BoxRec

In the build up to the Groves bout, James DeGale came across as a unlikeable man. It seemed that many thought he would win, easily, but hoped that Groves would beat him.

I've read a few posts by people who know or have met DeGale; apparently he is decent, polite and not as much of a dick as he is in front of the cameras.

How would James go about changing his image; (if he were bothered). How can we get to like the man? Do we want to? Should he bother trying?

He could have made a good start by shaking Groves's hand properly after the fight.

Leaving Warren would be a start.

face lift?

He can't the guys a lairy P R I C K

There is salvation.......even for the most morally bankrupt individual.....

They say a man who ignores the past is doomed in the future.

The answer for degale lies in the past in the form of one of british boxings most beloved do gooders and dispensers of free unwanted advice............the man i speak of possesses all the answers..........christopher livingston eubanks.

Degale should allow himself to be groomed by chris.

He should withdraw from all public appearences for 2 months and than reappear on the 7th day of july.

He should present himself in a tweed jacket and wearing nhs glasses and speak deliberatly and humility while reading out a poem he has written....he should represent himself as a new age english gentleman and tell us his favourite tv show is the two ronnies and that he plans to spend 10,000 of his own money to open a library in harlesdon.

That way he will suddenly make groves look like the bad guy....

Didn't he try before? Think he got booed into the ring in Birmingham early in his pro career, and said he was going to try and improve his image. Doesn't seem too bad, just tried to sell this fight and ended up looking a bit silly.

Get rid of Jim McDonnell.

Did anyone notice the soldiers degale came out with on the ring walk? Wonder if this was some kind of attempt to win a bit of support after the reaction he's got since all the ugly boy stuff?

Something along the lines of:

1. Come out and publicly apologize to George Groves and give him the credit he rightfully deserves
2. Release a statement that his behaviour in the buildup was at times out of order and that in the future he will concentrate on the preparation more than the hype
3. Leave Warren
4. Leave McDonnell

Come out with a public apology on Sky Sports News stating that he has been a complete muppet towards George Groves and tries to bury the hatchet and move on.

I think he may need to stop listening to his trainer bigging him up as the next Floyd Mayweather and forget the hype. Hes obviously a very decent fighter but im just not seeing the power to go with the arrogance he has skills but Groves fightplan completely befuddled the 'great' one and he didnt come up with the answers. Be humble, dignified in victory or defeat. Remember what that British General said before we invaded Iraq be ferocious in battle but magnanimous in victory.

On that note, i've just been on sky sports website, look at the comments below:-

Promoter allegedly called for a return straight after the fight and DeGale - who did not do any interviews - has finally broken his silence.

He is adamant he won the fight with a late rally and supported Warren's claims for an instant return.

"How can a challenger nick a fight on the back foot like that?" he said.

"I thought I hit him with the cleaner shots, I hurt him in the ninth round, and the last four rounds I won easy.

"He can't be proud of that win. He beat me, but he nicked it. I want a rematch as soon as, but we'll have to see what Frank and the Board do."

So for me.....STILL the guy can't accept his defeat and acknowledge he screwed it up!! I understand his want for a rematch but jeeez.....
YES it was a close decision, but you lost sunshine, get off your high horse. Whether he is proud of the win or not....are YOU proud of your performance???

Never, ever, try and play smart-mouth ahead of a fight again, he's not got the brains for it.

Oh, and challenger? They both had titles, they were both challengers and champions..

he can't. he needs to move stateside.

Having a villian isn't a bad thing and he can use it to his advantage

Crazyboy wrote:On that note, i've just been on sky sports website, look at the comments below:-

Promoter allegedly called for a return straight after the fight and DeGale - who did not do any interviews - has finally broken his silence.

He is adamant he won the fight with a late rally and supported Warren's claims for an instant return.

"How can a challenger nick a fight on the back foot like that?" he said.

"I thought I hit him with the cleaner shots, I hurt him in the ninth round, and the last four rounds I won easy.

"He can't be proud of that win. He beat me, but he nicked it. I want a rematch as soon as, but we'll have to see what Frank and the Board do."

So for me.....STILL the guy can't accept his defeat and acknowledge he screwed it up!! I understand his want for a rematch but jeeez.....
YES it was a close decision, but you lost sunshine, get off your high horse. Whether he is proud of the win or not....are YOU proud of your performance???

Yeh

Most telling - Gareth A Davies asked teh same question to both fighters (separate times) at the post fight conf

"Do you now have a grudging respect for your opponent"

DeGales answer - nah Ill never like him

Groves answer - Ive always respected him as a fighter, just not as a person


I also could not believe the nerve of Jim McDonnell in that same conference to try and call Adam Booth out for giving him the wanker sign - after the way he carried on in the build up, whilst Booth and co just showed maturity and class by not rising to it

Haha the same Jim Mcdonnell who said Groves has no class for showing up to the press conference with a black eye. Oh deary deary me their not too sore are they. Degales petulance and thats what it is is pathetic man up shake the guys hand say well done but i'll beat you next time!!!

stop been a total fuckin knob didnt like the way he put groves down in front of the camaras no need for it he a prick glad groves beat he didnt axpect it mind

He doesnt need to change his image he might not have "managed" his image in the way people would like, But I think he is in a perfect position to become a popular attraction. I think he should follow the Eubank method of image management. He is going to sell but it is going to be because he is the person that everybody want to see lose.

The public are never going to be entirely behind him in the Nigel Benn, Bruno, Cooper (RIP) way. He is going to be good but he is going to be hated he will be the Bugner and the Eubank. But if he is clever he can make it to his advantage.

wrimc wrote:He doesnt need to change his image he might not have "managed" his image in the way people would like, But I think he is in a perfect position to become a popular attraction. I think he should follow the Eubank method of image management. He is going to sell but it is going to be because he is the person that everybody want to see lose.

The public are never going to be entirely behind him in the Nigel Benn, Bruno, Cooper (RIP) way. He is going to be good but he is going to be hated he will be the Bugner and the Eubank. But if he is clever he can make it to his advantage.

fighter good or bad shouldnt go on like he does its when the bell goes the buisness starts so dis respectedfull that what he did to groves what a knob didnt think groves would do it like but its boxing for ya

tear up wrote:

wrimc wrote:He doesnt need to change his image he might not have "managed" his image in the way people would like, But I think he is in a perfect position to become a popular attraction. I think he should follow the Eubank method of image management. He is going to sell but it is going to be because he is the person that everybody want to see lose.

The public are never going to be entirely behind him in the Nigel Benn, Bruno, Cooper (RIP) way. He is going to be good but he is going to be hated he will be the Bugner and the Eubank. But if he is clever he can make it to his advantage.

fighter good or bad shouldnt go on like he does its when the bell goes the buisness starts so dis respectedfull that what he did to groves what a knob didnt think groves would do it like but its boxing for ya

I agree there I at least like to see a shaking of the hand type thing but if thats his personality then so be it.