BoxRec

black panther wrote:Here is the post fight presser if anyone is interested:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jw2bEe13hU

Thats only the DeFail portion

The Groves bit is here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lJB9WLmWQw

charlieb wrote:I'm not sure if I'm interpreting this the way it happened, but there was a moment which stayed with me watching Booth in the corner. In the break before the 12th, it looked as though Dave C was about to reel off some advice to Groves but was cut short by Booth, who then told Groves to relax and breathe.

I saw that as well. Dave C started saying the obligatory "He's going to come out and throw everything at you... etc" and Booth stepped in, as you said. Very impressive. Contrast with Jimmy Mac in the other corner "You really need this James, you need it big..."

mkirkhope wrote:I've never been a Booth fan at all but tonight I thought he really made the difference in that fight. Macdonnell was out-coached. Great gameplan.

Seconded. Booth was the epitome of calm in the corner, and appears to be a great tactician.

A real credit to Boxing, and almost another arm for many of his fighters.

The Groves presser was class.

alexpaterson wrote:I've been saying it for a long time now Adam Booth is the best domestic trainer around

This... He's smart and seems to know exactly what the other corner is planning most of the time.

Though outwitting Cheerleader McDonnell couldn't have been too difficult.

Degale says he was disappointed because Groves nicked the fight and that he wouldn't have been happy winning it the way Groves did but then a few senteces later he said that he thought he won it by a round or two ie just nicked it himself.

Also Frank says he thought DeGale won by a round so there should be a rematch ordered by the board. Jesus if Frank gave rematches to all the people who lost close decisions on his cards. Victor Polo v Scott Harrison. Robin Reid against Calzaghe. Thats just 2 of the first ones that popped into my head.

alexpaterson wrote:I've been saying it for a long time now Adam Booth is the best domestic trainer around

maybe degale could work with adam sometime soon ???

I would not say that he is the best in the country but he is one of the best in the country because you could put a very strong argument in for Joe Gallagher whose fighters have won 46 fights in a row which is a British record although John Murray and Matt Macklin his two marquee fighters in John Murray and Matt Macklin have only won British and European titles in their blossoming careers so far, while Booth has George Groves now the British and Commonwealth Super Middleweight Champion and David Haye who is the current WBA and could become the first man since Lennox Lewis to become the undisputed Heavyweigh Champion of the World. As for the Groves-DeGale, Booth got his tactics correct did his homework on DeGale and it worked.

not sure how anyone can watch that Groves presser and not find him as conceited as degale - also his youtube video rant was cringeworthy to the max

http://www.youtube.com/user/OfficialGeo ... r4hH253w1U

neither him or Degale are any good at the trash talking. No charisma and lacking in eloquence to pull off those personas. You can see Groves trying it here but him and Booth (smartly IMHO) obviously decided to play the quiet/better men in the build up to this fight and let chunky hang himself with his poor attempts...

Granted after Degales pretty classless behaviour in the build up and the way he'd tried to belittle him, he had a right to be satisfied and to enjoy the victory, but in a fight that was that close he can hardly feel like he's left no room for doubt when most right minded boxing fan know deep down that Degale is a far better fighter and with the right time and attitude would beat Groves readily. He wasn't even CLEARLY the better man on the night, he just got a very close and questionable decision that could have gone either way.

Degale had his opportunity though and didn't take it, Groves got the nod, somewhat fortunately IMHO and now has every right to go on and look for fights that advance him towards his stated world title goal. Realistically though there's no better opponent in the UK for him in terms of audience appeal and stature than a Degale rematch, (i'm classing Froch as already on world level and Carl would take him apart for fun). Anderson/Jeffries nowhere near as attractive or a step forward so he's going to have to step up if he wants to make headway and again someone like Brian McGee would be too much for him

Truth is Degale is too big a risk for him to take again and in getting the decision he gets the right to avoid it, and i guess after James' behaviour they want to rub his face in it and make him sweat and hurt for as long as possible.

Boxing is a game of thin margins though and these tables could turn very quickly indeed. If Groves gets beaten on his next step up and Degale regroups like Khan and ends up with a belt and boxoffice, it could be Groves begging for a rematch and at that point their dismissal of Degales right to one might just come back to haunt him.

Interestingly Haye's stated that he lost the Thompson fight because he didnt stick the gameplan that had been laid out.

Booth always looks cool in that corner - he speaks slow and just gives one or 2 bits of advise clearly and calmly so it can be remembered. Also the way haye and groves train is very clever they train in ways to suit their styles of fighting. Its modern coaching. Booth is definatley amongst the top trainers in the UK. By most peoples expectations haye and groves have over acheived already and they havent finished their campaigns yet.

I think the sparring Groves had was key too. Sparring Dirrell and Froch iv no doubt will have helped.

Adam Booth's cornerwork reminds me of Will Carling's pre match team talks when he was England captain..... its going to be a bit marmite. Some could argue he was a bit too cool in the corner for the Haye vs Valuev and this fight - this one was razor tight and it seemed, on the night, the majority of the Sky team at least though Valuev won.

Asterix wrote:Agreed. I was really impressed with him and Groves. Not just the game plan and the intelligence, but also the closeness of their relationship. They are a very good team.

It makes me wonder if I'm being naive about thinking Haye has little chance against Wlad.

I think the major problem is how vastly experienced Wlad is - he's seen a lot of styles during his career, and has adapted a style which makes him incredibly frustrating to watch, but also very hard to beat.

DeGale and Groves were on a par, so with a good gameplan, groves was able to prevail, I just don't know if Haye has the tools to beat Wlad, - it's a big ask, and no shame if he doesn't win.

Have you seen Booth's classy and mature retort to DeGales' corner by the way?

If you see the opening page of Boxrec, you'll se what I mean - he's all class

lefthook82 wrote:Jim McDonnell will get you fit, and that's it

My sound was disabled so watched it in silence but I'm sure he was chatting shit

following the big wins (haye-macca, groves-degale) booth always comes across as positive and articulate. comes across as a risk taker with an angle who can surprise the other side. by contrast, jimmy mac sounded like a dinosaur, when interviewed after the groves-degale fight.

Autobarn wrote:

lefthook82 wrote:Jim McDonnell will get you fit, and that's it

My sound was disabled so watched it in silence but I'm sure he was chatting shit

following the big wins (haye-macca, groves-degale) booth always comes across as positive and articulate. comes across as a risk taker with an angle who can surprise the other side. by contrast, jimmy mac sounded like a dinosaur, when interviewed after the groves-degale fight.

Always You have seen the photo on the front page here, I wouldn't describe that as articulate. I think he is marmite, I can see why you call it positive, some could still call it Arrogant though - he's had two VERY close decision, razor tight, yet there was no doubt in his mind that the fight wasn't even close.

Yes, credit where it is due to the tactics, but he's had the rub of the green when it has come to the cards so far - there is no way he could have felt 100% uber confident of getting either decision - and I think that he seems to makes him appear arrogant.

ok not always. however, right now, it's good to see them going against the establishment, creating surprises and rocking the boat a bit and coming in prepared. haye has won in germany, groves and haye won major all british fights on the FW shows, etc.

degale and his trainer did not seem to have prepared for all eventualities, on the other hand. at least not going by their comments. if there are ppl who cna challenge the cliches (if you like) of the domestic scene (which very rarely surprises us, see cleverly's inheritance of WBO title incl premature/controversial stoppage, then calling out of big name) this is positive.

All trainers will end up with question marks in the end though beacuse inevitably one of their boxers will lose.

The relationship between a boxer and a trainer is key, almost as much as the tactics etc.