• Boxing

Groves is running scared - DeGale

ESPN staff
October 10, 2011
George Groves got the decision against James DeGale in May © Getty Images
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Ahead of his European title fight with Piotr Wilczewski, James DeGale has turned up the heat on his old rival George Groves by accusing the British super-middleweight champion of ducking him.

DeGale and Groves have fought on two occasions, with the latter winning both encounters. Their clash earlier this year was a controversial affair - with some feeling DeGale rather than Groves should have got the decision.

There was talk of an immediate rematch, but they have been kept apart - with Groves set to face Paul Smith in November.

DeGale feels Groves has been ducking him but believes he is running out of places to hide and expects a rematch next year.

"If I win this in style and if Groves beats Paul Smith - that's a big if - the early part of next year I think we'll definitely get it on," DeGale said. "He can't run for much longer.

"You'd think we'd have had a rematch straight away but he's gone for someone that I stopped in nine rounds.

"He could've taken a harder fight in Kenny Anderson - looks like he's swerving that - and he swerved me."

DeGale feels he has been harshly treated and is determined to silence his critics with a stylish display against Wilczewski.

"I'll win it in style, just to shut the doubters up," DeGale said.

"After I won the British title after nine fights, maybe people were believing, 'Yeah, he's the man - he's going to do big things'.

"After the Groves defeat - I thought I won, a lot of people thought I won - some have started to doubt me again.

"So maybe I've got come out on October 15 and show everyone that I mean business."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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