well done fwp but degale isn't worthy of the european bauble

Degale is in danger of becoming over shadowed by this rivallary - people will start to believe that his every move is a way of baiting groves.

personally i think that this is a great move by Frank and co. Degale needs to get away from Groves for a while and come back to the fight in 18 months / 2 years time. The rematch will be massive then and you would think that Degale will be a much better fighter.

 

Euro strap would have been ideal for Groves. Maybe he should go for a world title gatekeeper now, maybe someone like Green or Miranda, raise his profile state-side and steal the march on Degale for a WT shot.

 

Green is a good shout but I would keep him away from Miranda.

 

Green will surely have moved up now? He seemed to be really struggling with SMW.

 

I thought that you couldn't fight for the European if you lost your last fight? We have seen fighters stripped/vacate because of that rule, for instance Murray vacating so he could fight Mitchell despite Mitchell coming off a loss. I don't think it is good for boxing for people to gets shots that they do not deserve based on their last performance (such as Audley getting the WBA shot). Whatever anyone thinks of the Groves fight, fact is that DeGale lost his last fight and has never successfully defended a domestic title, so I can't believe that he is one of the two most deserving fighters in Europe of this fight. Diminishes the belts even further if your previous performances have no bearing on your chances of landing a shot at them. No point going on an extended run against dangerous oppostion, it seems, just fight as little as possible and let your handlers get you the shot.

 

And wasn't Skelton also stripped because he lost his WBA challenge, although the European belt was not on the line? (Could be wrong there, though!)

 

Will be on a big card in September, the UK leg of the Mayweather/Ortiz PPV people are saying.

 

Yeah and so will Groves, Groves can side step the euro belt by fighting bigger names in the states thats what i think he will do.
I think degale might get beat again he's all mouth and no trousers, the pole will certainly give him a good test and will believe he can win...

 

I doubt it, Stieglitzs current Mandatory is Kessler, if he wins the European belt he should have a couple or several defences and see what else is going on in the divison. There is too many top quality SMW around at the moment for DeGale to go anywhere near them within the next 18months atleast.

 

It'd be good to see him go to Germany or Poland to challenge. This better not be some crappy PPV thing.

 

Its a voluntary defence by the Pole not a vacant title fight, so it doesnt matter if DeGale is coming off a loss.