Thoughts on Degale-Groves

[rhino222]

Great post Carbo (I'll drop you a proper reply soon Andy).

I tipped Groves to win, I told loads of people that he'd do it , HOWEVER I thought DeGale knicked it by a round tonight and, begrudgingly agree, that DeGale has potentially the better longterm future if he learns from tonight and hires a more competent trainer.

i agree with you ben, jimmy mac is a decent fitness coach, but thats about it. his cv of training fighters does not rip up trees im afraid, takaloo, danny williams etc etc.

degale needs to move on to move on if that makes sense. new start, drop the hangers on, new trainer (any ideas anyone?)

all i saw in degales corner between rounds was panic, all i saw in groves corner was cool and calm and one voice, despite the obvious experience of haye and coldwell. adam booth deserves kudos for last night.

[cutthecacklebullyup]

a few people hav touched on it,and although i personaly dont like him,it has to be said that adam booth won the fight last night.his tactics ruined the first ten rounds ,frustated degale and allowed groves to pinch it.there were moments in the midddle rounds when degale stopped to allow groves to come forward and he just danced away,ok degale should hav been wiser and found some answers but if an opponent does not want to engage it can be difficult to make them.

[kevinmalpas]

Sports Network, or whatever they're called now

or whatever they are allegedly likely to be called in the not too distant future if the london gazette is to be believed.....

[Old bones Ian]

Maybe the olympic style learnt in the amatuers makes boxers gunshy as a pro. thats my thought on last nights fights

[leforge]

Lol at saying Degale won by four.

I just heard from a friend that Degale was training in Spurs' Lodge in front of Ledley King and Defoe lol

No wonder he lost

Doubt that! Degale a gooner pudendum like his smug git of promotor!

Did you go tonight Dave?

Yes mate! Most of the fights were very one sided.

[palooka]

I am happy that George won, there was too much unpleasantness in the build up and 90% was coming from DeGale.

I imagine that James has a mini celebrity lifestyle and friends; that's not really conducive to developing as a sportsperson/athlete/boxer.

He was obviously very disappointed afterwards and his facial expressions were very similar to when he lost to Groves as an amateur. In the last 5 years of boxing he has not learnt to be a good sport.

DeGale is still a great prospect and will no doubt come good.

I am pleased for George though; he must feel extremely satisfied and his team can feel vindicated.

[Syntax Error]

I am happy that George won, there was too much unpleasantness in the build up and 90% was coming from DeGale.

I imagine that James has a mini celebrity lifestyle and friends; that's not really conducive to developing as a sportsperson/athlete/boxer.

He was obviously very disappointed afterwards and his facial expressions were very similar to when he lost to Groves as an amateur. In the last 5 years of boxing he has not learnt to be a good sport.

DeGale is still a great prospect and will no doubt come good.

I am pleased for George though; he must feel extremely satisfied and his team can feel vindicated.

100% of the unpleasantness came from James.

George only retaliated to all the goading & taunting from James.

[palooka]

Yes, I'll go with that. George came across as a really decent man with a lovely home life. I am pleased for the fella :)

[Captain Hook]

Predicted Groves win in March and got laughed at on here :)

http://bit.ly/jyTJQc

He was brilliant last night, pure class.

DeGale is a pillock, thinks he has a divine right to win....he was totally exposed. Brilliant victory for GG, much deserved.

See a lot of his fanboys are still making excuses for him though..."IF IF IF"

When it came to the crunch Groves was better. Give him the props he deserves.

[palooka]

Predicted Groves win in March and got laughed at on here :)

http://bit.ly/jyTJQc

He was brilliant last night, pure class.

DeGale is a pillock, thinks he has a divine right to win....he was totally exposed. Brilliant victory for GG, much deserved.

See a lot of his fanboys are still making excuses for him though..."IF IF IF"

When it came to the crunch Groves was better. Give him the props he deserves.

A stopped clock is right twice a day

[Finn]

Predicted Groves win in March and got laughed at on here :)

http://bit.ly/jyTJQc

He was brilliant last night, pure class.

