BoxRec

Dioufy wrote:

Scottrf wrote:

Dioufy wrote: 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.

Miserable pudendum

Just watching last nights ringside, respect to groves, hopefully he will knock out the idiot and shout him up.

Lenny,

I agree that with your assertion that we've learned more about Groves because he struggled against Anderson, BUT I guess it depends on how you compare Anderson to Paul Smith. Is DeGale so great that he was able to make Smith look so ineffective? Or did Smith possess a padded record, wasn't a proper super-middle, lacked any notable wins and whose previous form was very patchy indeed? I expected DeGale to beat Smith with ease, granted he boxed very well, but I always felt people were overinflating DeGale's "test" beforehand and Smith proved to be as disappointing as I expected him to be. So, in essence, I still don't really know how good DeGale is or what his weaknesses might be.

I think Anderson would give DeGale a much tougher night, I doubt DeGale would struggle in the way Groves did but the experience will stand Groves in better stead for this fight. Groves should ask, and is better equipped, to ask much more searching questions of DeGale and we'll find out if DeGale's for real. I can't help feeling that an Olympic gold meal and a stoppage win over Paul Smith has gone to some people's heads, not least to DeGale's.

Lenny wrote:

Dioufy wrote:

Scottrf wrote: 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.

Miserable pudendum

Not miserable, just skint. Khan PPV, this PPV, then Haye PPV, all wrapped around an expensive trip to Wembley and a week in Ireland. You wanna lend me the £15, if so, I'll buy it.

Boxing needs more rivalries like this! We need more head to head interviews like this and more charisma in general. Both fighters have built this rivalry up well with post-fight interviews etc.

Groves came across well and the more intelligent of the two, this could do him well in the fight if he can adapt and fight with the same intelligence.

DeGale came across as a bit of a chav idiot and the panto villain, I can't say he's the sort I would like to be around much, but I admire that cocksure arrogance - it draws in fans whether they want him to win or want to see him get sparked.

Personally I think DeGale has shown the better skills and speed in his fights so far compared to Groves. The last fight for DeGale, we have to assume he was quite under-motivated because when faced with a proper opponent in Smith he lifted his game and turned in a masterclass. I think he will be one of those fighters who improves when something important is on the line and will dip in fights that he sees as ticking over fights.

I can respect Degale's talents as a fighter but he's trying very hard to be something he's not. He's not a great talker. By that I mean he's not a good hype man in the mould of a Naz or a Eubank. He comes across as very childish, which maybe appeals to some but its not to my taste. Ringside would have put a lot more people in Groves' fan club than Degale's last night, because George was able to stay on point and express himself in an adult manner. James decided he was 12 years old again and in the playground.

The only shock for me was that when asked why he would win the fight Degale didn't answer "Because I said it first"

Degale comes across as a complete twat, which saddens me, as he's going to be pinging Groves' head around all night through his porous defence

let's be honest we all loved watching the press conference and this interview. It's obvious that theres real deep dislike between the two and it all makes for pure entertainment and we know that there'll be real edge in this fight as there's more on the line than just professional pride, this is very very personal indeed.

With regards to yesterday, I think Booth and Groves won Round 1 of the psychological battle because DeGale and Jimmy Mc both seemed really agitated and emotional. That really surprised me, especially seeing how agitated DeGale was getting, he was getting wound up and Groves just sat back and let him hang himself. Unfortunately for DeGale in the spotlight he's not so eloquent or strong on the verbal sparring, and neither to be fair, is Groves, but him and Booth had the good sense to let their opponents hang themselves with emotional rants and just look calm and collected. Sensible for sure , even though DeGale and Jim should know that staying professional and focussed is what these things are about.

When Naz used to throw out that sort of stick and confidence he did it in such a relaxed manner and had a sort of charisma with it that DeGale doesn't carry. Naz never seemed agitated or wound up and DeGale is in danger of letting that get in the way of what really, based on his ability should be a routine win for him. He's by far the more talented and progressive of the two and should be enjoying this instead of affronted at Groves' confidence and willingness to fight him. It's almost like he's offended and that could work against him.

If DeGale comes in sharp and composed he wins easily, if he comes in trying to show off but tense then Groves increases his chances.

It's strange because in the past it's Groves who has been embarrassing with his stupid hat at the weigh in for Anderson, the ridiculous YouTube rants in a park where he showed his own lack of eloquence and cringeworthy attempts at being a talker. It's obvious they've sat back and decided to rattle DeGale by just exuding quiet confidence and portraying being the 'gentlemen' whilst casting DeGale as pantomime villain, a trap he definitely fell into yesterday. DeGale's skills might well take him beyond that but Groves won round one in terms of getting people on his side from the responses on various forums to yesterdays antics.

I met DeGale and McDonnell at a boxing dinner and they were top class blokes. Jim in particular was happy to talk boxing all night, DeGale was polite and friendly to absolutely everyone, a world apart from his public persona which he's obviously putting on to try and create an 'image'. Unfortunately for him he can't pull it off and his daft arm raise and 'banter' just don't do him any favours. He's better off letting his fists do the talking as he's probably the most gifted British fighter out there at the moment. Having said that, the more public this becomes, the bigger the fight becomes so maybe it's going to pay off for him in the long run. Plenty of people wanted to see Naz get knocked out, especially against a class act like Steve Robinson, but eventually just had to cave in to his level of talent and maybe that's whats going to happen with DeGale.

I can't wait for this one though.

I also thought Degale came across as a complete and utter idiot on the show. I think the guy is a fantastic boxer and will beat Groves quite easily but some of his comments were completely pathetic and made me really want Groves to do a number on him.

Thinking back on it, DeGale did seem a bit too eager to want Groves to trade when they fight. It gave me the impression DeGale reckons it's going to be a hard fight.

