DeGale Force Grudge Match : Thoughts from ‘The Brain’

By Martin ‘The Brain’ Potter of the Boxing Clever Podcast – November 1990: Nigel Benn, the brooding, menacing and hard hitting ‘Dark Destroyer’ took on his then hated rival, the Brighton bigmouth Chris ‘Simply the Best’ Eubank. This was the second fight in the epic British and Irish middle /super-middleweight wars between Benn, Eubank, Watson and Collins that would span the 90’s, but the first real grudge match in the series. The atmosphere in the arena in Birmingham was so intense, that even as a kid watching at home I could feel it through the TV. These men really didn’t like each other and the fight was on.

Now, over twenty years later, two talented young fighters from the UK face off in a super-middleweight grudge match that we all hope is even a fraction as exciting as the Benn-Eubank original in 1990. In one corner will stand Britain’s new super-middleweight champion and Olympic gold medallist, James ‘Chunky’ DeGale. His opponent standing across the ring will be George ‘The Saint’ Groves, the reigning super-middleweight Commonwealth champion and DeGale’s amateur conqueror.

It is a somewhat sad but inevitable truth that almost every bout in boxing these days gets billed as a ‘grudge’ match; it can be hard to tell what is genuine distain and what is an act to sell tickets. However with Benn – Eubank the dislike was real and DeGale – Groves also falls into that bracket, making for an intriguing domestic dust up. The intrigue doesn’t end with the needle though as these two fighters are both unbeaten, have both annexed titles early in their careers and have stopped 18 of 22 opponents between them. So how will the May 21st fight breakdown?

DeGale is the superior technical fighter, with quick hands, excellent lateral movement, good footwork and sharp reflexes. He has already shown an ability to fight on the back foot and the front foot, although counter puncher is his natural game, using his long arms to administer swift counters. Groves, although not technically lacking, is more of a pressure fighter with a slightly harder one punch ‘dig’. George is strong, well-conditioned and has heart, as he demonstrated when climbing off the canvas against Kenny Anderson last year.

DeGale, in his pre-fight hoopla, has urged Groves to meet him in the centre of the ring and slug it out, with the Olympian promising to KO his adversary in four. Groves, maintaining his composure in the face of DeGale’s jibes, would not agree to his rival’s wishes, sensibly choosing to keep his game plan under wraps. In my opinion, despite Groves’ seeming reluctant to meet DeGale head on, I can’t see another way he could choose to fight and be successful. If Groves stays on the outside then he will just get picked off at range by the better boxer with the longer reach. I believe George’s best chance is to use smart footwork to cut off the ring and really try to put the pressure on DeGale by throwing heavy shots at close range. He may not be at Benn’s level but we know Groves can punch, but we don’t know if DeGale has got a Eubank like chin as he hasn’t really been tested yet. Groves needs to provide DeGale with that test.

My view is that although Groves has a chance, James DeGale looks a special fighter and should have too much class for the man he disparagingly calls ‘ugly kid’. I see James being tested more than he thinks he will be early on, but then figuring Groves out and using his hand-speed and movement to befuddle Groves and force a late stoppage.

In 1990 the question was ‘Who’s fooling who?’ and although Eubank prevailed that night, the second match was a draw, both had glittering careers and arguments still rage today as to who really was better. All fans of British boxing (and boxing in general) should hope we are debating DeGale and Groves in a similar fashion twenty years from now.

For more boxing opinion, inane babble and poor attempts at humour from ‘The Brain’ listen to the 5 star rated Boxing Clever Podcast, available on iTunes or at www.boxingcleverpodcast.libsyn.com or you can email me at boxingcleverpodcast@gmail.com.