• Super-middleweight

DeGale: Froch will K.O. 'schoolboy' Groves

James DeGale expects George Groves to receive his first professional defeat at the hands of Carl Froch © PA Photos

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James DeGale will be rooting for Carl Froch when he steps into the ring with George Groves on November 23rd as he plots his own route to his first world title.

Groves, who beat arch-rival DeGale on a split decision in 2011, takes on the IBF and WBA super-middleweight champion in Manchester - his first world title shot in his 20th bout.

But Degale, who defends his WBC Silver belt against Dyah Davis a week earlier, believes the 25-year-old will find himself out of his depth.

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"George really believes he is going to win this fight but I have no idea where he gets his confidence," DeGale told the Daily Mail. "He comes across on TV like a cocky schoolboy but he's kidding himself that he's getting to Carl psychologically.

"Froch is currently the second-best super-middleweight in the world behind Andre Ward. He's as good as he's tough. And believe me I know the real George Groves.

"Maybe I knew too much before I fought him. I wasn't fully concentrated on the fight. I hope the same's not true with Carl because I want him to beat Groves.

"Not only that, I want him to knock him out. And I believe he will do that, even if for a few rounds Groves makes it less of a one-horse race than some people are expecting."

While a frustrated DeGale has thrown his hat into the ring to take on the winner of the all-English bout, the former Olympic champion admits that his best shot at a world title may come against Saiko Bika, the WBC and IBO champion, who was taken 10 rounds by the 27-year-old's next opponent.

"If I can do a quicker job on Davis it will be a real statement. I'm ranked fifth by the WBC at the moment and a big win here should put me in line to challenge Bika."

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