• Boxing

DeGale-Groves fight not on Haye undercard

ESPN staff
February 5, 2010
George Groves is looking for a new opponent on April 3 © Getty Images
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James DeGale will not fight George Groves on April 3 after the Olympic gold medallist rejected a £50,000 offer from Groves' promoters Hayemaker.

Although both have confirmed their willingness to face each other, with DeGale going as far as to say that the bout will happen "sooner rather than later", a deal has not been reached.

The contest would have taken place on the undercard of David Haye's world heavyweight championship defence against John Ruiz at the MEN Arena.

Groves insists he is now looking for a new opponent to box on that evening. "We just forget about [DeGale] now and move on," he told the Sun. "The only good thing is that James said he definitely wants to fight me. He can't shy away from it now."

After it was reported that DeGale was unimpressed with the money on offer, Groves was less than sympathetic.

"Of course the offer we made wasn't fair; how can you warrant giving him that much money? It's ridiculous. I wouldn't give him 50 quid if it was up to me, let alone £50,000.

"But boxing's boxing and he's got a gold medal, so he can demand big money. If he doesn't think it's a good offer, he's out of touch with people."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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