how should Groves approach the fight??

[apophenic]

i think he should charge straight in and try and rush degale the first opportunity he gets.....

[alexpaterson]

I would like to see him taking the centre of the ring working off the jab, feinting it as well to keep DeGale off balance and feeling out of control. If he could step in off the jab and back DeGale up all behind the jab and then bring in combinations. DeGale prefers his own pace and being in the centre of the ring countering, so if Groves can take the control I give him a good chance

[Andypittcov]

IMO Degale expects groves to come out all guns blazing and heaping lots of pressure on him and he doesn't want that so he's trying to scare him off those tactics with all these comments about 'knocking him out in 4 rounds' 'going to war' groves has no chin'.
The worst thing groves can do is listen to that rubbish and use different tactics because that's exactly what james really wants I think. he surely doesn't want a battle and doess't want his chin tested when he can outbox him.
Groves simply has to jump on him early and throw the kitchen sink at him and take him out of his comfort zone. Degale seems at his best relaxed, groves has got to cause him some big distress.

[Captain Hook]

Going out and trying to throw bombs early while DeGale staves him off with the jab and fluid movement would make for an easy night for Chunky, especially if George starts blowing from the mid-point because he's put too much into the first 4-5 rounds.

Groves should try and hold the centre of the ring, look for the few openings DeGale leaves - or has failed to leave against weaker opposition - and exploit them with hooks and uppercuts.

I get the feeling that if you slow DeGale's rhythm and frustrate him he might start to lose focus and get agitated. He might, just might, start laying into Groves himself and then leave those openings I mentioned.

Let's not forget Groves is unbeaten, he is not just another opponent for DeGale; he has his own ambitions, his own arsenal (no little skill and a lot of power) and has reason to be confident.

I can see the case for going out and causing DeGale BIG problems early on, but he's not facing Paul Samuels here. It's not like Haye v Williams; I don't think DeGale would get overwhelmed early and take that.

It really is an intriguing match-up and I'm so glad it's been made...here's hoping Groves beats him. I'm putting a tenner on it :)

[Dan Dares]

It really is an intriguing match-up and I'm so glad it's been made...here's hoping Groves beats him. I'm putting a tenner on it :)

Me too. £10 on Groves by KO, £15 on the fight, a large Kofte and trimmings (£10), assorted lagers of the world (£15).
All I need now is for the missus to fornicate off out until the boxings finished, and it'll be a night to remember I'm sure.

[damianhucker1]

if groves tries to rush in then hes getting stopped , he was lucky to get away with it against anderson .

[hurlock]

if groves tries to rush in then hes getting stopped , he was lucky to get away with it against anderson .

your just reiterating what degale say's.it dont make you an expert.

[damianhucker1]

if groves tries to rush in then hes getting stopped , he was lucky to get away with it against anderson .

your just reiterating what degale say's.it dont make you an expert.

eff off you twat , im not repeating nothing , ive not seen any interview with degale other than on ringside , i made that statement from my own observations not anyone elses , pudendum

I guess degale must see it the same way i do , imo thats exactly why hes trying to wind groves up , if groves comes in angry then he loses

[hurlock]

if groves tries to rush in then hes getting stopped , he was lucky to get away with it against anderson .

your just reiterating what degale say's.it dont make you an expert.

eff off you twat , im not repeating nothing , ive not seen any interview with degale other than on ringside , i made that statement from my own observations not anyone elses , pudendum

I guess degale must see it the same way i do(damian degale ) , imo thats exactly why hes trying to wind groves up , if groves comes in angry then he loses

take a leaf out his book then ugly boy :!:

[black panther]

IMO He needs to command the centre of the ring and work off his jab. No rushing with his hands down or Degale will pick him off at will. At the same time Degale is more effective when coming forward so holding the centre of the ring and keeping the fight at range is the right tactics for me. Another reason to keep the fight at range is Degale is superior at fighting on the inside. One thing I noticed in the Smith fight is that Degale tends to parry quite a lot: as such Groves should be working on feints and combinations. If you throw single punches Degale will parry them all day long but show him a feint and you'll force him to show you an opening as he goes for a parry.

