By Michael Collins: A rematch between British super middleweights James DeGale (11-1, 8 KO’s) and George Groves (14-0, 11 KO’s) is a possibility if the 24-year-old Groves beats WBO super middleweight champion Robert Stieglitz (41-2, 23 KO’s) on May 5th, and DeGale (11-8 KO’s) defeated Italian Cristian Sanavia (45-5-1, 13 KO’s) on April 21.
DeGale, 26, was beaten last year by Groves by a 12 round majority decision last May in a fight that really could have gone either way. It wasn’t conclusive victory by any means, as DeGale was coming on after the 4th round and was able to pressure Groves for the remainder if the way to get the better of most of the action. Both fighters are now in the same stable, and it makes for putting a fight together a little easier.
First, however, DeGale, #5 WBO, #7 WBC, #14 IBF, must get by the tough 5’7 ½” Sanavia in their fight at the Arena Nord, Frederikshavn, Denmark. This will be DeGale’s first defense of his European Boxing Union (EBU) super middleweight title he won last October with a 12 round majority decision over champion Piotr Wilczewski. DeGale had a tough time in that fight, but ultimately was able to come out ahead with his slick boxing skills. DeGale, 6’0 ½”, will have a big size advantage over the 37-year-old Sanavia in this fight.
That should be enough to get the win as long as DeGale doesn’t let Sanavia crowd him and batter him on the inside the way that Sanavia likes to do. He’s quite good at fighting in close, and DeGale would be foolish to try and fight him there.
Groves, #3 WBO, #6 WBC, #8 IBF, #11 WBA, easily has the tougher task compared to DeGale with his fight against WBO champion Stieglitz at the Messehalle, in Erfurt, Germany. Stieglitz, 30, is a German based champion and he’s almost impossible to beat when he’s fighting at home in Germany, at least by decision. Groves isn’t really knockout puncher, although he’s got a lot of KO’s over domestic level 2nd and 3rd tier opposition.
Stieglitz is a lot better than the guys that Groves has been fighting up to this point, and he’s not someone that Groves can peck away at with landing shots here and there while circling the ring endlessly. Groves will have to take the fight to Stieglitz and beat him in the trenches to escape with a victory.