DeGale is a pillock, thinks he has a divine right to win....he was totally exposed. Brilliant victory for GG, much deserved.

See a lot of his fanboys are still making excuses for him though..."IF IF IF"

When it came to the crunch Groves was better. Give him the props he deserves.

A stopped clock is right twice a day

[SteveDow]

Brilliant win for Groves and hope he goes on to do very well.

Degale would really benefit from doing what Amir Khan did and going to the States to be trained by a top trainer like Roach or Emmanuel Steward. Not only would be get great tactical advice but also the hard sparring which he needs to make himself more adaptable. Clearly the high quality sparring Groves got in the States helped in the fight.

I also get the impression that Degale is too comfortable in his home environment. Apparently he lives at his mums house whilst in training camp which cannot be the best for full focus. He needs to deprive himself of those type of comforts as this will make him more hungry and eager to do well. A classic example is Hopkins who said that he has barely seen his newly born child in the 3 months since she has been born. It is this type of dedication that makes a winner.

[Captain Hook]

Predicted Groves win in March and got laughed at on here :)

http://bit.ly/jyTJQc

He was brilliant last night, pure class.

DeGale is a pillock, thinks he has a divine right to win....he was totally exposed. Brilliant victory for GG, much deserved.

See a lot of his fanboys are still making excuses for him though..."IF IF IF"

When it came to the crunch Groves was better. Give him the props he deserves.

A stopped clock is right twice a day

What did you predict? The bandwagon was so full I couldn't get on so I decided to ride the bus :)

[Ezzard]

Loved the fight because it was so tense and because it was a win for the tactician.

DeGale proved he's a top fighter with a lot to learn. I don't see as this does him any harm at all. I agree with Carbo that competitive fights help a boxer rather than hinder him.

I just wonder about boxing in the UK or rather the way our top boxers are being handled...

I applaud both men for taking the fight. But DeGale is yet another Olympian to be booed. Who is advising these fighters?

DeGale puts in all that hard work in the gym. Puts himself on the line and then does himself a disservice with the nonsense he spouts. A fighter can make a lot of money by being popular and conducting hismelf well. Sure there's always room for pantomime villains like Bugner and Eubank but why not maximise your earning by carrying yourself with a bit of dignity.

The public want to get behind a guy like DeGale but can't because of the way he acts. Why not just come out and say... I thought I won the fight but hats off to Groves. I'd like a rematch immediately or at some point in the future....

That's all it would take to start turning it around. DeGale has more potential than Hatton but will make a fraction of the money if he's not careful.

The other major point is even in Degale had won (I scored it a draw). He'd have barely squeaked by a guy he was supposed to dominate.

[MightyWarrior]

But DeGale is yet another Olympian to be booed. Who is advising these fighters?

Mr popular himself, FWarren. Agree though, someone needs to sit down with DeGale and explain to him how he comes over when he's mouthing off on TV, as I've heard him when he's being interviewed and calm, and he actually seems a nice guy really, under the bravado. It's ok to be arrogant, but maybe keep it to yourself a bit.

I always recall Tyson being told by an interviewer that his opponent Tyrell Biggs had said he was going to beat Tyson "..because God is on my side.."
The guy waited for Tyson's response, and all Mike said was "If God is on his side, then God bless him." It had the weird effect of making Mike sound like a decent sort, but also left you worrying he was still going to batter the hapless Biggs into a pulp. Walk softly and carry a big stick is I guess what I mean. It could work well for DeGale.

[Autobarn]

so because groves did his homework, prepared thoroughly, and won, he's the inferior talent?

what's to say he won't be similarly prepared for future tests, above british level?

and why should there be a rematch? groves won, put it all on the line, so he should get moved onward and upward...

only thing i wasn't sure about was groves saying he's a PPV fighter from now on...

groves and hayemaker team sounded like a breath of fresh air post fight. meanwhile, the other side sounded mean, bitter and incomprehensible.

hayemaker are a smart bunch who take risks. hayemaker 2, sports network (or whatever they go by these days) 0!

[apophenic]

A classic example is Hopkins who said that he has barely seen his newly born child in the 3 months since she has been born. It is this type of dedication that makes a winner.

and a crap father.

