Groves 'Rejects' 50/50 Degale rematch offer

[whiskey]

George Groves is prepared to wait for his WBC world title shot in the second half of 2015 after claiming a 50-50 offer for a rematch against James DeGale is not enough to tempt him.

American Anthony Dirrell has been given an extra four months to fulfil a mandatory defence of the WBC world super-middleweight title against Briton Groves.

Groves has yet to decide if he will have another interim fight before challenging for the WBC title, but has turned down an offer to face fellow Londoner DeGale, whom he beat on points in 2011, at the O2 Arena on April 25.

DeGale is now instead being lined up to face Andre Dirrell - Anthony's brother - on April 25.

"They will have to pay good money to get Andre over here and a fight against me will sell more and Sky Sports know that," Groves told ESPN.

"April 25 is the date that [promoter] Eddie Hearn pitched to my promoters Kalle and Nisse Sauerland. I'm not going to be held to ransom though. I'm not prepared to walk away from the WBC shot after putting in all that hard work to get it for an offer I'm not happy about, I would rather wait for the WBC fight.

"I will box James any day of the week but right now they are talking about a 50-50 split. They can only get away with that because of Eddie Hearn's popularity and his position at Sky Sports. James has no commercial marketability unless he fights me. I boxed in front of 80,000 fans at Wembley Stadium last year but James has been fighting at leisure centres and shopping centres.

"They need to be sensible with me for an offer and at this moment in time I'm not in a rush to sell myself short."

Cancer survivor Dirrell, who won the belt from Sakio Bika in August, intends to fight another opponent - possibly America-based Swede Badou Jack - before facing Groves.

Groves, 26, has yet to decide whether he will have another interim fight before his shot at the WBC title, after winning an eliminator for the title in September.

"We were shocked to hear that he had got the four-month extension in making his mandatory defence," Groves said.

"I'm still figuring it out and it's not cut and dry. There's some stuff that needs to be explained a bit better so my promoters [Team Sauerland] are talking to the WBC. I don't think it's fair on me and I want some answers.

"As soon as we have a definitive answer from the WBC as to the exact stipulation of the extension and when I might challenge for it, what it means and and why it was given in the first place, then I will decide when I might box again.

"Worse case scenario is I have to wait another four months. His management team Al Haymon has got a new thing on NBC in America which will be massive for the sport and I would love to be involved in it. I would love to box out in the States and we are looking at that.

"I had a busy year last year so not hitting the ground running in 2015 is not such a big deal and it's out of our hands."

[freddydoesdallas]

Understandable in a way as he is waiting for a title shot but the 50/50 split stuff is a load of shite.

George, you're not a headline attraction. To get to this stage you need to be a world champion and/or have wins over world class fighters on your record.

The re-match is a fight i want to see though.

[mickey1975]

Understandable in a way as he is waiting for a title shot but the 50/50 split stuff is a load of shite.

George, you're not a headline attraction. To get to this stage you need to be a world champion and/or have wins over world class fighters on your record.

The re-match is a fight i want to see though.

He's headlined The O2(where he had the majority of the support), Wembley Arena(Where he was the A side of the main event) and holds a win over DeGale(IBF no 1) and Smith(challenging again next week).

[ste1983]

Why would Matchroom approach Groves before Dirrell?

Dirrell is the mandatory is he not

[black panther]

On recent form I'd take Anthony Dirrell to beat Groves. But I don't blame him for waiting for the WBC title shot; if he can beat Anthony and win the title, a fight against Degale becomes even more lucrative for him. If Degale also beats the other Dirrell, Andre, for the IBF title we've got an all British unification bout on our hands.

[UrbanFox]

Why would Matchroom approach Groves before Dirrell?

Dirrell is the mandatory is he not

More money to be made in the deGale rematch than the Dirrell fight.

Dirrell isn't mandatory in the IBF, Froch was champion, vacated. It's been put to purse bid. Dirrell can step aside which means that Matchroom will then have to pick another opponent down the rankings.

[johnswan1]

Has any boxer with two KO defeats who has never held a world title ever been as much of a diva as George Groves is?

[Counter-puncher]

Has any boxer with two KO defeats who has never held a world title ever been as much of a diva as George Groves is?

i thought you were talking about Paul Smith for a second.....

[Rexob]

Good on him win the Wbc then fight degale for aload more money dont blame him.

[ste1983]

Why would Matchroom approach Groves before Dirrell?

Dirrell is the mandatory is he not

More money to be made in the deGale rematch than the Dirrell fight.

Dirrell isn't mandatory in the IBF, Froch was champion, vacated. It's been put to purse bid. Dirrell can step aside which means that Matchroom will then have to pick another opponent down the rankings.

No I understand that but my point is if they approached Groves and he agreed but Dirrell wanted it, it would be irrelevent anyway would have to be Dirrell wouldn't it, as the higher ranked (for the belt anyway).

Does this approach to Groves mean that Dirrell's been sounded out?

