Groves 'Rejects' 50/50 Degale rematch offer

[SNG]

Didn't Kessler just retire? And what of Dirrell, seems odd they're lookin for alternatives when he's mandatory.

Any chance he doesn't want to come here again and won't win if it goes to purse bids?

[hurlock]

Blimey groves has been chinned twice!! He shouldn't complain & say he's not happy with 50/50!! Looks a right tit! He could say he's choosing another route against Anthony dirrell who is I think weaker then degale & is a champion but can dig a bit which is Allways a worry

[danamba7]

Didn't Kessler just retire? And what of Dirrell, seems odd they're lookin for alternatives when he's mandatory.

Any chance he doesn't want to come here again and won't win if it goes to purse bids?

Makes sense to me! Fans get a bigger fight, Degale and Groves get big paydays. Dirrell would get a tune up fight / step-aside money and then fight the winner anyway.

[expe]

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.

Considering the money that Al Haymon's paying at the moment, how could they pay Dirrell enough to step aside?

[davie]

If (and this is a big big if) groves and degale defeat the Dirrells and end up holding two versions of the title (with Smith possibly holding a 3rd?), then perhaps make a defence or 2, then maybe even face each other, who can see Froch struggling to stay retired in a year or 2 time when these guys start dropping his name?

[palooka]

Would Dirrell travel? Paying step aside money would about guarantee the belt would be contested in the UK with the cards stacked a little.

[danamba7]

Considering the money that Al Haymon's paying at the moment, how could they pay Dirrell enough to step aside?

No idea! Just relaying what Hearn said. Don't know if it's feasible.

[ILikeBeer]

Groves is letting it all go to his head a bit, I must confess.

[whiskey]

Considering the money that Al Haymon's paying at the moment, how could they pay Dirrell enough to step aside?

To try and answer it, the fact is that HBO binned off Dirrell after his Curtis Stephens fight (a fight Larry Merchant described as hands down, the worst fight he had ever witnessed) and then after his 'Dr Shaw High' episode, he parted Showtime on bad terms too when he left the Super six.

He has had 2 fights since that 2010 episode with Abraham and is 31 years old and cannot draw flies.

He has already binned Haymon off once in 2012 and only recently went back to him.

Dirrell is a hard sell, networks don't care for him at all and he cannot bring ticket sales to the party because he has no fans.

As good as he is (or was) he will need a tune-up, and an undercard bout to Groves vs Degale II makes perfect sense. He gets paid, he gets a fight and he also exposes himself back to British TV viewers. Because lets face it, American TV doesn't give a rats ass about him.

[Counter-puncher]

Would Dirrell travel? Paying step aside money would about guarantee the belt would be contested in the UK with the cards stacked a little.

what, Andre The Warrior 'Have Gloves Will Travel', No Lions' Den Too Intimidating?

i'm surprised you need to ask.

[expe]

Considering the money that Al Haymon's paying at the moment, how could they pay Dirrell enough to step aside?

To try and answer it, the fact is that HBO binned off Dirrell after his Curtis Stephens fight (a fight Larry Merchant described as hands down, the worst fight he had ever witnessed) and then after his 'Dr Shaw High' episode, he parted Showtime on bad terms too when he left the Super six.

He has had 2 fights since that 2010 episode with Abraham and is 31 years old and cannot draw flies.

He has already binned Haymon off once in 2012 and only recently went back to him.

Dirrell is a hard sell, networks don't care for him at all and he cannot bring ticket sales to the party because he has no fans.

As good as he is (or was) he will need a tune-up, and an undercard bout to Groves vs Degale II makes perfect sense. He gets paid, he gets a fight and he also exposes himself back to British TV viewers. Because lets face it, American TV doesn't give a rats ass about him.

Haymon's bought the airtime on NBC, I would assume he can put whatever fights he wants on, Quillin's hardly a draw and he's on there. Dirrell boxed in December, he's been more active than DeGale recently, why would he need a tune up?

[whiskey]

Haymon's bought the airtime on NBC, I would assume he can put whatever fights he wants on, Quillin's hardly a draw and he's on there. Dirrell boxed in December, he's been more active than DeGale recently, why would he need a tune up?

Sorry, I thought we were discussing how you thought Dirrell was getting huge sums of money, and I countered it ?

[expe]

Haymon's bought the airtime on NBC, I would assume he can put whatever fights he wants on, Quillin's hardly a draw and he's on there. Dirrell boxed in December, he's been more active than DeGale recently, why would he need a tune up?

