Groves vs DeGale negotiations: Groves "I feel he needs me more then I need him"

I'll ask you again then Rob, is anyone outside of boxing fans asking when Degale is going to fight Groves? And don't quote me those dodgy mates of yours who caused you to predict that no one would go to Haye-Harrison...;O)

 

is anyone outside of boxing circles asking to see Sergio Martinez vs Paul Williams, Bradley vs Alexander, Macklin vs Barker, Chisora vs Fury, Cleverly vs Bellew.

Just becuase the "general public" are not intrested doesn't mean its not a big fight. Groves is the biggest fight for DeGale until he fights for a world title.

 

it wouldnt surprise me to know that booth and warren were talking to each other and mutually agreeing some sort of cold war for 12/18 months


this being a big london fight it would attract a lot of hangers on and casual geezers that could help sell out the O2

in reality this fight makes most sense for a world title to spark the interest of the casual fan and allow comparisons with benn eubank

it should really turn into a case of who can get their mits on the WBO 168 belt 1st and gain the upper hand in negitiations

 

Booth genuinley believes DeGale will not get beyind domestic level so they want the fight ASAP.

 

If it were the WBA they could probably both have one.

 

I don't see your point with Cleverly-Bellew because that fights not going to happen until one of them wins a world title. Barker and Mackin are both world ranked in the top 10 and have been for a while. Hardly comparable to Degale and Groves' situation at the moment.

The American fights are between established world class fighters with American network money behind them. Those fights are as big as they are ever going to realistcially be. Thats not the case with Groves-Degale, its potentially worth a lot more down the road.

That still doesn't mean the money is in the fight that Booth and Warren think will be in the fight in 12/ 18 months. How much extra money will Degale get now if he fought Groves next instead of S/O? Not that much I'd guess...


This is getting like the "Mayweather-Matt Hatton at Wembley" saga when people were so keen to go see Mayweather fight in this country the were putting cases forward for it happening that made very little boxing or financial sense.

 

I agree that the fight probably shouldn't happen right now and that it would make more money in the long run. I was never disputing that point.

My points are

1. Groves is a big name compared to other fighters at his level.
2. Groves is the biggest fight for DeGale until he fights for a world title.
3. This is the biggest fight in the UK thats below world level.

The fight would sell 5000 tickets with an average undercard. If Warren put this fight on his December 11th bill, and it had Cleverly, Brook in world title fights, Macklin in a world title fight or agaisnt Macklin, Chisora agaisnt Fury, Groves vs DeGale would be getting the most press.

Groves vs DeGale is the biggest possible domestic fight.

 

Macklin-Barker is bigger, IMO.

 

I agree with all 3 points but they are still not reason enough for Warren and Booth to put the fight on now instead of waiting and letting it build up.

Warrens little rant on Saturday (using his own PPV card to give publicity to a rival camp) was just the opening gambit. I think we'll be waiting at least another 12 months to see this fight and they'll be plenty of bogus offers and name calling in the mean time to get everyone worked up for it when it happens.

 

Macklin and Barker are slightly overrated though. I think these two are better and it would excite me more.

 

I don't see why it shouldn't happen just now. Both Watson and Eubank weren't mainstream when they fought Benn. It'll raise both guys profile tremendously and I believe whoever loses is talented enough to bounce back. If so, a potential rematch down the line could be off the scale.

 

Macklin has a fanbase though. Barker less so. But bigger than Degale and Groves combined I'd guess.

 

:huh really?



for gods sake big mac and rees were able to be world champions under Warren!

 

along with about 3 other people!

 

Both Watson and Eubank were on ITV and BBC regulary before fighting Benn. Sports fans knew who they were and were talking about the possible fights between the 3 of them.