Who is DeGale trying to appeal to with this behaviour? Doesn't strike me as someone who wants to be disliked, or be a 'pantomine villain'. Looks like a decent fella who has surrounded himself with 12 year old kids and is trying to impress them by talking like them.

Asterix wrote:Thinking back on it, DeGale did seem a bit too eager to want Groves to trade when they fight. It gave me the impression DeGale reckons it's going to be a hard fight.

Hardest fight DeGale has had so far by a country mile and he knows it. I reckon DeGale (and McDonnell) thought that Groves wouldn't take the fight. Personally, I think if you ran McDonnell's lie detector test on DeGale's head it would also start beeping. Very loudly.

Dan Dares wrote:

Asterix wrote:Thinking back on it, DeGale did seem a bit too eager to want Groves to trade when they fight. It gave me the impression DeGale reckons it's going to be a hard fight.

Hardest fight DeGale has had so far by a country mile and he knows it. I reckon DeGale (and McDonnell) thought that Groves wouldn't take the fight. Personally, I think if you ran McDonnell's lie detector test on DeGale's head it would also start beeping. Very loudly.

they definitely seemed more agitated by it than you would expect. Compared with how casually and brutally dismissive of Audley David Haye was. When you looked at Haye you saw that he just thought Audley was deluded and was enjoying the whole thing knowing he had an easy night and big payday coming up, whereas DeGale and his team aren't giving off those vibes. Maybe Groves is right and he is inside their heads and that amateur victory still hasn't been shaken off by DeGale.

I really thought DeGale would be calm about this - surprising behaviour really. He's getting the opportunity to despatch his rival nice and early and get paid for it. You'd think he'd be almost thanking Groves for the opportunity to shut him up instead of being angered by it. Same for Jim Mc. I'm really surprised..

Unless its a genius double bluff by them to make us think they're rattled

jessi wrote:

hurlock wrote:i used to like groves & hate(dislike) degale, but now it's vice versa :!:

thank's for the info mark

i wonder how much groves will run his mouth off infront of degale now its made???

i wonder if degale adopts his whiney crack head yank accent

IVE GOT A NEW NICKNAME for groves if anyone wishes to know.......

please

ST GINGE

Dear me there are some sensitive souls on here



Both have talked bollocks at different points, not just Chunky.

I seem to remember a certain 'James Destined to Fail' comment from Groves.

It sells the fight, nothing more, nothing less.

Its a great fight, both deserve credit for taking it and it should be a great night.

For me, DeGale stops Groves inside 5 rounds, Groves is too open and yes I think he is chinny.

It's Comic Relief tonight, so who's willing to sponser me to hit Johnny Nelson, from behind, with a huge stick *disclamier (not a methaphor)*?

Cuntusmaximus.

dookus wrote:Degale comes across as a complete twat, which saddens me, as he's going to be pinging Groves' head around all night through his porous defence

I think he's deliberatley marketing himself as the guy you love to hate. Or its not delibrate and he will still become the guy you love to hate.

Hype is what boxing needs at the moment and anyone watching ringside last night will be wanting to see that fight, even my mrs is interested now.
Hopefully it will be an awesome tear up with a rematch a year down the line when they are on the world scene.

Degale crapped his pants when grove stood up to take thats bet ha ha.

I also liked how Groves offered to let johnny nelson sit next to degale ha ha. I like johnny but i think he put his foot in it on that one

DeGale's trying way TOO hard to be a Naz-type figure. He simple doesn't have the vocab or charisma. It'd be like me boxing like Floyd Mayweather jr, with that peek-a-boo style. I'd look like a complete tool because I'm trying to be something I'm not, just like young, naive Chunkleballs.

I don't mind DeGale he just try's to hard too be bad and comes off looking stupid sometimes but seems a nice enough lad and occassionly speak sense. I always think Adam Booth comes of great in interviews and seems a great guy, so I think he had a we'd word with Groves to get him to come across as good which he did. Some great exchanges and there's still a couple of months to the fight, this is going to be great!

Thing is 98% of the general public will still not know who these 2 boxers are, it needed to be on BBC or ITV. I know it won't be because of the SKY PPV , but no-one really knows who Groves is in the general public

Old bones Ian wrote:Thing is 98% of the general public will still not know who these 2 boxers are, it needed to be on BBC or ITV. I know it won't be because of the SKY PPV , but no-one really knows who Groves is in the general public

yep it's a real shame because this is pure entertainment and we know its exactly the kind of fight that the British public could have been captured by. Look how everyone fell for Harrison v Haye (me included and i go to at least a dozen shows a year so i'm not exactly the casual punter) - this is far more realistic, has genuine needle and there's a lot on the line. It's a great story and just a shame that terrestrial TV isn't involved as it would be huge.

Sadly Harrison v Haye actually set boxing back because the casual fan felt ripped off by the embarassing nature of the fight, and the horrendous undercard when Sky/Hayemaker actually had the chance to showcase something great to less avid boxing fans didn't help.

Great show, Hopkins is a complete legend.

I didn't think Chunky was too bad.

Srebmun wrote:Great show, Hopkins is a complete legend.

I didn't think Chunky was too bad.

hopkins to me is one of those guys who thinks he's cleverer than he is but he's a much nicer bloke than i thought he was.

Boxing legend no doubt about it and if he beats pascal....

Definetely round 1 to grooves. Degale really is a tool, actually fancy groves to get the job done just going by the head to head think groves nailed it when he said degale cant handle pressure i reckon he will fold. Got to take your hat off to Adam Booth seems to have some sort of aura about him that he passes off to his boxers they seem to have huge belief in themselves in a calm but assertive manner.