• Boxing

DeGale looks 'destroyed', I'll win easy - Groves

ESPN staff
April 14, 2011
George Groves: 'By the time we get in the ring he will be destroyed' © Getty Images
Enlarge

George Groves insists he is winning the mental battle between himself and James DeGale ahead of their May 21 clash for the British and Commonwealth super-middleweight titles.

Although the fighters have hurled insults at each other incessantly since the fight was announced, both are adamant that a loss of temper in the ring could prove disastrous to their chances.

With that in mind, Groves has toned down the verbal war in the last couple of weeks - despite provocation from DeGale, whose "ugly kid" taunt is slipped into every interview.

Instead, Groves has been pushing himself hard with David Haye at a Miami training base, where he has been sparring with Andre Dirrell, the celebrated super-middleweight whose only career loss came against Carl Froch.

And Groves insists all he needs to do is replicate his sparring sessions when it comes to the crunch at the O2 Arena.

"As long as I keep my head, do what I'm doing in the gym, then it will be an easy night's work and people will be signing my praises after," Groves told Sky Sports. "This fight is as much mental as it is physical. I'm winning the mental battle, by the time we get in the ring he will be destroyed, and then I've got to get in there and take him apart."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Close

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices