Carl Froch: DeGale Would Beat Groves Quite Comfortably

By Edward Chaykovsky

Retired world champion Carl Froch is predicted that James DeGale would win "quite comfortably" if a rematch was put together with George Groves (21-3, 16KOs) later in the year.

Groves defeated DeGale in the amateur ranks and then moved to hand the Olympic gold medal winner his first loss as a pro when they fought in 2011. In a close fight, Groves walked away with a twelve round majority decision win.

Since their bout, the two boxers have gone in opposite directions.

Groves has made quite a bit of money, but failed in three attempts to capture a world title. He was stopped in controversial fashion when he faced then IBF champion Carl Froch in November 2013. They had a rematch in May 2014, before a crowd of 80,000 fans at Wembley Stadium, and Groves was knocked out with no controversy in the eight round. Last September in Las Vegas, Groves was dropped and went on to lose a twelve round split decision to WBC champion  Badou Jack.

DeGale fought his way up the ranks to mandatory position to Froch's IBF belt. Rather than him, Froch vacated the title and later retired. DeGale beat Andre Dirrell for the vacant belt and retained the title last year with a decision win over former beltholder Lucian Bute.

Groves, now with new trainer Shane McGuigan in his corner, is going to return to the ring on January 30th when he faces Andrea Di Luisa at Copper Box Arena in London.

A rematch between the Groves and DeGale can be built into a big event in the UK, but not according to Froch - who doesn't view it as a major fight.

Froch told Sky Sports: "He's had three world title fights, the last one against Badou Jack where he lost a split decision fair and scare - there was no arguments, no complaints. Everyone said before that fight happened Jack was the weakest of the super-middleweight champions - and if Groves was ever going to win a world title it would be against Jack."

"He's got a new trainer in Shane McGuigan. How's that going to impact his mindset and his desire in the ring? We'll see in January how Groves comes back before you can talk about this being a big fight. DeGale has gone from strength to strength. He's looked good - albeit against opponents who have already been beaten in [Andre] Dirrell and Lucian Bute over in Canada. Bute looked in great shape, he's an ex-world champion and DeGale went over there and beat him fair and square.

"He didn't close the show but he still went over there. But against Groves, I don't think it's a massive fight at the minute. If the fight did happen, I think DeGale would win quite comfortably."