Groves edges it for me. DeGale took too much time of during rounds and used to annoyingly sit on the ropes and get caught. I think it was because 15 rounds James, was not as fit as was made out. DeGale never used his jab enough, and Groves used his brilliantly. DeGale had the better footwork of the 2.
Degale. I think Degale had a couple of decisions go him against wrongly. This included vs Groves ( I agree with Jim Watt and Frank Warren both of whom had Degale winning by 2 points) and I also thought he edged Badou Jack in a close fight. Add to that Degales wins over Dirrell and Bute. Whilst the only big fights Groves won was against Eubank, Chudinov and Murray.
Groves. Although I'd have picked JDG to beat Froch had he fought him. He would have risen yo the occasion.
DeGale was tailor made for Froch. Froch would have stopped him inside 4-5 rounds imo. As soon as DeGale went to the ropes for his time off, he would have been nailed.
I rate them evenly but both would have been schooled by British Super Middleweight GOAT Calzaghe, obviously Froch (who beat Groves twice) and Eubank Senior in his prime before Watson tragedy.