• Boxing

DeGale and Groves shake on winner-take-all fight

James DeGale and George Groves will meet in the ring on Saturday © Getty Images

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James DeGale has warned George Groves that he is a "different animal" to when the pair met as amateurs, while spice has been added to the fight with the pair agreeing to make it a winner-take-all contest.

DeGale, who is unbeaten as a professional, suffered a controversial defeat to Groves during their amateur careers in 2006.

The pair, who used to be training partners, will settle old scores at the O2 Arena on Saturday. DeGale has continually wound Groves up by accusing him of being "chinny" and repeatedly being knocked down in sparring.

Groves has countered by insisting he will take on whatever challenge is thrown at him, with the pair shaking hands on an agreement that the winner will scoop all the prize money - an agreement that, while against British Boxing Board of Control rules, nevertheless shows the confidence of each man.

"The talking is done and now is the time to walk the walk," DeGale said at a press conference on Thursday. "George, your chin is horrendous. You are chinny. You get knocked out in sparring, you got knocked out as an amateur and will get knocked out as a professional. Once I land with those 10oz gloves, you will be asleep.

"He is a brave boy, but with no headguards and 10oz gloves...

"He remembers me from six or seven years ago, moving around the ring, fencing. I am a different animal now."

Groves feels he brings plenty to the ring and is expecting to shock his rival.

"You will see what I am bringing on Saturday and he will not have any answers," Groves said. "Once he is alone in the ring with me he will not have anything. He will not be able to survive. He will be frightened. He does not understand how deep he is, he is in deep water.

"The lies they have come up with about me being knocked out in sparring. Really?"

The interest ramped up when the pair stood up from the table and shook hands on a deal that the winner will take the whole purse.

"I am so confident, I will cover your wage," De Gale said. "Let's make a bet now. Shake now. The bet is, I will beat you."

The pair shook hands to huge applause and DeGale walked away saying: "The drinks are on me."

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