BoxRec

Its well documented that Groves is in the US training and sparring with the likes of Andre Dirrell amoung other top drawer fighters.
Obviously the best sparring is beneficial to fighters and i think DeGale is a little like Dirrell when it comes to styles so hopefully that will benefit Groves no end.

Question is what is Degale doing to prepare himself for Groves... is he in danger of taking this too lightly?

Also will the quality sparring groves is having have an effect on the result.

Personally im in the Groves camp, but cant see past a DeGale points win.

Dirrell is an excellent choice for sparring. Should give Groves a good idea of the sort of quick sliver counter punches and movement he's up against.

As much as I hate to say it, this will be an easy win for DeGale.

johnswan1 wrote:As much as I hate to say it, this will be an easy win for DeGale.

Can't see it being an easy win but unfortunately my head does say Degale. Would love to see Groves do it though and sparring with Dirrell can only be a benefit.

Degale will be sparring with Nathan Cleverley, Darren Barker and Sam Webb

degale 6th round ko hes just on another level to groves imo

ryan917 wrote:Degale will be sparring with Nathan Cleverley, Darren Barker and Sam Webb

I'd love to see how Degale gets on with Cleverly and Barker. Neither are as natuarally heavy handed as Groves would appear to be, but if he's indeed going to try and outbox Degale instead of scrapping, I'd say those two bring enough quality to the table to make for excellent preparation.

As for Dirrell, that may or may not work out for Groves. It'll depend on just how much of a gulf there is between them. Even if Dirrell's towing the line in terms of not going all out, it'll still be apparent to Groves and could knock his confidence.

Don't think that'll be the case though, if Groves can learn to adapt to a fighter as elusive, awkward and lighting quick as Dirrell, Degale could be in trouble. Personally, I think it'll play out somewhere in-between those extremes, Dirrell won't demoralise Groves, for the simple reason that he's a better fighter than Degale at this stage. Groves doesn't have to come out on top in sparring, he just needs to be best prepared for dealing with as slippery a customer as they come.

Another potential problem with using Dirrell as preparation is that Degale may well end up being the aggressor come fight night, whereas I see Groves playing that role with Dirrell in sparring and then having to play matador when it comes to Degale, if that makes sense. Either way, sparring a proven world class operator has to be a better punt than finding someone more similar to Degale, just not as good.

Groves is putting everything into this fight and i wonder how he will come back once he looses

diggler wrote:degale 6th round ko hes just on another level to groves imo

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People are underrating Groves IMO, I think his style could give Degale hell if he keeps him at range popping out his jab and then throwing the combinations he'll give Degale trouble, if he does let his heart rule his head then DeGale will pick him apart but with Booth in his corner I see him sticking to his gameplan and giving Degale a hard, hard night. Should be a cracker

saw Groves in Sunderland 18 months ago. I wasn't blown away. He didn't expend any more energy than was absolutely necessary in fact looked a bit too relaxed that night.

When you weigh up the respective Smith and Anderson bouts you really gotta be saying Degale will stop him, but if Groves has trained hard and doesn't let Degale's cockiness unnerve him, there's every possibility he can grind him down and stick one on him at some point.

What I suspect will happen is that Degale will put some actual work together some time around the middle of the fight and end up stopping Groves who will momentarily switch off.

Degale, who I was starting to warm to in the press, but I am now starting to UNwarm to, will then prance round the ring like a cock doing that STUPID thing where he puts his hand up and rocks his head. It makes him look a bit simple IMO if that's what he thinks looks cool.

Dirrell won't even be properly sharp. It'll take him a couple of weeks before he becomes like the Dirrell most of us know him for via the Super Six. Mind you, still plenty of time before the fight.