Groves to ‘seriously consider’ DeGale fight offer

George Groves is patiently awaiting Frank Warren’s official offer for him to take on fellow super-middleweight prospect James DeGale. Following DeGale’s first-round stoppage over Carl Dilks at the weekend, promoter Warren revealed his intention to make a written offer to Groves today to face his former amateur rival in December in London.

“As of yet (4pm Monday) I’m not aware of any contact from Frank Warren but I’ve asked my manager Adam Booth to keep me informed. I’m fully expecting the offer to come through and it’s something that we would sit down and seriously consider together. I’d love to do a Haye-Maccarinelli type KO on him and it would be a big fight in London,” revealed Groves to BoxRec News.

*NB EDIT 5.40pm Frank Warren's matchmaker Dean Powell has contacted BoxRec News to confirm that an offer has been emailed to Groves' represenatives at 12.58pm today.

“I thought DeGale would need four or five rounds to stop Dilks so it was a surprise when he took him out in the first. The stoppage may have been slightly premature but then again some of my fights have been stopped early as well so I can’t criticise him for that, some referees are more cautious than others. DeGale’s strong, he’s got a nice jab and a good chin and seems to be improving but he couldn’t get any worse after his debut could he?”

“Lets see how he copes against someone who isn’t intimidated by him, who can take his slaps and stay in his face and hit him back. Me against DeGale is going to happen, whether it’s this December, next December or later down the line, we’ll have to wait and see. If we fought now DeGale could definitely come back again if he lost, you only have to look at another gold medallist in Audley Harrison and see how many chances he’s had,” conceded Groves.

Groves was previously lined-up to fight Dilks in April on the undercard of David Haye’s WBA heavyweight title defence against John Ruiz but instead elected to switch his focus to Commonwealth champion Charles Adamu, effortlessly dismantling the uncompromising Ghanaian in six rounds to capture his first championship in just his ninth pro outing.

“I never wanted to fight Dilks because I didn’t consider him to be a real test, we just had him as a back-up plan if the fight with Adamu didn’t come off. In truth, Carl Dilks’ claim to fame is going 12 rounds with Adamu and getting pipped at the post whereas I dealt with Adamu easily. We agreed that I’d make the first defence of my Commonwealth title against Dilks but he elected to fight DeGale for what is rumoured to be less money so that’s that. I would have been confident of beating Dilks, I’m not saying I’d have beaten him 30 seconds earlier than DeGale or anything like that, but I don’t think he’d have given me any trouble,” admitted Groves.

Irrespective of whether a deal can be thrashed out with DeGale for December, Groves will be in action in the first defence of his Commonwealth super-middleweight title at York Hall on October 30.

“I can’t reveal the opponent just yet, it should be announced shortly, but what I will say is that it’s another test for me against a good opponent. I want to continually keep improving and testing myself against good fighters. I read that some people say I still make mistakes and that I wouldn’t get away with making them in world class. I regard that as a compliment because to me it appears that people are already starting to consider me as being able to mix it against the best fighters in my division. I know I have things to work on but I’d be much rather be learning things in the ring against good opponents as opposed to being in the gym. Anyone who has a preference for the heavy bag instead of being in the ring is crazy.”

Providing he comes through his maiden title defence, Groves would relish testing himself against the best in Britain, whether that be DeGale or British champion Paul Smith.

“Unless I’m able to work my way into the mandatory challenger’s position I can see myself being frozen out of the British title picture. I think I’m good enough to beat Paul Smith now but does he want to fight me? It took Smith almost 30 fights before he was ready to fight for a British title. In my opinion that’s not Boxing, some fighters retire after 30 fights. I’m similar to David Haye in that I’m eager to push myself to reach the top,” he added.