BoxRec

Yeah that was an excellent piece there, very interesting to see. Tony is a great sparring partner to have, though as Carl says, DeGale's style would have been excellent for getting ready for Ward.

But I can understand why DG wouldn't jump at the chance to go up north for 2 weeks to earn wages as a sparring partner.
He also might have in mind that he could be meeting Froch for real in the near future.

Froch will be retired by the time DeGale reaches that level and that's assuming DeGale gets that far.

i actually don't agree at all, i think Degale should have jumped at the chance.

Didn't want to come up to the ABA HQ and spar with Froch based on his bitter dispute with them??? Do me a favour, get over it...this is TOP CLASS sparring and exactly what he needs. Would have done him loads of good i think, in fact both of them.

While i'm all for hearing both sides of the story, i think too many people molly coddle degale........get a grip, get down and dirty and put the hard work in with the top boys of the sport....which degale is far from at the moment.

Listen to what Froch said and it makes sense.

back on Froch, he is currently second place to Ricky Burns as my fav fighter in he Uk, top top warrior.

Probably didn't fit in with his schedule? Maybe Warren advised against it as Froch is known to take no prisoners sparring and couldn't risk another pull out of the December show is DeGale got a cut?

I saw DeGale at the test event last week, and we had a brief chat. Lovely fella in person, I was asking him what his moves were after December and in a few more fights time he wants to be aiming for a world title. He still wants Groves though.

King Geedorah wrote:To be fair, DeGale’s sparred Bellew, Cleverly and Barker recently so I don’t think this is down to a lack of heart.

All good fighters, but not in Froch's class.

BIGMARK wrote:@leeds lad

Good post, I would like to see Degale now go in with a fighters with different styles, Kenny Anderson would be a good start

And finish!!!

[quote="gobbles"]Maybe Degale had other commitments, maybe he didn't feel right training back in Sheffield alongside all the GB amateur squad as hired help for Froch, he did after all say that he was happy to spar him in London (Froch was in London for the GB finals 2 weeks ago because McCracken was down).
There could be lots of things.
Why do people feel the need to slag off Degale on the basis of what one person says without hearing his side?[/quote

Did Froch not say Degale would not come up to sheffield,May be if Froch wanted it that bad he should of went to Degales gym.

King Geedorah wrote:

Dan Dares wrote:

King Geedorah wrote:To be fair, DeGale’s sparred Bellew, Cleverly and Barker recently so I don’t think this is down to a lack of heart.

All good fighters, but not in Froch's class.

Yep, but they aren't mugs so the signs point to DeGale saying "No" for other reasons rather than a lack of heart.

I can't see where anyone has mentioned lack of heart

King Geedorah wrote:

Andypittcov wrote:

King Geedorah wrote: Yep, but they aren't mugs so the signs point to DeGale saying "No" for other reasons rather than a lack of heart.

I can't see where anyone has mentioned lack of heart

Comments about his unwillingness to get down and dirty and the general tone of the 'Froch's macho' comments make it seem that way. He's sparred tough guys so maybe had a reason for this and should be judged on it.

The guy also took some almighty shots last time out to show some mettle, he just can't win.

You say he just can;t win, but what has he shown in the pros?? maybe i see it different thats all....

dbf wrote:

Glyn Leach wrote:Adam Smith tells me much of the credit for the Froch piece should go to Dave Finch for his classy edit - I'm a huge fan of that kind of Fight Camp 360 fly on the wall style. By the way, is there one for Froch-Ward anyone?

Thanks for the info Glyn - This is the direction Sky should be going in, like Froch himself, its a lot classier.

Episode 10 is quality - http://www.fightnews.com/page/2

Cracking, well done mate

He showed his heart in his last fight for sure.

I for one am not saying he will bottle it when the going gets tough, just that maybe he thinks he can get to the top with his skills alone. Carl on the other hand seems to understand that you just can't avoid any of the hard stuff if you want to be the best.

jtourettes wrote:

BIGMARK wrote:

jtourettes wrote:Has anyone upped it to youtube yet?

It's on the sky sports website

Cheers, Mark.

