• James DeGale v Cristian Sanavia

Groves' title shot 'nuts' - DeGale

ESPN staff
April 16, 2012
James DeGale and George Groves are on course to meet again at some point © Getty Images
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European super-middleweight champion James DeGale cannot fathom why long-time rival George Groves has beaten him in the race to a world title shot.

Groves, the British champion, takes on WBO king Robert Stieglitz on May 5, less than a year after his knife-edge victory over DeGale in London.

And DeGale, who defends the European strap against 37-year-old Italian Cristian Sanavia at the weekend, has warned Groves that he is coming for him.

"It's a nuts one, Groves getting the Stieglitz world title shot. He must be getting that fight just for his win over me," DeGale told the Daily Star. "He's getting a mandatory position to fight for the world title for beating me but I won the European title in my next fight after him.

"So I've got a better title than him now but he still gets the world title shot? It doesn't make sense but once again it's boxing politics. But best of luck to him and he's got a good chance of beating Stieglitz, who has been knocked out every time he has stepped up a level and has got a padded record.

"A rematch with Groves would be massive in Britain for whatever title. It's a genuine needle fight. I'm ranked No.5 by the WBO so in a couple of defences of my European title and providing Groves wins the WBO title, I should then be his mandatory challenger. He will have to fight me so it could happen again soon."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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