By Edward Chaykovsky
WBC super middleweight mandatory challenger George Groves, who several years ago sparred Andre Dirrell in Miami, says James DeGale (20-0, 14KOs) is capable of this Saturday night to capture the vacant IBF super middleweight championship in Boston.
DeGale's battle with Dirrell (24-1, 16KOs) is viewed as a 50-50 battle. The Olympic gold medal winner was the mandatory challenger for IBF crown when Froch carried the title around his waist. Froch vacated the belt as he was uninterested in the match. The IBF then ordered Dirrell and DeGale to face each other for the vacant belt.
George defeated Degale, handing him his only career blemish, with a close decision in 2011. George is in line to face WBC champion Badou Jack. If both of them win titles, Groves would love to get DeGale in the ring for a rematch.
"I'll have it in a heartbeat," Groves told Sky Sports. "Some people question it. Some people ask when I am going to fight him but because people snap their fingers and tell me to fight on such-a-date, you're going to earn this much money, these are the terms and conditions and I am supposed to sign my life away?
"When they were first talking about the rematch with James, it was going to be back at the O2 within a short span of time and I don't need to fulfil other people's dates because they've booked venues.
"When that comes around, it it's marketed right, if it's billed right and if the timing is right, it will be as big as my fight with Froch at Wembley last year because of the history between us."