Exciting unbeaten British prospects James DeGale and George Groves have been banging the publicity drum for their forthcoming grudge match on May 21.
This promotional video may whet your appetite: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-_6y2ruEy8
Fittingly a mini press conference took place last week in the ring at the former gymmates' old gym, Dale Youth Boxing Club in West London.
Talk is cheap and actions speak louder than words.
For that matter, one wonders whether it was a good thing or bad thing that Groves was sporting a black eye. Positive in the sense that he appears to be having hard sparring to prepare him for his toughest fight to date. On the flip of the coin, does his appearance underline his "leaky defence" (as referred to by DeGale) is not being rectified. Also, how much of himself will he leave in the gym?
All will be revealed on fight night but for my money Groves' trainer Adam Booth is a smart man who will surely leave no stone unturned in fine-tuning Groves physically and mentally for this contest.
I still feel that this fight is likely to boil down to the simple point - what do these young boxers know at this stage of their careers?
Groves was asked all sorts of questions by Kenny Anderson in his Commonwealth scrap last year. He was put down and his defence looked patchy but he did get back up to stop his foe. Just how much as he learned from that contest? Has he - or can he - improve and show himself to be a better fighter than that.
What does he know about himself and DeGale that would allow him to win?
As for DeGale, few questions have been asked of him so far. He's cruised through his challenges and was under no real difficulty in what was supposed to be a tough ask against Paul Smith for the British title last time around. Yet, coming into the fight would DeGale have benefitted from the dip that Groves has experienced? For all his confidence - and he has every right to be has confident in his undoubted ability - how will DeGale react if he finds himself in trouble?
DeGale and Groves both have superb potential. Perhaps many would suggest DeGale has more natural ability but don't write off Groves in this fight. As the pressure cranks up a notch, who will fold?
This promotional video may whet your appetite: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-_6y2ruEy8
Fittingly a mini press conference took place last week in the ring at the former gymmates' old gym, Dale Youth Boxing Club in West London.
Talk is cheap and actions speak louder than words.
For that matter, one wonders whether it was a good thing or bad thing that Groves was sporting a black eye. Positive in the sense that he appears to be having hard sparring to prepare him for his toughest fight to date. On the flip of the coin, does his appearance underline his "leaky defence" (as referred to by DeGale) is not being rectified. Also, how much of himself will he leave in the gym?
All will be revealed on fight night but for my money Groves' trainer Adam Booth is a smart man who will surely leave no stone unturned in fine-tuning Groves physically and mentally for this contest.
I still feel that this fight is likely to boil down to the simple point - what do these young boxers know at this stage of their careers?
Groves was asked all sorts of questions by Kenny Anderson in his Commonwealth scrap last year. He was put down and his defence looked patchy but he did get back up to stop his foe. Just how much as he learned from that contest? Has he - or can he - improve and show himself to be a better fighter than that.
What does he know about himself and DeGale that would allow him to win?
As for DeGale, few questions have been asked of him so far. He's cruised through his challenges and was under no real difficulty in what was supposed to be a tough ask against Paul Smith for the British title last time around. Yet, coming into the fight would DeGale have benefitted from the dip that Groves has experienced? For all his confidence - and he has every right to be has confident in his undoubted ability - how will DeGale react if he finds himself in trouble?
DeGale and Groves both have superb potential. Perhaps many would suggest DeGale has more natural ability but don't write off Groves in this fight. As the pressure cranks up a notch, who will fold?
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