James DeGale wants British blockbuster against George Groves
Tuesday 28 March 2017 14:15, UK
James DeGale is keen to avenge the only blemish on his record with a rematch against former amateur stablemate George Groves.
The IBF super-middleweight champion, whose last four bouts have been in America, has a rivalry with Groves spanning more than 15 years when the pair were members of acclaimed west London boxing club Dale Youth.
Groves beat DeGale en route to winning an ABA title in 2007 but missed out on selection for Team GB at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where DeGale would go on to win a gold medal.
Groves also beat DeGale in the paid ranks, outpointing the Harlesden man to claim the Commonwealth and British and super-middleweight titles in 2011.
"I'd like to fight George Groves again," DeGale said at a Boxing Writers' Club lunch convened to celebrate his success as the first British Olympic gold medallist to win a world boxing title.
"Of course I'd like to put that right because we grew up together in the same amateur club, but the cream always rises to the top and now people are seeing who is the genuine world-class fighter of the two of us.
"The Groves fight is always there, although my winning the world title, while he has failed three times to do that, kills him.
"But it is a big British fight in which I could wipe out the only defeat in my pro career."
DeGale, who got off the canvas to draw with Badou Jack in a pulsating contest in New York in January, says he is also open to stepping out of his weight division to face either Gennady Golovkin or Andre Ward.
He added: "Golovkin? I walk around less than a stone above the super-middleweight limit and could easily go down to fight this great man for the middleweight title.
"Ward, like Golovkin, is among those quoted as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. It would be an honour to share a ring with him and just as I could go down for Gennady, I could go up to light heavy for Andre."
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