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

[Asterix]

No homo or anything, but DeGale's uglier than Groves.

[Lenny]

No homo or anything, but DeGale's uglier than Groves.

You're really pushing this at the moment Asterix, sure you're not protesting too much?

I've always liked Degale but last night he was just attempting to be the bully with some set lines and it failed big time. Resorting to the bad breath joke kinda proved it and the most convincing thing about the interview was when George said that's all he's got.

I'm sure Groves really thinks he can win this but he needs to stop refering back to their close fight in the amatures - for me it's a different ball game now. If Groves can slow him down with those hard body shots though, it could get very interesting

Degale in 6

[doctorboxing]

Surely DeGale will win, after all he has came on "heaps and bounds"!

I hope he watches that back and cringed. He came across as a complete retard bully whilst groves wound him up by not rising to it at all.


"I just got my words messed up" "I forgot what I was going to say" ???

[steve689]

Ha Ha I thought I mis-heard him but yeah he did say heaps and bounds didn't he?!

I hate to admit the fact that I think DeGale will win. Groves just looks a bit fragile and what was the tie all about...

However, I would love to see Groves win. I compared DeGale to a cross between Audley Harrison and Anthony Small before, but you'd have to drop it a couple of levels more again after yesterday. He was like an ADHD child, an amazingly immature performance.

He even resorted to saying Groves' breath was bad when they did a nose-to-nose thing and SKY just stopped asking him questions after a while because there was no sense coming back. He's a totally unfunny disaster area.

[yiddo14]

Easy to get under DeGales skin, just don't give him full attention. A bit like Cotto ignoring Mayorga, it would kill him if Groves doesn't enter into his games. He did come across like a total prat, beyond his rehearsed lines there's no wit. Shame, I thought he had some charisma in his cockiness.

He does lack wit to be able to pull off the bad man act. Shame really because I think it is nothing but an act and not really who DeGale is.

[Chambers2]

1-0 Groves

This fight's gonna be a cracker. Respect to both fighters for insisting on it

[Scottrf]

1-0 Groves

Are you scoring the press conference an even round?

[crusader]

I don't get why boxers make so many comments about their opponents appearance. Why on earth do they care how attractive other men are? I think Degale will beat up Groves, but god damn he is an arrogant tit. I'm not sure about this "he is a gentleman in his private life" crap. That gets said about almost every obstreperous fighter.

[Chambers2]

1-0 Groves

Are you scoring the press conference an even round?

I only started scoring last night

[Final round]

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

[forcefraser]

Utter lack of class from degale. Came across as a real arse. I hope for his sake it was just an act to promote the fight. Groves did well to maintain his cool on occassions.

Degale`s antics showed a complete lack of respect and it just wasn`t a natural looking performance. They might not like each other, but Nelson`s comment about this being like Benn/Eubank was so far off the mark.

Benn and Eubank came natural, I don`t think this does. Who can forget Benn sneering in the background and Eubank refusing to look at him. Now that was class stuff. This wasn`t. It was embarrassing.

I can`t see it happening, But I hope Groves knocks him into next week.

I did have to laugh though at the "cool that breath" comment from De Gale.

Groves need a new suit.

[thepocketrocket]

The most honest thing in the whole spectacle was when Groves turned on Nelson....I am sure that is in referance to Johnny saying 'There's one man who is really confident about the fight and I know who that is'(or words to that effect) with a smug grin during the review of the year

[BillyTKid]

http://www.skysports.com/video/inline/0 ... 98,00.html

[Chambers2]

The most honest thing in the whole spectacle was when Groves turned on Nelson....I am sure that is in referance to Johnny saying 'There's one man who is really confident about the fight and I know who that is'(or words to that effect) with a smug grin during the review of the year

yeah I liked Groves's response to Johnny Nelson saying " One of you has progressed quicker as a pro than the other"

[jtourettes]

The most honest thing in the whole spectacle was when Groves turned on Nelson....I am sure that is in referance to Johnny saying 'There's one man who is really confident about the fight and I know who that is'(or words to that effect) with a smug grin during the review of the year

I don't know how the fornicate Nelson has got a job. He's awful and charisma light.

