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Froch KOd Groves in sparring - DeGale

James DeGale is being widely tipped to get the better of George Groves © Getty Images

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James DeGale has cast doubt on the toughness of George Groves' chin by claiming that Groves was floored by Carl Froch during a sparring session.

British super-middleweight champion DeGale will attempt to snatch Groves' Commonwealth title when the two meet at the O2 Arena on May 21, on the undercard of Nathan Cleverly's clash with Jurgen Braehmer.

DeGale enters as the clear favourite after dominating the veteran Paul Smith in December, just weeks after Groves was forced to pick himself up off the canvas before stopping Kenny Anderson in the sixth round.

And DeGale believes Groves' struggle against Anderson betrayed the fragility of his chin. "I spoke to Carl Froch, and he knocked George out in sparring," said DeGale. "There's no shame in that because Froch is a world-class fighter. But he was on the floor against Anderson, all over the place really, and he got knocked out as an amateur as well.

"There is something wrong with his chin, there has to be if he keeps going over all the time, and I will exploit that. People keep saying that I haven't been tested yet, but that's only because I keep on winning.

"Paul Smith was supposed to be a test for me and I won that fight easily. I hope that George is a test for me, but to be honest he's just going to make me look good."

DeGale hinted that he will be looking to tone down the war of words as the bout draws closer, having unleashed a torrent of barbs in recent weeks."I've got to be careful in this fight and box with control because I can't have the red mist coming down. I've got to keep the iceberg on my head," he said.

"One of the big things that is driving me on is imagining what it would be like if I had to go into the press conference after the fight if I lose. Can you imagine what it would be like seeing him in there with my belt, and Adam Booth [Groves' trainer] looking so smug? I'd rather have anything else in the world than that. I'll put everything on the line to stop that happening."

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