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DeGale's hopes of immediate rematch dashed by board

James DeGale was left perplexed after George Groves snatched a majority decision in their domestic showdown © Getty Images

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James DeGale's chances of getting straight back in the ring with George Groves have been dashed after the British Boxing Board ruled out any prospect of ordering an immediate rematch between the pair.

DeGale felt aggrieved after being forced to hand over his British super-middleweight belt to long-time rival Groves following The Saint's majority decision at the O2 Arena on Saturday.

One judge scored the bout 115-115 while the other two had it at 115-114 in Groves' favour, leaving an irate DeGale, and an equally disgruntled Frank Warren - who promotes the former Olympic gold medallist - fuming and demanding a rematch.

However, the BBBofC has declared that there was nothing untoward about the result and refused to grant Warren and his charge their wish of sanctioning a rematch.

Robert Smith, Secretary of the Board, told the Daily Telegraph: "An immediate re-match is out of the question. The Board will not be ordering a re-match. There was nothing controversial or contentious about it. No one broke any rules.

"Why would the Board order a rematch? It was simply a very close fight, and there was nothing wrong with the decision."

Groves, now the newly-crowned British and Commonwealth champion, is allowed a voluntary defence and six months before he must face the mandatory challenger. With Groves unlikely to offer a rematch voluntarily, Smith believes If DeGale wants to earn another crack at Groves his best option is to re-establish himself and ensure he is at the top of the list of challengers.

"DeGale could come back as mandatory challenger," he said. "If DeGale is the leading contender in six months' time, he will be made mandatory challenger. If DeGale has anything about him, he will come back stronger from this. It was a test of how he grows. It will not have done him any harm at all.

"I'm fairly sure we will see these two box each other again, but when and where we don't know yet. In boxing terms, they are still learning. One is 23, the other is 25. There was huge expectancy on both young men and they were under great pressure in a venue that was full.

"They put on a great fight."

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