When they met in May of 2011, James DeGale and George Groves were fresh, young and unbeaten super-middleweight prospects. A whole lot has happened since the majority decision win picked up by Groves. Of the two, DeGale has managed to become a world champion, currently holding the IBF crown he won by defeating Anthony Dirrell last year, while Groves has thrice fallen short: losing two massive fights with Carl Froch and, more recently, being out-pointed by Badou Jack.
Now, according to Groves promoter Kalle Sauerland, there is sufficient public interest in a return meeting for the two to “give the people what they want” and get it on as soon as possible. Sauerland says DeGale should call him up and get this rematch on, saying the fans would prefer this sequel to a DeGale-Badou Jack unification clash.
“We’d do it now. People have got more interest in seeing Groves against DeGale than DeGale against Badou Jack, although that is a good fight,” the promoter told Sky Sports. “But let’s not cut corners, the fight people want to see is Groves-DeGale. They don’t need any belts on the line. It can be for the ‘Banana-man trophy,’ or anything. It’s a real grudge-fight that’s been building since George beat him a few years ago. They know our telephone numbers.”
Is there really as much interest in this return fight as Sauerland suggests? It was five long years ago when the two met and the fight was no classic. A return would be interesting , yes, but hardly a must-see event. Why would DeGale, 23-1(14) look at facing Groves instead of taking that big, important fight with Jack? Yes, a chance at avenging the sole loss of his pro career would prove tempting to DeGale, but the chance to become a two-belt world ruler is probably a bigger incentive for the former Olympian right now.
28-year-old Groves may have won the first fight between the two (as well as an earlier amateur fight with DeGale) but there is no question who the bigger star, the higher ranked fighter of the two is now: DeGale.
Maybe, after he beats Jack (a prediction!) DeGale will take a look at Sauerland’s offer and look at defending his two belts in a fight at home; in what would be his first fight in the UK since winning the IBF belt in Boston, Massachusetts. Since that big win, the 30-year-old southpaw has boxed and retained his belt in Canada and in Washington D.C. Groves, 24-3(18) did score a good win last time out, when he out-pointed Martin Murray in June – but it seems Groves needs DeGale more than DeGale needs him. At the moment, anyway.