BoxRec

I'm disappointed that the poll only has six types of decisions to choose from

But on a serious note, during the first fight I kept thinking that Degale could win if he stepped it up, fought harder - but for whatever reason he didn't.

In a rematch I think he'd be on top of his game & would beat Groves in a close fight.

But I'll have to see how Groves looks against Murray next month.

I'd favour Degale by decision right now.

He's the one been doing the improving and learning and Groves is already a guy with a few, hard miles on the clock.
Getting starched by someone like Froch surely leaves its mark?

George also wasted valuable time with Fitzpatrick and made the wrong move post-Booth.

A good deal of it might boil to what the McGuigans can do in terms of getting George as fit as possible, equipped with a good gameplan and being completely focussed, single-minded like Frampton.

Maybe George gets a call if Degale gets past Jack?

I don't think it makes sense for either of them until Groves has a World Title.

If Groves gets past Murray (which I think he will) his next fight should probably be for a World Title, probably the WBA route.

If he can win that and Degale comes through Jack it could set it up nicely for early 2017. A lot of ifs there though.

For me groves has gone back and Degree has improved. Degale will see the needs to force force fight rather than to have a fencing competition. These tactics should see him prevail, prob inside the distance.

I think it will always be a close decision between them. Too much pride for either man to get stopped. They both have a lot of respect for each other in the ring, which is why they were being so tentative and cautious in the first fight. You get the feeling they are both kind of even.

Both have strengths and weaknesses.

But you'd have to say that Groves strengths have diminished in recent times and Degale's lazy flaws have seemingly grown.

I picked Groves to edge the first fight, and it appeared to be a draw.

I could see Degale edging the second fight and my reasons would be whilst Degale takes more and more breaks lately, concerns over George's engine don't give me much confidence he can capitalise.

Degale also has a miles better chin, whereas George has been decked in camp and in fights on an annual basis for years now.

Overall I wouldn't be massively shocked if Groves won, but it would be more a case of Degale giving silly rounds away thinking he's actually won them. But if he works hard throughout every round, then I don't see him losing.

In closing, I think it's degale's fight to lose really. Which he is very capable of doing !

These two are always gonna be close, but here's the difference. Groves peaked in the early rounds of Froch 1, and his confidence has been destroyed. The Groves who DeGale met last time felt unbeatable and had a bright future. The Groves he will meet this time got ragdolled by a Froch he thought he had buried early on, and cold-cocked by him the second time, and then couldn't find enough against Badou Jack, who is good but hardly a champ for the ages. He's been 11-3 since they last met. By comparison, DeGale has only lost one wafer thin decision, and since then has gone 13-0, including a win against Dirrell which is his career high.Regardless of anything else, confidence is going to be with DeGale. Groves will play a good psychological game, but it will sound hollow to DeGale who will think "Well, you've come up short every time at this level, and I haven't. Say what you like sonny".

I think George wins on points - I'd say it catches fire in the first 6 but then the last 6 will be like chess with George dominating with his jab

DeGale by UD.

He has improved since their first fight & that was close, whereas Groves has stagnated & possibly gone back.

DeGale can't really punch, so I don't think he'd knock Groves out though.

The build-up would be painful though.

DeGale was a total arse during the last one, with his 'Ugly Kid' nonsense the whole time.