DeGale taunts Groves

Andre Dirrell in my first attempt away from home. Even my wins abroad, my defences, Olympic gold, you can’t compare me to him. That is what kills him, what hurts him really.”

DeGale and Groves’ rivalry was developed from their teens when they shared the same amateur club, Dale Youth, that was once housed in Grenfell Tower.

Wide

Groves beat him as an amateur but it was DeGale who got the nod to go to the Beijing 2008 Olympics where he went all the way to win gold.

‘Saint George’ got the better of DeGale again when they met early in their professional careers at the O2 in 2011. Now DeGale is looking to impress against Eubank Jnr, who lost a wide points decision to Groves last February in the World Boxing Super Series semi-finals.

But he insists he is not frustrated that he will never get the chance for revenge for the first of only two defeats in his 28-fight career.

“He obviously thought it was the right time to retire,” added DeGale.

“I did hear an interview that he said, ‘I chose to announce my retirement a couple of weeks before James is fighting because I wanted to demoralise him and flatten him’.

“Who cares? Who does that? He’s just a weirdo. Best of luck to him. It doesn’t annoy me that I will never fight him again.”