I’ll wait for revenge
GROVES IS NOT TOP OF DEGALE’S HIT LIST
JAMES DeGALE wants revenge against George Groves – but insists he won’t beg to face his old rival again.
The IBF super-middleweight champion has just one defeat on his 25-fight record – a 2011 loss to Groves.
DeGale, 31, also lost in the amateur ranks against his fierce foe, who defends his WBA title against Jamie Cox in the World Boxing Super Series quarter-finals at Wembley Arena on Saturday night.
Beijing Olympic gold medallist DeGale is preparing to return to action in December and wants to unify the division before he retires.
He said: “I would like that fight. It’s not a fight I’m desperate to have, but it would be good for the fans and to get the win.
“To revenge my only loss would be good, but I don’t need George Groves. I would like to fight him, of course I would, but I don’t need him thinking that I need him.
“Groves would be a difficult fight to make because he’s hard to deal with, but I will fight anyone.”
Groves could be tied up in the WBSS tournament until May if he goes all the way.
If he wins it, he will be one of the biggest names in the sport, making ® a rematch with DeGale a huge fight.
DeGale had shoulder surgery in the summer and has not fought since his January draw with Badou Jack, with a potential July fight with Callum Smith falling through.
Annoying
He is set for a non-title fight at the end of the year after what was supposed to be a routine clean up on the joint turned out to be a major operation to repair a torn rotator cuff.
DeGale’s other options for next year are clashes with WBC champion David Benavidez or WBO title holder Gilberto Ramirez.
DeGale added: “The recovery was frustrating, annoying. I’m on the mend now. I will hopefully be back in December.
“I want to be busy next year – March and then May or June hopefully. I want to be in the big fights as well.
“I remember saying I wanted to be retired by the time I was 31, 32. I won’t be. I could be 35. Boxing is my life.
“I want to unify the division. I want to box at Wembley again, I want to box in Las Vegas and tick all the boxes before I retire.”