The usual tactics for fighting a southpaw would apply too: keeping your lead foot on the outside of his and take away his jab. I know Jamie Moore was injured but Ossie Duran did a real good job of taking Jamie's jab away and landing his own in the brief time their fight lasted.

The bookies have Degale a massive favourite but the more I sit down and analyse the fight, the more I give Groves a chance. Groves is definitely the harder puncher but seems more fragile. I see the fight as more a 60/40 type of affair in Degales favour.

[damianhucker1]

your just reiterating what degale say's.it dont make you an expert.

eff off you twat , im not repeating nothing , ive not seen any interview with degale other than on ringside , i made that statement from my own observations not anyone elses , pudendum

I guess degale must see it the same way i do(damian degale ) , imo thats exactly why hes trying to wind groves up , if groves comes in angry then he loses

take a leaf out his book then ugly boy :!:

Ugly boy ??? you sound like a baby boy , go away and play with your action man instead of trying to talk about a grown ups sport ,

[whiskey]

I just hope some absolute shit-house referee does not stop it early.

It's times like these you need Mickey Vann !

Like when he threw Graham Earl's towel out the ring during the Kat fight.

[palooka]

It may be tricky for Groves tactically. I think the prevailing wisdom is to force a counterpuncher to lead. I'm not sure that DeGale is a an outright counterpuncher; I've seen him press the action and lead.

I imagine that Groves will try for a counter hook when DeGale starts to advance; he'll also try to turn him on the ropes and rough him up a bit. Some of DeGales range finding jabs are upward flicks, I'd have thought George would throw a hard straight shot immediately or smash his body.

I'd quite like to see an exciting shootout but can envisage a bit of a maul or even Groves doing a fair bit of jab and move.

[hurlock]

i think it's pretty straight fwd tactics against degale, but they are very hard to carry out as he is slippery & pivots off well.he has to be forced back & forced to trade were he cant time his burst's & forced to drop his game & endure in a ding dong which will stop his legs. sutherland was climbing all over him & would of broke his heart had it of been a pro contest. groves aint no way as strong but faster & knows degale well.

as 4 kenny anderson, he's left hook is he's honey shot & is far stiffer then any of degales punches fact.

[hurlock]

eff off you twat , im not repeating nothing , ive not seen any interview with degale other than on ringside , i made that statement from my own observations not anyone elses , pudendum

I guess degale must see it the same way i do(damian degale ) , imo thats exactly why hes trying to wind groves up , if groves comes in angry then he loses

take a leaf out his book then ugly boy :!:

Ugly boy ??? you sound like a baby boy , go away and play with your action man instead of trying to talk about a grown ups sport ,

you sound like kevin & perry you dozy prik & i am action man...well wen i dress up 4 your old dear

[J]

have you two thought of a career in comedy?

no thought not.

[Yorkshiresuperstar]

Groves has to back DeGale up - easier said then done, and basically outwork him for 10 rounds. If he stands off, he gets picked off, if he steps out after landing a short combo, he's on the end of a counter hook cross. If he tries to box - we have a shutout.

He has to test DeGale's gut, drag him in the trenches and be prepared to get hurt, cut and lose the first 3/4 rounds and then hope for success. Groves has to put the earmuffs on and walk him down, make an ugly fight and win on attrition. Maybe DeGale loads up, get giddy hitting Groves with everything he throws, and gasses. Big maybe, but I think it's the only tactic he has.

[NazNaci1]

If Groves tries to force the fight, he loses. He will get countered to death, he will tire and probably get stopped.

He needs to try and get DeGale to come to him. Not an easy feat.

Hard, strong jab is needed and a willingness to let the shots in combination, as he wont catch DeGale with 1 or 2 punch flurries. Dig to the body hard and early on.

These offer him his best chance, in my opinion.

[Terrrrry]

Don't hang your chin out there, George.

[Superheavy]

I'm hoping Adam Booth has thought this through and that Groves follows instructions. Booth appears to be a good strategist - I can't imagine he'd have George trading with wreckless shots against an opponent with faster hands and better defence.

[BillyTKid]

I watched the repeat of the Groves v Anderson fight on Sky last night and I had forgot how easy Groves looked to hit. I can't see a scenerio where Groves survives, let alone wins. Degale round 4-6.