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DeGale dismisses Audley comparisons

James DeGale and George Groves have an intense rivalry © Getty Images

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James DeGale has dismissed comparisons between himself and Audley Harrison, with the super-middleweight insisting he has the talent to back up his big talk.

Olympic champion DeGale will step into the ring against bitter rival George Groves at the O2 in London on May 21. The pair have had a long-standing rivalry that stretches back to their amateur days and DeGale has been dismissive of his opponent.

The pre-fight hype has led to suggestions that there are comparisons between the fight and the clash between Harrison and David Haye that saw the former talk big only to freeze in the ring. DeGale has insisted the rivalry is real and that he will prove he has the heart for the job.

"There is no love lost," DeGale told Sky Sports News. "I am not here to like George Groves and he is not here to like me. The rivalry goes back years, it is genuine and we dislike each other and we will sort it out on May 21st."

Reacting to comparisons between himself and Harrison, DeGale said: "I am not like Audley one bit. I have got the heart to play the part, I don't think Audley had that.

"I have had no one to test me, but believe me when I say I have plenty of heart and plenty of bottle. I have not had to show it and I don't think I will have to show it against Groves as he will be knocked out.

"If anything it (rivalry) is a bit worse than Audley and Haye. It is not for the cameras. Ugly Kid (Groves) don't like me, I don't like Ugly Kid."

DeGale is refusing to take Groves lightly but feels he will expose some weaknesses in his opponent.

"He is good, he is 12-0 with 10 knockouts," De Gale said. "He has decent power and is a good fighter, but he has a lot of flaws. He leaves his chin up in the air, he has got a wide defence and he thinks he is David Haye. I know he is going to get knocked out.

"He needs help, he needs to work on that defence. I just hope he has had a great camp and been training hard as I don't want any excuses.

"I have got one of the best coaches in the world in Jim McDonnell, so I am always going to be in tip-top shape, I've had some great sparring with Nathan Cleverly so I am going to be in good, good shape and I can't wait. It is five weeks away and I am ready."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.