Comments Thread For: Hearn Stunned at Groves' Position on Fighting DeGale

[Dirk Diggler UK]

How the fck does Eddie even know what Dirrell offered Groves? He's not involved in the negotiations. The guy is a complete snake.

Groves-DeGale isn't all that big a fight right now. Really, who's asking for, or calling for that fight? No-one; apart from Eddie. It probably would fill an arena, because of their rivalry, but it's not a fight on a lot of people's lips. Eddie is simply trying to use Groves, and Groves' name, to build his guy DeGale - who still no-one cares about - into a star.

DeGale needs to continue building his profile. He's only had two fights on Sky since fighting in leisure centres under Hennessy's banner. One was an impressive victory over untested Gonzalez. The other was a solid victory over a fat, unmotivated Periban. He needs a marquee win. Eddie thinks Groves, short on confidence post-Froch KO, is the perfect antidote so he's trying to make a power play by offering Groves, who has the far bigger profile, 50-50 to fight DeGale.

Groves would rather be his own man, win the WBC title by beating the holder of the belt, even if it's for less money, than go over old ground by fighting DeGale (who he's beat twice already, once in the amateurs, once as a pro) for 50-50 (and a vacant belt) and potentially giving Hearn and DeGale the satisfaction of victory if it's a close fight (as it will be) and he loses a decision.

It's not always about money, Edward. For the Hearns it's always been about a pound note, but there's a lot more to boxing than that: legacy/risk-reward/politics/hedging, then egos and personalities to consider.

Groves reckons if he wins the WBC belt - even if it's on the road, ESPECIALLY if it's on the road - he has done things his way, become a world champion on merit, beaten a champion, made a splash in the States - yes, he's not made as much $$$ as he would by dancing to Hearn's tune, but he's made it on his own esteem and he's then in a much more favourable position to negotiate a return with DeGale, which, let's face it, becomes FAR bigger if they both handle their business and defeat the Dirrell brothers.

It doesn't sound like Hearn fancies DeGale's chances vs Andre Dirrell and so is trying to get DeGale more money, and a vacant belt, in a more even fight with Groves which he can milk UK PPV for (his new favourite pastime). Whereas Groves sounds supremely confident of beating Dirrell (who, let's be honest, isn't great and, provided GG can rediscover the form he showed in the first Froch fight, shouldn't be too difficult to overcome)

Get frustrated all you like, Eddie: you'll be even more frustrated if DeGale drops a lopsided decision to Andre Dirrell in London....and Groves underlines the strength of his convictions by going Stateside to beat Anthony Dirrell for the WBC belt....stranger things have happened.

Who's asking for the fight? Pretty much everyone. I think most people would rather see DeGale vs Ugly Kid than both against the Dirrells.

Groves knows he'd lose to DeGale at this point and lose badly. I think he probably loses to Anthony Dirrell too and for **** money but he'd rather that than give DeGale the satisfaction of beating him.

[Kilrain]

Usually when people talk of the fight being better left until down the road it's BS, but in this instance I think it's the best approach. I'd rather see them face off in 6-9 months or however long it will take for both to attempt a significant win against a Dirrell or whoever. As things stand it just feels like another Bellew-Cleverley II, 2 boxers who haven't shown they can really cut it at world level but they can hype it up and put on PPV and pretend it's significant because of how much they really really don't like each other. Not only that but they've already fought, and neither have significantly advanced their career since then.

Not a fan of the Hearn business model, seems like his ideal career path for anyone is domestic fights and rematches of domestic fights, preferably on PPV.

Who's asking for the fight? Pretty much everyone. I think most people would rather see DeGale vs Ugly Kid than both against the Dirrells.

Groves knows he'd lose to DeGale at this point and lose badly. I think he probably loses to Anthony Dirrell too and for **** money but he'd rather that than give DeGale the satisfaction of beating him.

No-one's asking for the fight. Let's be real, DeGale-Groves II hasn't even been mooted or discussed since the first fight, excluding some cursory chatter about it by Warren and DeGale in the immediate aftermath. They took divergent paths. All talk of a rematch originated from Eddie Hearn in recent months, as he's now desperately and greedily trying to put together another rip-off PPV. At this point, Groves-DeGale holds little intrigue. Neither has yet cut it at world level, so why not see if they can yet do that?

[Dirk Diggler UK]

No-one's asking for the fight. Let's be real, DeGale-Groves II hasn't even been mooted or discussed since the first fight, excluding some cursory chatter about it by Warren and DeGale in the immediate aftermath. They took divergent paths. All talk of a rematch originated from Eddie Hearn in recent months, as he's now desperately and greedily trying to put together another rip-off PPV. At this point, Groves-DeGale holds little intrigue. Neither has yet cut it at world level, so why not see if they can yet do that?

Go in every DeGale-Groves thread that's been posted over the past few days and you're in the minority who don't want to see the fight.

The rematch should have happened along time ago but Ugly Kid ducked it. It should happen now but he continues to duck it. Only when he gets laid out by Anthony Dirrell will he suddenly start calling for the fight and we'll see what kind of deal he gets offered then.

[Kilrain]

Go in every DeGale-Groves thread that's been posted over the past few days and you're in the minority who don't want to see the fight.

The rematch should have happened along time ago but Ugly Kid ducked it. It should happen now but he continues to duck it. Only when he gets laid out by Anthony Dirrell will he suddenly start calling for the fight and we'll see what kind of deal he gets offered then.

I'm not saying I don't want to see it, simply that it's a far more interesting, meaningful, viable and lucrative fight at the back end of the year, or next summer, when they have both won world titles. At this point, each is at a crossroads: why should they go over old ground by fighting a return when they're both on the verge of acid tests? It would seem a kind of cop-out for both guys, actually.

On a separate note, given how 100% of fans felt cheated by that dire, inexcusable PPV in November, I think a hastily-packaged Groves-DeGale return does fairly modest PPV buys for the reasons I've outlined. One, or preferably both need to make their mark on the world stage before contesting a return. Only then will it be the major fight it deserves to be.

[Pigeons]

Groves-Degale is a domestic fight. Brits have a big fanbase, so its no surprise they want to see it, but it's not a fight that interests those outside the UK island.

Andre Dirrell has been ordered to fight for the title. If Hearn wants to avoid him like the plague, we will have to let purse bids do the talking.

[Dirk Diggler UK]

Groves-Degale is a domestic fight. Brits have a big fanbase, so its no surprise they want to see it, but it's not a fight that interests those outside the UK island.

Andre Dirrell has been ordered to fight for the title. If Hearn wants to avoid him like the plague, we will have to let purse bids do the talking.

Andre Dirrell doesn't interest anyone anywhere mate.