Sorry, I thought we were discussing how you thought Dirrell was getting huge sums of money, and I countered it ?

You didn't mention money at any point in your post, just that US TV aren't interested in Dirrell and he needs a tune up.

[JimJim2009]

Eddie wants groves vs DeGale in April so he can make the show PPV. Simple as that.

[palooka]

What Eddy wants Eddy gets.

[magwitch]

ten years time - who's got the best CV, Groves or Degale? I think opinion would swing Degale's way at present, but I wouldn't be quite as hasty as that.

[hurlock]

The fact he holds a win over degale is a back up plan. He'd be silly up take on degale now in hindsight

[northern]

I'm using an MMA reference here but a few years back Rashad evans waited to fight the champion at the time (shogun rua) instead of fighting for an interim title against another strong contender and when the fight got closer an injury prevented him from fighting and he lost his chance and had to wait even longer and work his way back to title contention.

This fight is in some ways similar, if he fights Degale he strengthens his chances in another world title organisation and sets himself up for their world title, if he waits he gets more practise but he gets less media attention unless he runs his mouth and annoys people and he isn't a good talker in the first place, then there is the risk of injury.

this fight would be great, win or lose it has the makings of a great trilogy of fights and his name is still getting out there instead of everyone having to listen to him just crying about how he should be a world champion.

[whiskey]

Haymon's bought the airtime on NBC, I would assume he can put whatever fights he wants on, Quillin's hardly a draw and he's on there. Dirrell boxed in December, he's been more active than DeGale recently, why would he need a tune up?

Sorry, I thought we were discussing how you thought Dirrell was getting huge sums of money, and I countered it ?

You didn't mention money at any point in your post, just that US TV aren't interested in Dirrell and he needs a tune up.

So where is all this money coming from then you say he's getting?

He's burned his bridges with HBO and Showtime, he is a product that they have no desire to air.

[dbf]

Groves is the bigger name and has a victory over Degale. He should have a higher % but I appreciate Degale is mandatory for the IBF.

Groves beats Ant Dirrell and Degale beats Andre (a great story to build up the grudge match) and they unify two legit world titles then Groves is the 'A side' no doubt. He'll hold out for this scenario and make a shed load more.

Hearn is hillarious for some fights he goes "two fights down the line that is a massive fight" and for this he says it should happen next! It would be much bigger if they both had a title but maybe Hearn isn't so sold on DeGale beating Andre Dirrell. He knows Groves should have enough to beat Anthony.

[expe]

Sorry, I thought we were discussing how you thought Dirrell was getting huge sums of money, and I countered it ?

You didn't mention money at any point in your post, just that US TV aren't interested in Dirrell and he needs a tune up.

So where is all this money coming from then you say he's getting?

He's burned his bridges with HBO and Showtime, he is a product that they have no desire to air.

From Al Haymon, he's paying fighters stupid money for the shows he's putting on NBC.

[jameswilson]

Would Dirrell travel? Paying step aside money would about guarantee the belt would be contested in the UK with the cards stacked a little.

what, Andre The Warrior 'Have Gloves Will Travel', No Lions' Den Too Intimidating?

i'm surprised you need to ask.

[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.

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.

It was definitely an exaggeration from me comparing Groves to Lascano and Lacy but it was just to highlight the issue.

The controversy created the re-match and brought a lot of one time fans (for both fighters) to the table. Being part of that huge event has turned Groves into a star. To become a star, he needs to work hard, win big and win titles. If he fought one of the Dirrells in this country for a world title, it would need a huge undercard with big fights or ticket sellers to sell out a decent sized arena.

[JC]

I don't really want to see Groves vs Degale at the moment, it's probably always going to be a close but boring affair.

[cobbler80]

This is about far more than just what Groves thinks he's worth and his ego in my opinion.

More of a personal thing with Eddie Heard i'd say. Sick of Eddie giving it the big'un and thinking he runs the sport. Showing he doesn't need him and can forge his own path to put himself in the position where he truly can call the shots with Hearn and DeGale

Good luck to him i say. Delusional as f**k but i admire his spirit!

And Wembley Arena for the Rebrasse fight wasn't far off sold out. I was there and i'd say there was a good 7000 in

A couple of fights ago DeGale couldn't get arrested so don't know where the notion that he's all of a sudden box office comes from