• Super-middleweight

DeGale has 'no value' and needs to fight me, says Groves

George Groves beat James DeGale on a majority decision when they met in 2011, a result DeGale disputes © Getty Images

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George Groves believes he is destined to fight James DeGale again in a domestic showdown that would eclipse his two world title fights with Carl Froch.

The European super-middleweight champion was floored by an eighth-round right hand in his second fight with Froch, defending his IBF and WBA belts for a second time after Groves came close to an upset in their first fight at The O2.

That second fight drew an 80,000-strong crowd to Wembley, a British record for a boxing match. But Groves is adamant that a second professional showdown with DeGale could top even that for interest if one or both arrived in the ring as a world champion.

"Whether it's next year or not, we're destined to fight again," Groves told The Sun. "I'm going to be challenging for a world title early next year and DeGale is going to be doing the same.

George Groves' second defeat by Carl Froch was witnessed by 80,000 at Wembley, a British record attendance © Getty Images

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"If we both win, we're always going to be on course to fight again and it's certainly not one I'll shy away from.

"I've beaten him before but I'll happily fight him again -- I've got his number. It's a big fight and will definitely capture the public's imagination again because the history is there.

"If he wins the IBF title and I win the WBC title, we'll have a unification fight somewhere down the line. I think that will be the biggest fight in history."

DeGale's impressive victory over Brandon Gonzales installed him as the mandatory challenger for Froch's IBF belt, but the 37-year-old is intent on fighting in Las Vegas before retiring and has no interest in facing the former Olympic champion.

Groves believes he would be able to make the fight with Froch were he in DeGale's position, which is why he is the only suitable opponent for the man that denied him a place at the Beijing Olympics.

"I'm sure Froch is not confident about fighting DeGale and that's why it hasn't been signed," Groves added.

"It's sad for DeGale if that fight doesn't happen, but if I was him I'd make it happen. I closed all the doors and he only had one option but to fight me. If DeGale had that ability, he would be making those same moves."

Groves gained his revenge for missing out on an Olympic berth when the pair met as professionals, beating DeGale on a majority decision at The O2, a result that did nothing to quell the bad blood between the two.

And the 26-year-old, who faces Denis Douglin at the Echo Arena on November 22, insists he would be doing DeGale, taking on Marco Antonio Periban on the same fightcard, a favour by facing him again.

"DeGale has no value unless he fights me. I headlined in my last show on the back of a loss and sold out Wembley Arena.

"When he's headlined, it's been at places such as Bristol leisure centre. Yes, he's boxed in front of big crowds before, but it's either been on my undercard or against me at The O2.

"He's a good fighter, a very good fighter, but he doesn't speak well. People tend to switch off when he starts talking.

"With me -- whether they like me or not -- they listen. That's the difference between us."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd