James DeGale: It amazes me that George Groves has got a shot at Carl Froch

[WelshDevilRob]

James DeGale admits he cannot believe his old foe George Groves has got his shot at Carl Froch’s world titles.

 

 

DeGale and Groves have a history which dates back to their time at Dale Youth ABC in west London as youngsters.

 

 

The pair never got along and finally got the professional face-off they had hoped for, after a lengthy war of words, in May 2011 when Groves triumphed on a majority decision at London’s O2 Arena, taking DeGale’s British and Commonwealth super-middleweight titles in the process.

 

 

While 2008 Olympic gold medallist DeGale has worked his way back up after that marginal loss, landing the vacant WBC silver belt 11 months ago and winning six out of six since the Groves defeat.

 

 

While the Londoner takes on American Dyah Davis in Kent on Saturday night, arch-rival Groves is preparing to face WBA and IBF world champion Froch in Nottingham next weekend, something DeGale finds improbable.

 

 

‘To me, George Groves has just been in the right place at the right time, nothing more than that,’ said the 27-year-old.

 

 

‘He has somehow ended up getting into the mandatory challenger’s position for Carl’s titles. Carl has only got a couple of fights left before he retires and this is a big payday against Groves.

 

 

‘Any time us Brits fight each other in the UK it’s a sell-out and I’d like to take on Froch if he beats Groves next week. I’ve always said I’m all wrong for Froch and hopefully he will want another big payday against me before he retires.’

 

 

DeGale is targeting a meeting with WBC super-middleweight title-holder Sakio Bika if he can come through against 32-year-old Davis at Glow in Bluewater shopping centre this weekend.

 

 

Bika, the Australia-based Cameroonian, faces Anthony Dirrell next month and has already beaten Davis by knockout.

 

 

DeGale added: ‘Davis has been in with Bika so I’m expecting a good fight. I know I’ve got to be beating guys like Davis if I am to have a world-title shot in my next few fights.

 

 

‘After this, I have told my promoter Mick Hennessy I want to be moving on to the big arenas and big-name opponents like Bika. I’m moving closer to that first world title.’