DeGale has sights on foe Groves after exile

EARLIER this year James DeGale was in such agony following a shoulder operation that his girlfriend at the time had to help him wash and get dressed. On Saturday he takes that repaired right arm into a defence of his world supermiddleweight title. DeGale is making his homecoming after more than two years of high-octane bouts in North America followed by 11 months out of the ring. The IBF champ, who fights American Caleb Truax at London’s Copper Box Arena, says: ‘After all this time away I have to prove myself again to the British public — remind them that I am the No 1 supermiddleweight in the world.’ His old rival George Groves has been claiming that accolade since winning the WBA world title and then competing in the new World Boxing Super Series tournament. ‘That’s bull,’ says DeGale. ‘His so-called win over me was years ago and I’ve been winning world-title fights against miles better opponents than he’s been fighting.’ He hopes Groves ‘comes through’ his semi-final against Chris Eubank Jnr ‘so I can prove I’m No 1 by fighting him again.’ A little rancour is still there. DeGale says: ‘I was invited to a Q&A with George but then disinvited. I don’t think he’ll want me at ringside up in Manchester in February.’ In any event, that grudge rematch must wait. Should Groves beat Eubank, he would meet the winner of the other semi-final between Liverpool’s Callum Smith and Germany’s Jurgen Brahmer. And DeGale is not sure Groves would win that. He says: ‘When the tournament was announced, I fancied Smith. He’s huge at the weight.’ DeGale may yet return to the US in the spring against WBC champion David Benavidez. ‘The main thing,’ says DeGale before Saturday’s fight, ‘is that for the first time in three or four fights I will be boxing with two good arms. ‘I was beginning to wonder if my career might be over. So I set my mind on being back before the end of the year. Once I did that, I knew I’d be OK and here we are.’