• George Groves v Paul Smith

Groves wants Anderson next - not DeGale

ESPN staff
November 2, 2011
George Groves picked himself off the floor to defeat Kenny Anderson © PA Photos
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British and Commonwealth super-middleweight champion George Groves expects his first fight of 2012 to be a rematch - but not one against long-time rival James DeGale.

Groves beat DeGale on points when the pair clashed in May and, now that both are signed to promoter Frank Warren, a rematch appeared imminent. Warren is known to be keen on the idea, and a fight with DeGale offers Groves the chance to seize the European title - a useful bargaining chip when world title fights are on the horizon.

However, Groves prefers the idea of taking on Kenny Anderson, who he stopped 12 months ago - but only after picking himself off the floor. Anderson took that bout at short notice, and feels he warrants a rematch.

"[Fighting Anderson] is much more likely [than fighting DeGale]," Groves told boxingscene.com. "I feel I didn't do myself justice in the first fight. I didn't perform as I should have done and Kenny's a really good fighter. There's people who feel that he could have done better with more time and he'd like to prove that.

"It goes on risk again - I could walk away from it and say, 'I've already beaten the man so what more can I do?' but if the fight comes around and is the right move then I'll take it, because I think I can do a better job [now]."

But before he can take on Anderson, Groves must overcome November 5 opponent Paul Smith, for whom the fight is do-or-die in career terms. "He knows that a loss to me could spell the end of both his super-middleweight and boxing career," he said. "I expect him to be hungry for the win, to be at his best and [to] bring out my best."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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