The bout dubbed 'The Grudge' had all the build-up of a world title fight and it did not disappoint, James DeGale on the other hand did.
The fight went all 12 of the championship rounds for the Super-Middleweight Lonsdale belt. At the final bell the judges returned a majority decision, Richie Davies scored the fight evens, a draw, with Dave Parris & John Keane scoring the fight one round in favour of the 'The Saint' George Groves.
In what was a cagey affair in the main George Groves implemented the 'Hayemaker' camp's strategy, devised by Adam Booth, to a tee. Boxing with his lead hand high, a contrast to previous fights where it has hung dangerously low, the Hammersmith resident counter-punched superbly.
James DeGale in stark contrast appeared to revert to the style that characterised his amateur days, boxing defensively in an attempt to pot-shot his way to victory. The sort of style the computerised scoring of Olympic competition favours.
Unfortunately for the Olympic champion or 'Chunky' as he is known no longer found himself boxing in the amateurs, like the first meeting between the two. One must add that this revert to type that DeGale showed in the contest was promised by Groves in the build-up.
Once the fight entered its second stanza the Harlesden champion appeared to wake from his slumber as he begun to put combination togethers and disorientating the Commonwealth champion.
This pressure however came in fits and starts, finding himself unable to excerpt a sustained level of pressure at any time during fight. It appeared that the defending champion had, as Adam Booth claimed during rounds "ran out of ideas".
A clash of heads opened two cuts on the face of the fair skinned Groves, one on the eyebrow the other on the forehead, as his face became a mask of blood as the fight entered the final round.
Before the final round it was obvious that the DeGale camp, lead by ex-world title challenge Jim McDonnell, believed that they needed the final round to secure victory. The final round was won by DeGale, but it was unknown if it was enough to take the spoils.
As the final bell rung it was clear that both fighters were in the belief they they had done enough to take the contest, both fighters marked and bloody. With the judges in the process of returning their verdicts Jim McDonnell took his phone from his pocket. Looking up to his man he claimed that they had won, obviously a text tipped him off, putting his finger to his lips insisting that 'Chunky' did not celebrate.
With the fighters at centre ring Lennon Jnr. returned the verdict. . . . (skip forward to 3.56)
The look on James DeGale's face, priceless. . . . .
The issue with judging a boxing match is that it can be scored in so many ways, do you score just the scoring shots, or intent to attack or good counter-punching?
It is clear that the judges scored the fight on not only counter-punching but also shots landed, the computer statistics claimed that Groves landed a greater percentage of his punches thrown.
The person at home can score a fight in so many different ways themselves, their own bias helps. I've seen people claiming they had DeGale by as many as three rounds, personally I had Groves by the one round. Boxing, unlike most other sports it is subjectice, that is the beauty of the sport known as the sweet science.
The sweet science, unlike other sports has a certain level of
emotion that cannot be found in others. This can be illustrated in the picture of Adam Booth letting Jim McDonnell and his team know exactly what he thinks of them. I for one couldn't agree anymore.The fact of the matter is, and I don't think it can be denied, James DeGale was well and truly worked out and exposed as one dimensional. Yes, if it had been a fight DeGale would have snatched it instead but it wasn't. Unfortunately for the now ex-British Super-Middleweight Champion it was a boxing bout, and George Groves won this bout.
Frank Warren in his post fight interview claimed that a rematch should be ordered immediately, whether and how soon this will come to fruition is unknown. One thing he did say however stood out to me.
The 'This Is It' bill is a wake up call for James DeGale and perhaps the back slapping of a fighter who hasn't achieved quite as much as people would like to believe he has does need to stop.
Will we see James DeGale defeat George Groves in a rematch should it happen or has 'The Saint' got 'Chunky's' number? That is the question.
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