DeGale: George Groves is Looking at Me Because He's Desperate

By Edward Chaykovsky

IBF super middleweight champion James DeGale (23-1, 14KOs) is not being baited into a fight by his domestic rival, George Groves.

30-year-old DeGale was riding high when he turned pro, with an Olympic gold medal victory leading his path. But his career hit a wall when he suffered his only career defeat in May of 2011, to Groves on a twelve round majority decision.

After that fight was over, DeGale wanted a rematch but Groves was playing hard to get. Now the shoe is on the other foot and it is DeGale who is playing hard to get.

A rematch between the two would still be a very big ticket seller in the UK.

For the moment, DeGale is heading into a unification with WBC super middleweight champion Badou Jack in the fall. The fight is tentative for a yet to be announced venue in Las Vegas. Jack won a split decision over Groves last September at the MGM Grand.

"There will always be demand for me and Groves because it's a genuine, true grudge match. He's desperate now. They're desperate. Where are they going to go? Where are Groves' big fights? Where is he going to earn a lot of money? He's looking at me," DeGale told Sky Sports.

Groves picked up a solid win in June over tough contender Martin Murray. DeGale watched bits and pieces of the fight and still believes Groves has yet to fully recover from the two stoppage defeats at the hands of Carl Froch.

DeGale added: "I didn't watch it live. I saw the highlights. Groves looked alright. I'm not sure he looked at his best but he looked alright. I've said before that I don't think Groves is the same fighter he was before the knockout defeats to Froch. Don't get it twisted - he's a world-class fighter and can mix it at the highest level but can he beat world champions?"