off to Adam Booth seems to have some sort of aura about him that he passes off to his boxers they seem to have huge belief in themselves in a calm but assertive manner.

watch the press confrence groves get's properlly mugged off. by the stage of the studio show degale is sick of the subject & groves can only redeem some sort of respect.people forget the stupid groves video tapes & saying he'll knock out smith & degale.

Groves has taken it upon himself to be the sensible one here, come across better in the public eye, but it weren't too long ago when he was looking like a bit of a w*nker too.

[McCannW14]

Getting people talking isn't it.

Calling him ugly, his breath bad, and that he's a moron isn't great pre-fight hype, IMO.

You are right. Basically the whole interview was an insult to any person with a modicum of intelligence.

I wont be buying the PPV.

[Deno1986]

After watching it, I would love it if Groves beats Degale. I've tried hard to like Degale as he does have talent but he is a prat who tries to act like Naz.

[dragons]

DeGale didn't win any fans in that head to head last night, good fighter but he needs to grow up a bit. Anyway the disdain from both is plain to see so they will try and hurt each other which should iron things out

I would say he needs to grow up a lot, thought Degale was a disgrace to be honest
After watching that I just hope Groves knocks him clean out.

Cant see it though :(

[Monte Fisto]

DeGale looked silly. That act doesn't come natural to him.

Talking does not come naturally to degayle - But boxing does and he will win big IMO. I like George and clearly he is coming across much better to the public, but you still have to love James a little bit. AT least respect the fact that these guys want the fight now and are doing it - Great for boxig and British boxing in particular!!

[deadpan]

Does Degale shift many tickets? I'm assuming not. The old 'man you love to hate' angle only works if you've got the charisma of Eubank and an ability to be engaging in conversation. To compare 'Chunky' and 'Simply The Best' in this regard is akin to comparing Johnny Ball with Pythagoras. I just can't see anything to like about Degale.

The most enjoyable three minutes of his career for me was seeing his reaction after he got booed on his debut. If he fought Kessler I'd be cheering on the tattooed dude.

[hurlock]

Definetely round 1 to grooves. Degale really is a tool, actually fancy groves to get the job done just going by the head to head think groves nailed it when he said degale cant handle pressure i reckon he will fold. Got to take your hat off to Adam Booth seems to have some sort of aura about him that he passes off to his boxers they seem to have huge belief in themselves in a calm but assertive manner.

watch the press confrence groves get's properlly mugged off. by the stage of the studio show degale is sick of the subject & groves can only redeem some sort of respect.people forget the stupid groves video tapes & saying he'll knock out smith & degale.

Groves has taken it upon himself to be the sensible one here, come across better in the public eye, but it weren't too long ago when he was looking like a bit of a w*nker too.

which goes to show he wasnt being himself & the knockdowns & putdowns has got him re evaluating himself.

[housesecond]

Regardless of weather Degale wins the fight or not, he did himself no favours at all on Ringside.

[Monte Fisto]

Regardless of weather Degale wins the fight or not, he did himself no favours at all on Ringside.

I'm not sure I agree with the generic statement that there is no such thing as bad publicity, but I think if there is ever a platform for that statement to be true, it is boxing!! It doesnt matter if people are watching u because they love or hate u, making people watch u is the key! Chunky has a lot haters but the haters still pay the bills.

[TheCobra]

Regardless of weather Degale wins the fight or not, he did himself no favours at all on Ringside.

I'm not sure I agree with the generic statement that there is no such thing as bad publicity, but I think if there is ever a platform for that statement to be true, it is boxing!! It doesnt matter if people are watching u because they love or hate u, making people watch u is the key! Chunky has a lot haters but the haters still pay the bills.

People would like him more if he was a nice bloke, you can have charisma and be classy with it i.e. a generally nice guy. He has an olympic gold medal and a ton of skill, it's not like he NEEDS to trash talk to get attention. For me the Naz thing isn't working for him.

[jessi]

Thing is 98% of the general public will still not know who these 2 boxers are, it needed to be on BBC or ITV. I know it won't be because of the SKY PPV , but no-one really knows who Groves is in the general public

been in the national papers alot this week, had 2 or 3 friends phone and ask me who this groves fella is, think this fight is going to be bigger then us boxing fans think !

[lefty]

I genuinely think alot of people on here are seriously underestimating groves,yes his defense isnt what it should be but offensively he's definietly got the attributes to trouble degale.Just like groves wont of faced anyone with the speed and skill of degale the same goes for degale,he hasnt fought anyone with the hand speed and movement and power groves possesses.

[McCannW14]

Thing is 98% of the general public will still not know who these 2 boxers are, it needed to be on BBC or ITV. I know it won't be because of the SKY PPV , but no-one really knows who Groves is in the general public

been in the national papers alot this week, had 2 or 3 friends phone and ask me who this groves fella is, think this fight is going to be bigger then us boxing fans think !

Really? What papers?

[mickey1975]

Thing is 98% of the general public will still not know who these 2 boxers are, it needed to be on BBC or ITV. I know it won't be because of the SKY PPV , but no-one really knows who Groves is in the general public

been in the national papers alot this week, had 2 or 3 friends phone and ask me who this groves fella is, think this fight is going to be bigger then us boxing fans think !

Really? What papers?

Its been in The Sun at least twice.Decent sized article and picture after the press conference and then,of course,FW's column.Whatever people think of the paper,its Britains biggest selling daily!I too have heard a few casuals on about it as well.I think its going to be big.

[jessi]

Thing is 98% of the general public will still not know who these 2 boxers are, it needed to be on BBC or ITV. I know it won't be because of the SKY PPV , but no-one really knows who Groves is in the general public

been in the national papers alot this week, had 2 or 3 friends phone and ask me who this groves fella is, think this fight is going to be bigger then us boxing fans think !

Really? What papers?

yer it was in the sun friday and the evening standard too, i get talking to punters in the back of the cab about boxing alot and over the weekend, well thursday, friday and saturday, i must of had a dozen people ask me what i think of groves ! it may not be a benn v eubank, but the pubs around the country on the 21st of may will be busy with casual boxing fans i promise.

[Darcy Delaney]

what does degale think he's achieving by coming across on tele the way he is doing, we all know he is a nice fella outside the ring so why does he change in front of the cameras, i think it's going to be a good fight, i just hope degale goes to fight and not spoil

[palooka]

what does degale think he's achieving by coming across on tele the way he is doing, we all know he is a nice fella outside the ring so why does he change in front of the cameras, i think it's going to be a good fight, i just hope degale goes to fight and not spoil

You only get one chance to make a first impression; if someone were to watch DeGale for the first time in an interview they would think he were a dick. James is a very good fighter; the bout with Groves is an excellent match up. All the silly name calling is unnecessary. I'm right looking forward to the fight but won't watch any more of the pre fight banter.

[Darcy Delaney]

what does degale think he's achieving by coming across on tele the way he is doing, we all know he is a nice fella outside the ring so why does he change in front of the cameras, i think it's going to be a good fight, i just hope degale goes to fight and not spoil

You only get one chance to make a first impression; if someone were to watch DeGale for the first time in an interview they would think he were a dick. James is a very good fighter; the bout with Groves is an excellent match up. All the silly name calling is unnecessary. I'm right looking forward to the fight but won't watch any more of the pre fight banter.

don't lie hehehehe

[palooka]