• Boxing

DeGale vowing to demolish Groves

ESPN staff
December 13, 2010
James DeGale got his hands on the British title at the weekend © Getty Images
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James DeGale took the step up to British title class in his stride with a dominant win over Paul Smith and he has made it clear that he will do the same to mandatory challenger George Groves.

There is no love lost between DeGale and Groves, and it is a genuine rivalry as opposed to the hyped-up version, with the pair having traded insults for a number of years. DeGale is unbeaten in his professional career, but Groves - the Commonwealth champion at super-middleweight - has a decision over him from their amateur days. It is a defeat that DeGale is determined to avenge and he has vowed to knock out his rival in rapid fashion.

"I hope the ugly kid George Groves does take the fight," DeGale said. "He's got heart and a bit of bottle so hopefully it'll come about in the early part of next year. But I would take him to pieces and it wouldn't last four rounds. Deep in his heart he knows that as well.

"He's the mandatory challenger so it's me and him next. You keep running your mouth off saying you want to British title so let's do it."

DeGale has made no secret of his desire to take on the elite and he expects to be challenging for a world title in the next couple of years.

He said: "By 2012 I'm going to be world champion or knocking on the door."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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