[freddydoesdallas]

Understandable in a way as he is waiting for a title shot but the 50/50 split stuff is a load of shite.

George, you're not a headline attraction. To get to this stage you need to be a world champion and/or have wins over world class fighters on your record.

The re-match is a fight i want to see though.

He's headlined The O2(where he had the majority of the support), Wembley Arena(Where he was the A side of the main event) and holds a win over DeGale(IBF no 1) and Smith(challenging again next week).

He has been the 'B' side fighter for every major fight he has. The fella is a talented boxer but he does not sell tickets on his own and that, along with having no world class wins means he should not be trying to dictate majority terms.

I'm not saying that DeGale does this either. All i'm saying is that he's not the ticket seller he makes out. Would he shift tickets for a fight against Yusuf Mack, Bika or any other fringe world level fighter if he was the main event?

[THEBUTCH]

Groves should get more, DeGale is less of an attraction than George (bums on seats and TV).

I don't blame Groves going after the WBC title.

[mickey1975]

Understandable in a way as he is waiting for a title shot but the 50/50 split stuff is a load of shite.

George, you're not a headline attraction. To get to this stage you need to be a world champion and/or have wins over world class fighters on your record.

The re-match is a fight i want to see though.

He's headlined The O2(where he had the majority of the support), Wembley Arena(Where he was the A side of the main event) and holds a win over DeGale(IBF no 1) and Smith(challenging again next week).

He has been the 'B' side fighter for every major fight he has. The fella is a talented boxer but he does not sell tickets on his own and that, along with having no world class wins means he should not be trying to dictate majority terms.

I'm not saying that DeGale does this either. All i'm saying is that he's not the ticket seller he makes out. Would he shift tickets for a fight against Yusuf Mack, Bika or any other fringe world level fighter if he was the main event?

Rebrasse for the European title he was most certainly the A side. He is more or less a household name in the uk thanks to the Froch fights.

[expe]

Understandable in a way as he is waiting for a title shot but the 50/50 split stuff is a load of shite.

George, you're not a headline attraction. To get to this stage you need to be a world champion and/or have wins over world class fighters on your record.

The re-match is a fight i want to see though.

He's headlined The O2(where he had the majority of the support), Wembley Arena(Where he was the A side of the main event) and holds a win over DeGale(IBF no 1) and Smith(challenging again next week).

He has been the 'B' side fighter for every major fight he has. The fella is a talented boxer but he does not sell tickets on his own and that, along with having no world class wins means he should not be trying to dictate majority terms.

I'm not saying that DeGale does this either. All i'm saying is that he's not the ticket seller he makes out. Would he shift tickets for a fight against Yusuf Mack, Bika or any other fringe world level fighter if he was the main event?

The crowd looked pretty decent for the Rebrasse fight and there wasn't much of an undercard. The last time DeGale headlined a show that wasn't in a shopping centre was when he fought Groves, Groves is the bigger name, sells more and he won the first fight, if anyone's in a position to make demands, it's him.

[freddydoesdallas]

Mickey, what were the ticket sales like though? I don't remember it being a sell out.

Jeff Lacey & Juan Lascano were both part of a huge night of boxing in the UK but they also went off with their tails between their legs. It makes them a recognisable name but doesn't build them a genuine fanbase.

[danamba7]

Still suffering from severe delusion then!

[mickey1975]

Mickey, what were the ticket sales like though? I don't remember it being a sell out.

Jeff Lacey & Juan Lascano were both part of a huge night of boxing in the UK but they also went off with their tails between their legs. It makes them a recognisable name but doesn't build them a genuine fanbase.

You really can't compare those two to Groves. I was at all four fights, Froch x2, Lacy and Lazcano. The Lacy fight wasn't anywhere near sold out, closer to half full if anything, despite huge hype and ITV1... Jeff brought nobody except his mental bird and Gary Shaw, whilst Ricky would have sold out if he'd have been fighting me. The first Froch fight was a complete sell out in an arena twice as big as the Nottingham one which he failed to sell out against Mack, George had a good few there, but was outnumbered by the casuals who got behind Carl, at first. Together they created the huge rematch where support was reasonably split. Neither will do numbers like that ever again. No, Rebrasse didn't sell out, but it looked a healthy crowd. Groves had a reputation in the amateurs as a ticket seller.

[danamba7]

Mickey, what were the ticket sales like though? I don't remember it being a sell out.

Jeff Lacey & Juan Lascano were both part of a huge night of boxing in the UK but they also went off with their tails between their legs. It makes them a recognisable name but doesn't build them a genuine fanbase.

You really can't compare those two to Groves. I was at all four fights, Froch x2, Lacy and Lazcano. The Lacy fight wasn't anywhere near sold out, closer to half full if anything, despite huge hype and ITV1... Jeff brought nobody except his mental bird and Gary Shaw, whilst Ricky would have sold out if he'd have been fighting me. The first Froch fight was a complete sell out in an arena twice as big as the Nottingham one which he failed to sell out against Mack, George had a good few there, but was outnumbered by the casuals who got behind Carl, at first. Together they created the huge rematch where support was reasonably split. Neither will do numbers like that ever again. No, Rebrasse didn't sell out, but it looked a healthy crowd. Groves had a reputation in the amateurs as a ticket seller.

George had a helluva lot of fans at Wembley. I was surrounded by them! Thing is, most of them dropped their support more abruptly than Froch dropped Groves. Just a fickle bunch of hangers-on who wanted to see "justice" from the first fight.

The Rebrasse fight sold decent numbers admittedly. But it worries me that he feels the need to pay a band to try and fool the public into thinking he's the next Ricky Hatton.

[ste1983]

Mickey, what were the ticket sales like though? I don't remember it being a sell out.

Jeff Lacey & Juan Lascano were both part of a huge night of boxing in the UK but they also went off with their tails between their legs. It makes them a recognisable name but doesn't build them a genuine fanbase.

You really can't compare those two to Groves. I was at all four fights, Froch x2, Lacy and Lazcano. The Lacy fight wasn't anywhere near sold out, closer to half full if anything, despite huge hype and ITV1... Jeff brought nobody except his mental bird and Gary Shaw, whilst Ricky would have sold out if he'd have been fighting me. The first Froch fight was a complete sell out in an arena twice as big as the Nottingham one which he failed to sell out against Mack, George had a good few there, but was outnumbered by the casuals who got behind Carl, at first. Together they created the huge rematch where support was reasonably split. Neither will do numbers like that ever again. No, Rebrasse didn't sell out, but it looked a healthy crowd. Groves had a reputation in the amateurs as a ticket seller.

George had a helluva lot of fans at Wembley. I was surrounded by them! Thing is, most of them dropped their support more abruptly than Froch dropped Groves. Just a fickle bunch of hangers-on who wanted to see "justice" from the first fight.

The Rebrasse fight sold decent numbers admittedly. But it worries me that he feels the need to pay a band to try and fool the public into thinking he's the next Ricky Hatton.

You can't really judge any level of support (for either) from Froch Groves 2 to be honest it was more the event.

I thought on the night people cheering for either was pretty 50/50 (maybe 55/45 in favour of Froch). But a massive proportion of people at that fight would have never been or will never go, to another fight again.

[palooka]

Groves is better known than DeGale I imagine because of the Froch bouts, I don't see how he should be paid a higher percentage than DeGale though - if he wins he can go on to make more money. This is a dangerous bout for either Durrell or Groves, DeGale seems to have worked hard in the background and looks a skilled and hard hitting boxer now, Groves hasn't looked good since the first Froch bout and Durrell has always looked gifted but does not box in an attractive way.

[danamba7]

Groves is better known than DeGale I imagine because of the Froch bouts, I don't see how he should be paid a higher percentage than DeGale though - if he wins he can go on to make more money. This is a dangerous bout for either Durrell or Groves, DeGale seems to have worked hard in the background and looks a skilled and hard hitting boxer now, Groves hasn't looked good since the first Froch bout and Durrell has always looked gifted but does not box in an attractive way.

Exactly.

Isn't it IBF ruling that it's 50-50 any way? So it's not even negotiable. Or is Hearn talking shite?

[expe]

Groves is better known than DeGale I imagine because of the Froch bouts, I don't see how he should be paid a higher percentage than DeGale though - if he wins he can go on to make more money. This is a dangerous bout for either Durrell or Groves, DeGale seems to have worked hard in the background and looks a skilled and hard hitting boxer now, Groves hasn't looked good since the first Froch bout and Durrell has always looked gifted but does not box in an attractive way.

Exactly.

Isn't it IBF ruling that it's 50-50 any way? So it's not even negotiable. Or is Hearn talking shite?

That's only at purse bids, the teams can agree a deal that isn't 50-50 outside of them. All a bit irrelevant really as Dirrell would have to pull out for it to be for the title.

[ILikeBeer]

Why would Matchroom approach Groves before Dirrell?

Dirrell is the mandatory is he not

I thought that. This article suggests that DeGale is going back to Dirrell after Groves turned him down. All reports I heard was that 'DeGale is probably fighting Dirrell in April'. Why is he suddenly offering Groves a rematch?

[danamba7]

Why would Matchroom approach Groves before Dirrell?

Dirrell is the mandatory is he not

I thought that. This article suggests that DeGale is going back to Dirrell after Groves turned him down. All reports I heard was that 'DeGale is probably fighting Dirrell in April'. Why is he suddenly offering Groves a rematch?

Hearn mentioned that as it's a bigger fight, if George accepted, they would make an offer for Andre to fight on the same bill in a tune-up for good money and then fight the winner.

[whiskey]

50/50 of a large pot of cash in the UK

or

75/25 split as 'challenger' over against Dirrell, a man who won the belt off Bika, on the Porter vs Brook undercard - on terrestial TV apparently under Haymon's new deal there.

Doesn't seem to much financial incentive for that direction. Elsewhere I'm hearing talks of Degale vs Kessler instead.