James DeGale: How would you manage him from this point onwards?

Why the long face?

James is a big natural talent, no-one can deny that

I'm just speculating but if he trained in an environment where he wasnt constantly told how good he was, if he had fewer distractions & was pushed harder in sparring then perhaps we might see his talents more effectively harnessed

Other people on here know far more about the technical nuts & bolts of the game than I ever will but I think he would do well to seek some PR/public speaking coaching. A British olympic champion is a rare thing, 2c him being booed in his hometown this early in his career is a worrying sign

New trainer: yes
Stateside: could be a blessing like this defeat
Opponents: nothing dangerous next, alphabet title soon

 

never trainer 100%. Jimmy Tibbs would be good in london but he probably wants to go abroad. nazeem richardson would be good.

the issue for degale is its about confidence with him. your literally saw him unravel (like an onion) in the ring as groves said.

 

What would you say to him?

This is your wake up call. Take this seriously or just retire

Trainer Change or Keep?
Change to Naz Richardson ASAP

Stay Home or Stateside for Fights/Training?
Stateside

The Long Road Back. Next Opponent?/Opponents?
Jeff Lacy followed by Kelly Pavlik (if he still looks shot at that point)

 

Trainer: Buddy McGirt ;-)

Next opponent: Patrick Mendy

I would tell him, no worries, you weren't disgraced, you fought a bad fight and still made it close, a few adjustments and you'll surpass Groves in no time.

 

He needs to change trainer imo. I would take someone like Manny Steward for De Gale, as he's the best technical coach in terms of teaching technique, he will show De Gale everything he's doing wrong right down to whether he's rotating his body into punch adequately, to whether his back foot is two inches out from the other the way it should be, to whether he's holding his hands in the right positions when required to fend off certain punches.

De Gale doesn't need a lot of work imo, he just needs fine tuning. De Gale is a good to decent counter puncher already, he seems like a very good inside fighter offensively, maybe not so much defensively, but he needs to develop his long range game, his ability to utilize his height, to dictate and control distance, his ability to move in behind the jab and set up his straight punches. Seriously, when have you seen De Gale lead off with a double jab straight left, or a 1 2 3?


De Gale also needs to develop his Boxing brain imo, stop doing things cause you've seen someone else doing them, make those moves cause it serves a purpose and you know what that purpose is. Wasn't De Gale trying to shoulder roll straight right hands? I mean, come on

 

Keep everything as it is.

Its a extreme sign of weakness to change trainers, for what..? Shut up.

He's a massive personality, and the fact of the matter is he caused the most damage last night and was the aggressor, he had Groves hurt more than Groves had him hurt. George Groves ran for 12 rounds straight, he fought a totally amateurishness fight in my opinion. Fair enough that sell out "Rubain Tamberine" i'm not assed if i'm spelling his name wrong, David Haye's fitness conditioner drilled Groves into good condition. But i know this, that kind of fight Groves fought last night "WILL NOT" work the second time around. James Degale is the stronger man, and surprisingly i think he is stronger in the trenches.

There should be a immediate rematch.

I would like to see a rematch, first off when this fight was announced. I did think Groves would bomb out Groves, as the fight drew closer. I thought it would be a eventful fight, and there will be a rematch.

I actually made no official prediction on this fight by the way, close to the fight.

"I could'nt split them"

There will be a rematch, Frank Warren is too powerfull.

 

I'd tell him that a defeat doesn't necessarily mean the end. It's a setback, a big one.... especially with it being to Groves and having a lot of flaws exposed in the process.

Sack McDonnell immediately. His behaviour in the lead up to the fight was embarrassing.... Booth seemed to be hanging his man out to dry but it was obviously part of a grand plan. They just underestimated Groves and paid the price. I'm not sure who they could get in though.... a few people are suggesting Jimmy Tibbs but would he be comfortable being just another fighter as opposed to being the top dog?

I'd definitely get him some experience abroad, all young fighters need to be given the opportunity to fight in an alien environment.

He should be back in the ring within a couple of months, against a Mendy or a Paul David. I wouldn't drop him back to 8 round level though.

One other point, Warren needs to have a word with these ****s banging on about how much they get..... DeGale made a twat of himself at the presser and Gavin also made an unneccessary remark in the post fight interview.

I don't go round my local shouting how much I get, why should they be any different. It'll only turn people off them and want them to get chinned. Absolutely no need for that ****.

 

Very good point:deal

 

I'm not sure Nazeem would be the perfect choice. Obviously he's top class but I think the best aspect of his game is tactics whereas DeGale needs work on his technique at this stage of his career, so Manny Steward might be better if he is going stateside that is. If he's staying here I'd like to see him with Tibbs but judging by Warren's "backslapper" comment I can see him leaving London.

 

Groves should do everything he can to avoid a rematch imo PK. What purpose does it serve for Groves, what I mean by that, is how does that enhance his reputation, future earning potential, if he fights a rematch, and potentially loses? this is his spring board to bigger and better things, and even though there are some that think he lost the fight, majority think he won, so I think he will content himself with that and move on if he can, that said, I do expect Groves to plateau eventually, and find his level, and I reckon De Gale will overtake him in the future.

 

He won't avoid, it Frank Warren is too powerfull.

Groves has "Nowhere to Run".

Oh yes, they will try and avoid it......

 

I agree, groves should avoid the rematch, i have a feeling this will be hard for degale to overcome though, like vargas after de la hoya. His ego seems to big to handle a mental blow like this, it will take years before he has a opportunity at groves again, except when he can boucne back with good wins or groves loses, it remains to be seen.

 

Guys and Girls, there's some things "Adam Booth" can't avoid...........

 

What would you say to him? "Learning curve"

Trainer Change or Keep? Change. Tibbs or Naaz if he goes that route

Stay Home or Stateside for Fights/Training? Fights in Britain for the mean time, train away from the distractions and "back slappers"

The Long Road Back. Next Opponent?/Opponents? Anderson or Mendy