George Groves vs Jame DeGale - revisited: thoughts?

[Maxsplit]

When I watched it at the time I didn't know too much about Groves other than he had gone life and death with Kenny Anderson in a quite unimpressive manner.

DeGale was obviously Olympic Gold medalist and favourite to win.

When I watched it, it felt a draw - which 1 judge had it as, the other two to Groves by a razor thin one point margin. Groves a bloody mess at the end.

Having seen how their subsequent fights have played out, looking back what surprises me are the two following points:

- Groves didn't once hurt DeGale, yet we now know Groves has excellent power - does this mean DeGale's chin is actually a lot better than we thought??

- DeGale who has since been shown to be a light puncher, buzzed Groves up quite badly twice I think. Does this mean Groves' chin is not stellar?

Always interesting to review fights with the benefit of hindsight!

[lefty]

When I watched it at the time I didn't know too much about Groves other than he had gone life and death with Kenny Anderson in a quite unimpressive manner.

DeGale was obviously Olympic Gold medalist and favourite to win.

When I watched it, it felt a draw - which 1 judge had it as, the other two to Groves by a razor thin one point margin. Groves a bloody mess at the end.

Having seen how their subsequent fights have played out, looking back what surprises me are the two following points:

- Groves didn't once hurt DeGale, yet we now know Groves has excellent power - does this mean DeGale's chin is actually a lot better than we thought??

- DeGale who has since been shown to be a light puncher, buzzed Groves up quite badly twice I think. Does this mean Groves' chin is not stellar?

Always interesting to review fights with the benefit of hindsight!

Degale is or was atleast a lot harder to tag than the likes of Froch so it's harder to gauge. On top of that, Groves fought on the backfoot in that fight so he's not going to be generating the same kind of power as he would going forward.

[ttornado]

Groves fought on the backfoot in that fight so he's not going to be generating the same kind of power as he would going forward.

You could see he was fighting to a 'Booth Plan'. Fighting the same in the first against Froch could of won him a decision but not a lot of fans. His more aggressive style meant the fight was stopped but his stock has sky-rocketed.

[mickey1975]

I've always thought James had a good chin.

[stevieb_8006]

I thought james snatched defeat from the jaws of victory that night tbh. U couldn't really get a closer fight. I remember George looking a lot more buzzed that james at certain points.

If only Degale would get a decent coach. I would love to see him work with Adam Booth.

[BAP1]

I watched this fight live initially I thought DeGale won by two points. Groves game plan was to keep james guessing and make him reset his feet. And to be fair it worked. Could of gone either way but I gave slight edge to DeGale.

Would be great if they both had belts and fought a rematch!

[whiskey]

Groves usually sits down on his shots, but he was up on his toes and on the back foot for the lion's share of this bout.

I tipped him to win a tight decision, although at the end I thought Degale deserved the nod or at least a draw - I was pleased Groves won.

Unfortunately Groves not only took Degale's 'O' he also took that annoying, childish smugness too which began to surface during those iFLTV videos with Booth about two years ago.

Fair play to him though, it's making him rich.

[danamba7]

I'd have to re-watch the fight to give an honest opinion but I can remember thinking a draw was likely. Interesting how Degale came across badly in the build up but since then seems to be a very down to earth (but confident) type of guy. People who know him say he's one of the nicest lads in boxing and I think that's came across well in the last couple of IFL interviews where he's been taking the piss out of himself being on "muggy" channel 5 etc.

[Bard of Boxrec]

I remember thinking it was a cagey affair which Degale just about deserved to win. Neither landed much as I recall but might need to watch again.

[Maxsplit]

I'd have to re-watch the fight to give an honest opinion but I can remember thinking a draw was likely. Interesting how Degale came across badly in the build up but since then seems to be a very down to earth (but confident) type of guy. People who know him say he's one of the nicest lads in boxing and I think that's came across well in the last couple of IFL interviews where he's been taking the piss out of himself being on "muggy" channel 5 etc.

Yeah - agree with this.

At the time DeGale was the 'baddie' and Groves the 'hero'.

Time and extended exposure to their respective personalties has since shown that DeGale seems like a very likeable chap with good humour.

Groves now comes across as an unlikeable tit, permanently.

A good fighter nonetheless, but a man with what I imagine to be very few real friends.

[mickey1975]

Groves usually sits down on his shots, but he was up on his toes and on the back foot for the lion's share of this bout.