[Chambers2]

The most honest thing in the whole spectacle was when Groves turned on Nelson....I am sure that is in referance to Johnny saying 'There's one man who is really confident about the fight and I know who that is'(or words to that effect) with a smug grin during the review of the year

I don't know how the eff Nelson has got a job. He's awful and charisma light.

I like Nelson as a presenter, I much prefer him to Adam Smith.

Another pearling question from Adam Smith last night. To Groves/Degale : "Which one hates the other most?". He's no doubt privately educated and went to Uni at Oxbridge and that's the best line of questioning he can come up with, even The Sun newspaper could come up with better. I'm guessing he's a clever bloke, but he hides it very well.

Smith seems to be doing well with the stuff he does behind the scenes (i.e. getting the all new and improved Ringside back on and his pro Carl Froch stance), but he gets right on my tits infront of the camera. Anybody see his "I'm a BAAAAD man" look when they started the Hopkins piece in Philadelphia?? (Boris Johnson looks more intimidating than Smith)

[Lightsoot]

I think the head-to-head highlighted the contrasting personalities of the two fighters rather than than revealing any perceived psychological advantages. Groves emerged with credit, he's a polite kid, but I don't agree that DeGale looked rattled. He just seemed his usual brash and confident self. And why shouldn't DeGale get animated? After all Groves has been calling him out for close to two years now and it's a fight that DeGale has never seemed to want to avoid.

Tough fight to call but I'm leaning towards Groves. I think we've learned more about Groves in his fights so far than we have about DeGale. This has persuaded some to perceive that DeGale is a big favourite but I'm not convinced how DeGale will handle himself when faced with consistent pressure, how deep he is prepared to dig, whether his defences will unravel in the heat of battle and if he'll get drawn into the wrong type of fight.

I'm not convinced that Groves is capable of competing in world class, far from it in fact, but at this relatively early stages in their careers I think he might teach DeGale a lesson. I think I've seen enough to know what Groves is about but I suspect that DeGale isn't as good as his wins on paper would suggest.

[Lenny]

I think the head-to-head highlighted the contrasting personalities of the two fighters rather than than revealing any perceived psychological advantages. Groves emerged with credit, he's a polite kid, but I don't agree that DeGale looked rattled. He just seemed his usual brash and confident self. And why shouldn't DeGale get animated? After all Groves has been calling him out for close to two years now and it's a fight that DeGale has never seemed to want to avoid.

Tough fight to call but I'm leaning towards Groves. I think we've learned more about Groves in his fights so far than we have about DeGale. This has persuaded some to perceive that DeGale is a big favourite but I'm not convinced how DeGale will handle himself when faced with consistent pressure, how deep he is prepared to dig, whether his defences will unravel in the heat of battle and if he'll get drawn into the wrong type of fight.

I'm not convinced that Groves is capable of competing in world class, far from it in fact, but at this relatively early stages in their careers I think he might teach DeGale a lesson. I think I've seen enough to know what Groves is about but I suspect that DeGale isn't as good as his wins on paper would suggest.

But we've learned more about Groves because he has struggled more at the lower level.

I'm not into this current trend of talking up Anderson and dismissing Smith others have mentioned on other topics. For me, one fighter had to pull it out the bag against a guy who was stepping up for the first time and struggled to beat Nathan King (who was gassed at the time although I appreciate Groves' body attacks) and one guy had it all his own way against the never convincingly beaten British champion.

Can't wait for the fight, but for me it would be a big shock if Groves wins

[Dioufy]

Jeez, DeGale is such a bellend. Groves came across awesome.

[Scottrf]

Getting people talking isn't it.

[Lenny]

Getting people talking isn't it.

Pre fight hype needs to step up

[Dioufy]

Nelson, I can't stand the man. Arggghhhh, ffs.

[Dioufy]

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.

[Scottrf]

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.

It's not clever but the talk about this fight (and this Ringside) is flooding the forums. It's the same money if people buy tickets/PPV to see him lose, or because they think he has witty putdowns.

[Dioufy]

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.

It's not clever but the talk about this fight (and this Ringside) is flooding the forums. It's the same money if people buy tickets/PPV to see him lose, or because they think he has witty putdowns.

I won't be buying it.