[Boxing Pirate]

I think people should give George Groves some credit, despite the overwhelming majority of people thinking Degale would win, George Groves got the decision. The decision wasn't the scandal of the century it was a very good fight and one which Groves got it tactically correct.

[apophenic]

I think people should give George Groves some credit, despite the overwhelming majority of people thinking Degale would win, George Groves got the decision. The decision wasn't the scandal of the century it was a very good fight and one which Groves got it tactically correct.

is this the first thread you've read about the fight?

george is getting plenty of credit mate....fully deserved too.

[mickeyb]

DeGale did very little for the first four to five rounds and looked average. When he finally moved forwards with purpose and threw punches he hurt Groves hurt and had him looking ragged at times. Is that an excuse, or a just an observation on how the fight went? Do you credit George for making him look average, or critise Degale and his corner for not adjusting? Degale looked a different fighter when he finally did what I'm sure many of us were shouting at our screens for him to do.

But I agree with Captain Hook's point: Groves was fantastic on the night and deserves all the credit in the world. I think I'd still pick DeGale in a rematch though (assuming he develops at least a little more boxing nouse between now and then).

[Tykemania]

groves won that fight by locking himself in the gym and getting world class sparring to work on his weaknesses. Degale lost that fight through a lack of quality sparring - how is sparring cleverely going to teach you anything? hes a relative novice himself.

Degale will come back bigger and better - neither man is the finished article and i for one look forward to a big rematch when they are both world champions.

According to Allegedly the rematch should happen now because Groves has nowhere else to go. Doubt he would have said the same has his boy won.

In any event, I doubt a rematch is good business at this stage - but also doubt that either is going to a world champion any time soon because they are fighting in a deep division. How would either fare against Froch, Ward, Kessler, Dirrell, Bute, Johnson et al?

[Ezzard]

But DeGale is yet another Olympian to be booed. Who is advising these fighters?

Mr popular himself, FWarren. Agree though, someone needs to sit down with DeGale and explain to him how he comes over when he's mouthing off on TV, as I've heard him when he's being interviewed and calm, and he actually seems a nice guy really, under the bravado. It's ok to be arrogant, but maybe keep it to yourself a bit.

I always recall Tyson being told by an interviewer that his opponent Tyrell Biggs had said he was going to beat Tyson "..because God is on my side.."
The guy waited for Tyson's response, and all Mike said was "If God is on his side, then God bless him." It had the weird effect of making Mike sound like a decent sort, but also left you worrying he was still going to batter the hapless Biggs into a pulp. Walk softly and carry a big stick is I guess what I mean. It could work well for DeGale.

Nice example.

Far lesser talents that DeGale have made good money from the sport and were able to get the big fights because of their following.

I realise that DeGale wanted Groves to come forward swinging but I hope he changes his PR because it's not nice to hear anyone booed.

[rhino222]

bottom line is the defeat will do degale good, he will keep his mouth shut now and go on and win a world title, groves will maybe get a shot, but i dont think he will win one as i think he is a bit fragile.

and im a groves fan, but im also a realist!!

[ThereByTheGrace]

Degale was exposed by a tactical masterclass by Groves.

Groves deserved his win 2-0 Ugly Kid!!! Ha Ha

Degale has a big mouth and doesnt have the tools to back it up - just a boy....and Groves is 2 years younger and will get better.

Olympic Champions meant nowt anymore, just an excuse to overhype fighters these days. Well done Groves!

[NazNaci1]

...I realise that DeGale wanted Groves to come forward swinging but I hope he changes his PR because it's not nice to hear anyone booed.

Regardless of what James says, its got to be pretty demoralising when your being booed, and its not the first time, either.

After the fight, he was desperately walking around lifting his arm aloft only for the crowd to boo him relentlessly.

Forget trying to copy Mayweather. Be youself, the persona you try to show is not you, mate. Lots of ppl have commented on that fact.

He should try to be himself, be confident but he just comes across as trying too hard and pretty nasty. Not going to be a great formula. People haven't taken to him, not fussed to watch him win or lose. That in itself, tells you something is not working.