I tipped him to win a tight decision, although at the end I thought Degale deserved the nod or at least a draw - I was pleased Groves won.

Unfortunately Groves not only took Degale's 'O' he also took that annoying, childish smugness too which began to surface during those iFLTV videos with Booth about two years ago.

Fair play to him though, it's making him rich.

You were a big Groves fan in those days though when he was Team Froch.

[TopGun]

2 very different fighters to what they were then. Pointless to look at that last fight as Groves has come on leaps and bounds whereas Degales as hit a brick wall. Degales would not handle Groves power now.

Degale is far too easy to hit.

[ALI]

Close fight but DeGale forced the action and i thought he deserved the nod. What is interesting to me is how a rematch would go between the pair if Groves was to fight of the front foot as he did against Froch?

On another note, if Groves had remained with Booth for the Froch fight, what tactics do you think he would have used on the night? Would he have taken the center of the ring as he did, or would he have fought of the back foot?

[ALI]

2 very different fighters to what they were then. Pointless to look at that last fight as Groves has come on leaps and bounds whereas Degales as hit a brick wall. Degales would not handle Groves power now.

Degale is far too easy to hit.

Bollocks.

[Ezzard]

Thought Groves nicked it but one of those that you can debate over and over.

Couple of times Groves got buzzed by a clash of heads.

DeGale isn't as slippery as he thinks...he's a very skilful fouler too. But he's a hard man. Seems happy to be inside and be an intelligent brawler.

If they fought again it would be 50-50.

I know everyone will jump on me for this...but I feel that in the long run DeGale will be a better fighter for the defeat.

[TopGun]

2 very different fighters to what they were then. Pointless to look at that last fight as Groves has come on leaps and bounds whereas Degales as hit a brick wall. Degales would not handle Groves power now.

Degale is far too easy to hit.

Bollocks.

What part all of my comments is? Or were you just looking for yours and wrote what was on your mind?

Degale to easy to hit part - The truth, did you see him last week?
Groves power has come on leaps and bounds - look at how many people he has KO'd since the Degale fight
Degale is not a world class fighter, Groves is. End of story.

[mickey1975]

2 very different fighters to what they were then. Pointless to look at that last fight as Groves has come on leaps and bounds whereas Degales as hit a brick wall. Degales would not handle Groves power now.

Degale is far too easy to hit.

Bollocks.

What part all of my comments is? Or were you just looking for yours and wrote what was on your mind?

Degale to easy to hit part - The truth, did you see him last week?
Groves power has come on leaps and bounds - look at how many people he has KO'd since the Degale fight
Degale is not a world class fighter, Groves is. End of story.

So DeGale isn't world class based on him losing a wafer thin decision to a world class fighter?

[TopGun]

Bollocks.[/quote]


What part all of my comments is? Or were you just looking for yours and wrote what was on your mind?

Degale to easy to hit part - The truth, did you see him last week?
Groves power has come on leaps and bounds - look at how many people he has KO'd since the Degale fight
Degale is not a world class fighter, Groves is. End of story.[/quote]
So DeGale isn't world class based on him losing a wafer thin decision to a world class fighter?[/quote]


No based on what he is like now. Groves and Degale were not world class when they first fought but that was ages ago. Now one of them is and it aint Degale so have a guess who is. Groves Schooled Froch. Degale would lose to Froch easily.

[Rogers21]

Degale will step it up when he needs to, the opponent he faced last week was limited he was trying things out, he would not fight that way in a froch or groves fight, Personally think he can be a great fighter but really does need to move trainers.

[earsjohn]

I think a rematch is the perfect first defence for Groves after he beats Froch. If DeGale can pick up a "World Title" in the meantime then that would make it even better.

[dewipowell]

One of the times Groves was hurt against DeGale was from an accidental head clash. Also, I don't think Groves being on the back foot affected how hard he hit DeGale - if you look at the Froch knockdown, Groves is actually going backwards as he throws and lands the right hand. There were a few times when Groves caught DeGale flush but he took them well so we didn't notice it as much.

[Finn]

Degale is still the better of the two imo that fight was very close and booths tactics were a big factor, i rate groves highly but degale would have boxed rings around froch for 4 or 5 rounds too both would lose to froch in the later rounds imo, when he concentrates and before he fatigues degale looks the real deal. I think the froch fight flattered groves by being stopped early its 12 round boxing at the end of the day and degale also looks the tougher of the pair. Just ashame he doesnt have one punch power.