James DeGale has taken to chopping trees as he begins his preparations for bitter rival George Groves and their Sky Box Office showdown.
Chunky hopes chopping trees will leave Groves out on a limb
James DeGale is going old school as he attempts to avenge an earlier defeat by bitter rival George Groves.
The British super-middleweight champion has taken to a lumberjack training routine ahead of their May 21 showdown, part of a
Sky Box Office HD blockbuster that also includes Nathan Cleverly's world-title challenge.
DeGale, who was out-pointed by Groves in their amateur days has been chopping trees in Essex as he starts his hardest training camp to date for the mandatory defence.
And while it might not be Rocky in the Russian outback, the 25-year-old says it shows he and trainer Jim McDonnell mean business.
"Chopping logs is a bit old-school, but it means my core strength will be fantastic come fight night," he said.
"We're mixing some old-fashioned training with some cutting edge stuff as well. And Jimmy is such a sadist when it comes to the gym there is no way that I will be cutting corners.
"The only thing I will be cutting is Groves down to size when we meet again on May 21. I'm going to take an axe to his ambitions of getting his hands on my British title."
DeGale has already upped the ante - and put himself under pressure - by predicting a fourth-round finish.
He launched into Groves when they appeared on Ringside when the fight was announced and claims he was "robbed" in that one amateur clash.
Pride
The pair were team-mates at Dale Youth and still only live a bus ride apart in London, DeGale in Harlesden and Groves in Hammersmith.
And the champion insists his British title will not be going anywhere - no matter how short the distance.
"There's no way that he beats me in this fight," he said. "Not only are our titles on the line but pride is as well, and I can't have him taking my belt back to west London."
