Did the BBC have a different seat?
Posted: 22 May 2011, 01:24
George Groves inflicted the first defeat of James DeGale's career to win the British super-middleweight title after a sensational fight in London.
The fight started slowly but came to life and ended in brutal fashion as both slugged it out until the end.
Groves, 23, was wobbled in the third and was cut badly in the 11th but boxed stylishly throughout to earn victory.
Unbeaten Groves earned a majority decision, one judge scoring it 115-115 while the other two had it at 115-114.
In contrast to the explosive build-up to the fight, the first round at the O2 Arena was cagey and tense with DeGale, who was booed on his way into the ring, shading an edgy opening three minutes boxing on the front foot and landing the only scoring shots as he ended on a high with a sharp left jab.
Whether it was respect or more likely nerves neither boxer seemed to settle in the opening minute of the second with both throwing just single shots. But Groves settled as the round wore on landing a decent right on the bell.
The fencing and feinting continued into the third before DeGale finally landed a right hook to the top of the head of Groves, who responded with one of his own while also later throwing two successful jabs that found the target.
It was a fascinating start to the contest which Groves had just about shaded but he appeared marked below the right eye. Nonetheless Groves continued to impress with two-punch combinations and seemed to be in control of the round but a solid left hook in the final minute wobbled him and DeGale unleashed a cluster of punches in the dying seconds to finish on top.
DeGale took a strong right hand from Groves at the start of the fifth but both were made to miss by their opponent in a fairly even start to the round. Groves' footwork was proving frustrating for DeGale who chased but could not catch his rival who landed a further right that appeared to hurt the tense-looking Olympic gold medallist.
It was another quiet start to the sixth that drew boos from the 19,000 crowd, and that seemed to spur on DeGale who landed a big left that hurt Groves and he followed that up with another left as he looked to assert himself on the fight. DeGale continued on the front foot and landed a quality straight left on the bell.
It seemed to spur DeGale into action and he began the seventh confidently as Groves' defence continued to drop lower but he still managed to land a clubbing left. DeGale responded with a left of his own with his punches seeming to hold more power and the round ended with a left uppercut from the British champion.
A straight left from DeGale rocked Groves and sparked the Commonwealth champion into life but despite boxing much of the eighth round on the front foot he failed to land a meaningful punch.
Groves boxed behind his jab in the ninth, inviting DeGale to box on the front foot, and after a cluster of punches a cut opened up above the left eye of Groves after a clash of heads.
The final minute of the ninth round was the most entertaining of the fight with both boxers opening up as DeGale rocked Groves with 30 seconds to go and then as the round drew to a close he wobbled his opponent with a huge left that left him in trouble and desperately holding on for the bell.
Groves still appeared dazed at the start of the 10th but found success with his jab, although his punches appeared to lack spite with DeGale looking the more dangerous fighter. The final minute of the round again saw both boxers trade punches with Groves taking a big right hook to the side of the head and they headed to their stools with blood on both of their faces following a brutal exchange of punches.
With two rounds to go the fight was in the balance, and another clash of heads saw a huge cut open up on the forehead of Groves which attracted a lot of attention from the referee. Perhaps sensing the fight could be stopped Groves opened up and DeGale showed great skill in picking off his opponent who looked desperate and battered.
But Groves battled on with cuts on his forehead, left eye and right cheekbone and DeGale hurt his opponent again with a left but they again traded and landed in a contest that was turning into a classic.
DeGale looked the fresher going into the final round, but Groves landed more scoring punches, with both boxers knowing they needed a big performance to secure victory.
DeGale landed a right but every time he landed Groves responded in similar fashion. A big right uppercut from Groves stopped DeGale's momentum momentarily but it was the British champion who ended the fight on top, opening up against a tiring Groves and they slugged it out right until the final bell.
The decision was contentious with Groves earning his 13th straight victory while DeGale, who disputed the decision, suffered his first defeat in 11 professional fights.
Groves, who also beat his opponent as an amateur, was content to prove the doubters wrong and claimed he would be willing to fight DeGale again.
"Everyone was raving about him. Only two favoured me in a boxing news poll, but I have self belief," he told BBC 5 Live.
"It feels good. I knew I'd won. I knew I'd done enough."
