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I'll need to be at my best to win - Groves

ESPN staff
May 20, 2011
James DeGale and George Groves are both feeling confident heading into Saturday's super-middleweight clash © PA Photos
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Fight Insight - DeGale poised to settle the score

George Groves has admitted he will need to produce the best performance of his young career when he challenges James DeGale on Saturday, although he insists a flawless display will see him take out his rival inside four rounds.

The bad blood between the pair has been well documented in the lead up to their super-middleweight clash at the O2 Arena, with DeGale claiming Groves has "lived in my shadow for half his life".

Their dislike for each other appears genuine and it all stems from when Groves claimed a contentious points victory over the British champion as an amateur. At the press conference on Thursday, both fighters agreed to make it a winner-take-all contest, shaking hands with whoever prevails set to claim the other's purse.

Despite the obvious animosity between the pair, Groves acknowledges DeGale's talent but says he is ready to put his amateur victory behind him and reign supreme in "the one that matters".

"I've totally forgotten about it [the amateur win] because tomorrow night is the one that really matters," he said. "I'm going to put this issue to bed and then that's it, it's over. I'm the No,.1 in the division, in the domestic scene. I'll be British and Commonwealth champion and I'll be moving on to bigger and better things.

"I need to be at my best, James is a good fighter, he capitalises on people's mistakes but I'm not going to make any mistakes, I'll be 100% concentrated. It won't go four rounds. He will not last four rounds with me.

"I'm feeling good; I've never made the weight this comfortably. I think you can tell by my shape I've never been this fit - I've fully grown into the super-middleweight division now and I'm here and I mean business. Everything that needs to be said has been said. James has been winding himself up now and he's ready for the fight. But he's not as ready as me and I'm going to take him out tomorrow night."

DeGale, meanwhile, who weighed in one pound lighter than his opponent at 11st 13lb 6oz, called Groves' defence "horrendous" and goaded The Saint by saying he could see it in his eyes that "he's gone".

"He's a brave boy, he's not going to bottle it, he's going to be there and wanting to fight. While it lasts it should be entertaining, explosive and exciting," he said.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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