George Groves believes that bitter rival James DeGale will defeat Andre Dirrell this weekend to win the IBF super-middlerweight title and has wished him good luck.
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DeGale faces his American rival for the vacant belt in Boston on Saturday, and the 29-year-old is adamant that he will fulfil his destiny of becoming a world champion.
In doing so, ‘Chunky’ would become the first British Olympic gold medallist to win a world title in the professional ranks, and he has made no secret of his desire to make history and make his fans proud.
Meanwhile, there has been no love lost between him and Groves over the years, with the pair clashing in their amateur days before the latter beat DeGale back in 2011 on points.
Groves has since failed twice in his bid to become a world champion after losing to Carl Froch on two occasions, although he will have another opportunity later in the year as he is scheduled to face WBC champion Badou Jack.
While the public opinion of the pair has seemingly reversed in the last two years, Groves believes that DeGale will become a world champion on Saturday and has welcomed the possibility of a rematch down the line.
“He’s in with a chance, a real good chance,” Groves told Sky Sports.
“We will see if he can step up to the mark and perform – and I wish him the very best of luck.
“I think he can do it. He can do it. If he goes out there and performs, if he’s up for it. I don’t think he’ll get a stoppage but a points win wouldn’t surprise me.”
Groves aimed a dig at promoter Eddie Hearn by insisting that he won’t just fight DeGale at the snap of his fingers and allow him to dictate all the terms. The Hammersmith-born star believes that the fight can be made into an event as big as his second clash with Froch at Wembley last year given their history, and if it is a unification fight it would certainly make it even bigger on the world stage.
However, all eyes will be on DeGale on Saturday night as he looks to become only the second man to inflict a loss on Dirrell in what should be an exciting clash between two skilled southpaws.
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