He added: "I will fight him again yeah if everything is all right and it's the right way. But now I have beaten him twice."
The fight started slowly but came to life and ended in brutal fashion as both slugged it out until the end.
Groves, 23, was wobbled in the third and was cut badly in the 11th but boxed stylishly throughout to earn victory.
Unbeaten Groves earned a majority decision, one judge scoring it 115-115 while the other two had it at 115-114.
In contrast to the explosive build-up to the fight, the first round at the O2 Arena was cagey and tense with DeGale, who was booed on his way into the ring, shading an edgy opening three minutes boxing on the front foot and landing the only scoring shots as he ended on a high with a sharp left jab.
Whether it was respect or more likely nerves neither boxer seemed to settle in the opening minute of the second with both throwing just single shots. But Groves settled as the round wore on landing a decent right on the bell.
The fencing and feinting continued into the third before DeGale finally landed a right hook to the top of the head of Groves, who responded with one of his own while also later throwing two successful jabs that found the target.
It was a fascinating start to the contest which Groves had just about shaded but he appeared marked below the right eye. Nonetheless Groves continued to impress with two-punch combinations and seemed to be in control of the round but a solid left hook in the final minute wobbled him and DeGale unleashed a cluster of punches in the dying seconds to finish on top.
DeGale took a strong right hand from Groves at the start of the fifth but both were made to miss by their opponent in a fairly even start to the round. Groves' footwork was proving frustrating for DeGale who chased but could not catch his rival who landed a further right that appeared to hurt the tense-looking Olympic gold medallist.
It was another quiet start to the sixth that drew boos from the 19,000 crowd, and that seemed to spur on DeGale who landed a big left that hurt Groves and he followed that up with another left as he looked to assert himself on the fight. DeGale continued on the front foot and landed a quality straight left on the bell.
It seemed to spur DeGale into action and he began the seventh confidently as Groves' defence continued to drop lower but he still managed to land a clubbing left. DeGale responded with a left of his own with his punches seeming to hold more power and the round ended with a left uppercut from the British champion.
A straight left from DeGale rocked Groves and sparked the Commonwealth champion into life but despite boxing much of the eighth round on the front foot he failed to land a meaningful punch.
Groves boxed behind his jab in the ninth, inviting DeGale to box on the front foot, and after a cluster of punches a cut opened up above the left eye of Groves after a clash of heads.
The final minute of the ninth round was the most entertaining of the fight with both boxers opening up as DeGale rocked Groves with 30 seconds to go and then as the round drew to a close he wobbled his opponent with a huge left that left him in trouble and desperately holding on for the bell.
Groves still appeared dazed at the start of the 10th but found success with his jab, although his punches appeared to lack spite with DeGale looking the more dangerous fighter. The final minute of the round again saw both boxers trade punches with Groves taking a big right hook to the side of the head and they headed to their stools with blood on both of their faces following a brutal exchange of punches.
With two rounds to go the fight was in the balance, and another clash of heads saw a huge cut open up on the forehead of Groves which attracted a lot of attention from the referee. Perhaps sensing the fight could be stopped Groves opened up and DeGale showed great skill in picking off his opponent who looked desperate and battered.
But Groves battled on with cuts on his forehead, left eye and right cheekbone and DeGale hurt his opponent again with a left but they again traded and landed in a contest that was turning into a classic.
DeGale looked the fresher going into the final round, but Groves landed more scoring punches, with both boxers knowing they needed a big performance to secure victory.
DeGale landed a right but every time he landed Groves responded in similar fashion. A big right uppercut from Groves stopped DeGale's momentum momentarily but it was the British champion who ended the fight on top, opening up against a tiring Groves and they slugged it out right until the final bell.
The decision was contentious with Groves earning his 13th straight victory while DeGale, who disputed the decision, suffered his first defeat in 11 professional fights.
Groves, who also beat his opponent as an amateur, was content to prove the doubters wrong and claimed he would be willing to fight DeGale again.
"Everyone was raving about him. Only two favoured me in a boxing news poll, but I have self belief," he told BBC 5 Live.
"It feels good. I knew I'd won. I knew I'd done enough."
He added: "I will fight him again yeah if everything is all right and it's the right way. But now I have beaten him twice."