let's see if groves stands his ground next time. last time he got the track shoes on. i thought degale shaded the first fight. it's how u score it early that tips it either way. didn't think groves was as dominant early as some thought.
The first fight was close, i don't think anyone would disagree with that. However, going into that first fight DeGale looked the better talent, since that fight DeGale has not improved. At all. If anything, he looks worse now than he did going into the Groves fight. Groves on the other hand has improved with every display, he looks a lot less vulnerable and although his defence still needs work it has improved. He's putting his punches together a lot better and he throws his shots correctly, hence why he is banging out people who aren't banged out often. He has improved a lot since shading that first fight, DeGale hasn't. Based on what i've seen of both since that first fight i see nothing other than a Groves win, and probably via stoppage this time.
I know you have said it isn't, but this sounds like a knee jerk reaction to De Gale going into the trenches with a virtually unknown fighter in a European Title fight, when the reality of it is, this guy Mohoumadi is a very very tough guy with ability!!! De Gale will look back at this fight as one of the unknown defining fights in a fighters career, it was a gusty gutsy performance, mixed in with occasional brilliance Back to the point, i think its impossible to seperate Groves and De Gale, i think the best thing that could of happened for the sake of British boxing happened when Groves got the nod, but ive watched that fight many times and i never score it the same, it was a terrific fight so on that note i couldnt commit to De Gale or Groves based on a) that particular fight and how evenly matched they were and b) what either fighter have done since
The Frenchman was no world beater, let's be honest. To describe him as basic would be a compliment and he had some of the slowest hands i've seen in a long time and no real power. Much less dangerous than the fella Groves stopped in 6 out in the US last time out. Much less. Groves has improved a lot, this was hardly DeGale's first struggle either. Unless DeGale suddenly gets a whole lot better right quick he needs to stop even thinking about a Groves rematch as it would be painful for him and i'm not sure the damage to his ego would be something he could overcome. It would be career over at any kind of decent level for DeGale.
Groves was incredibly smart against DeGale - he just kept taking the play away from him. It was a close fight because George opted to fight in such a measured fashion - when he traded with DeGale, certainly towards the end, he was getting the better of it. I suspect a rematch would be similar to the original, with Groves being a little more assertive and winning a clear decision. It would still be competitive though.
I disagree i think he was animalistic (Mohoumadi), he is basic in terms of boxing ability but so is Antonio Margarito, Brandon Rios and Kelly Pavlik, the guy is a walk forward 1-2 pressure fighter, he's a dangerous man, De Gale dug really deep and produced the goods IMO, that impressed me more than seeing De Gale having it all his own way against say Abraham or Steiglitz for example, because he would :deal
I happen to dislike him actually, as a person, just what did you find a) so funny and b) so difficult to believe mate?, as you can see i wasnt trying to be comical
Well i was laughing at a couple of things really. Firstly, i was laughing at your talking up of his opponent last night. The guy was limited as ****, slow hands, predictable movement, no real power or variety. You compared him to fighters he could only dream of being in the same league as. Anyone with world title aspirations should not be in such a close fight against that fella, similarly with the Pole that DeGale was lucky not to drop a decision against a couple of fights back. Secondly, i was laughing at your claim that DeGale would easily beat Abraham or Stieglitz. That was some funny ****. I don't especially rate either (Abraham isn't that effective at 168) but they are both a step up from anyone DeGale has beaten and on the back of his last 4 or 5 fights i find it hard to make much of a case for DeGale beating those guys at all, let alone easily. DeGale, for someone who wants to be seen as being fairly slick, is pretty easy to hit and doesn't have a great engine. I could see Abraham stopping him late. Stieglitz is pretty meh, but then so is DeGale. That's a pick 'em fight for me.
You forgot your bracket mate ............ ) here :yep Steiglitz is ****, Abraham is one dimensional, De Gale has talent but lacks discipline, what exactly did you " not see " when De Gale fought George Groves that would have you worried against the extremely poor pre mentioned ??? out of genuine interest that one Pavlik, Margarito & Rios, all world class but basic and limited, you dont need all the tools to be a world champion, the guy De Gale fought last night was very very tough,and he was in the mould of these 3, was he not ??? ill be straight with you here mate, your picking holes that dont exist with De Gale, yes he's unpolished but he's talented
the reason why groves beat degale is because he out boxed degale and made james become the pressure fighter. if they changed roles people are suggesting george would still win which I can't see happening. james will always be a better boxer than george is as a pressure fighter, he would walk him on to shots. george still hangs his chin out and isn't brought up to fight on the inside but to rather get in and out and box from the outside for the majority of the fight.
DeGale isn't much of a boxer! When he tried to box with Groves, he ended up waiting around and getting pot-shotted. A little while ago people said "DeGale just needed to throw more", ignoring WHY he didn't throw more, which was Groves stepping out of range and punching him when he did throw. What's notable is that DeGale is full of flaws on the inside and outside.