Link for anybody else interested: http://www.skysports.com/video/inline/0 ... 82,00.html

Just watched that, good stuff. If anyone from Sky reads this, put Ringside on anytime for us lads that work away. Ta

Froch ain't got no axe to grind with Degale, I think it was McDonnell who'd he'd got swerved off.

Carl offered to take care of every detail for him to hook up with him. But they turned it down.

It's not like Carl's in Tenerife or summat, he's at the best facility in the country.

To turn down that level of facility, get some really tremendous sparring and also help style wise to prepare a fellow Brit for a massive super middleweight fight... Well I don't think Froch will bother asking them ever again put it that way - and I think it's a missed opportunity for Degale.

I agree.

At this stage of his career he ought to be getting as much top quality sparring as he can. The bonus is that he's being paid as opposed to having to fork out for his own.

LeedsLad wrote:I agree.

At this stage of his career he ought to be getting as much top quality sparring as he can. The bonus is that he's being paid as opposed to having to fork out for his own.

Exactly.

People saying ah well, it could have this reason or that reason why they couldn't do it - so why not just say it? Carl would have said fine, no probs - if it was promotional or timetable conflicts. "er yes come to London" as if Carl would leave Rob behind and stay down London away from his family , they basically said "no".

I don't understand it.

Unless they're paranoid about him being friendly with Groves.... he spars with DeGale and then gives Groves the lowdown on any technical improvements that DeGale has made (or lack thereof judging by his last fight).

I'm sure Allegedly would have no objection, otherwise Bellew would have been prevented from going too.

Froch would probably give DeGale a working over but he's not going to ruin him in a sparring session surely? A young kid on the way up is bound to get a kicking off an established world operator. Hatton took plenty from the likes of Robin Reid and Ensley Bingham in his younger days.

He can't be that fragile mentally, surely?

I think we are looking to much into this.

King Geedorah wrote:

Andypittcov wrote:He showed his heart in his last fight for sure.

I for one am not saying he will bottle it when the going gets tough, just that maybe he thinks he can get to the top with his skills alone. Carl on the other hand seems to understand that you just can't avoid any of the hard stuff if you want to be the best.

Fight for fight he's at a comparable stage at this point in his career. Sure, rounds with Froch would be be invaluable at this point but he may have had legitimate reasons for not taking this sparring job.

If he thinks skills alone can get him to the top then he's learned during 2011 that this isn't the case.

I was sceptical about DeGale initially but feel he's shown enough to suggest that he has a bit of grit about him.

I love to watch him box. He's got a bit of style about him, he's tricky enough for anyone and he boxes really well in the pocket. I think he learned a lot against Wilczewski, more so than he did against Groves.

As you say, there could be plenty of reasons why he didn't take the sparring, and I wouldn't read too much into Froch's wind up even though it was delivered well. But i'm of the opinion that it would have done him the power of good to spar a boxer in Froch's class, especially seeing as he's mentioned Kessler as a possible future opponent. I also think that sparring was the difference when DeGale fought Groves.

Andre Dirrell was the best possible sparring partner in preparation for DeGale, and Groves definitely picked up a few tricks that he used in the fight. DeGale was sparring Cleverley, who, with respect, pretty much just stands in front of his opponents and punches them in the face harder and more often than they do him (which is great to watch).

DeGale says he wants a belt in 2012, and the obvious route to that is through the WBO, which Kessler, if he returns at his best, should win against Steiglitz. It will be very interesting to see how DeGale's career progresses, and if his promoter has the confidence to fix him up with Kessler next year, but I'm not holding my breath. I think he may well have the skills, if not the pop in his punches.

Pat Butcher wrote:

jtourettes wrote:

BIGMARK wrote: It's on the sky sports website

Cheers, Mark.

Link for anybody else interested: http://www.skysports.com/video/inline/0 ... 82,00.html

Just watched that, good stuff. If anyone from Sky reads this, put Ringside on anytime for us lads that work away. Ta

Ringside IS on anytime if anyone missed it. Nice one Sky

Finally got around to watching this. I loved the insight into Froch's camp and it was interesting that Degale didnt want to spar with Froch - that was surprising.

Next week Sky have hype shows everyday leading up the fight, great coverage for Froch - I am still torn about how I see this fight going and who wins.

Got to hand it to Sky, they're doing a solid job.

They're pushing Khan & Froch like they did for PPV fights.