Groves dismisses DeGale demands

George Groves laughed off James DeGale's demands for an immediate re-match after beating his arch-rival for a second time in their high-profile grudge match.

Six years after edging his Dale Youth ABC colleague in the ABA championships, Groves repeated the feat as a professional at London's O2 Arena on Saturday night. DeGale has always maintained he was "robbed" in their first meeting and was similarly infuriated in the re-match as Groves won a contentious majority decision by the narrowest of margins.

Beijing Olympic gold medallist DeGale and his promoter Frank Warren called on the British Boxing Board of Control to mandate a re-match but Groves, who added the British super-middleweight belt to his Commonwealth title, quipped: "What is it, best of five? How many times do I have to beat this man? After this fight I want to move on to bigger and better things."

He added: "James has no title, he is now coming off a loss, I'm pretty sure I can find a better opponent now than James DeGale!

"As you saw I displayed skill, determination, will to win, boxing ability and I beat James DeGale in every aspect."

Referring to three cuts and widespread swelling on his face, Groves said: "I'd happily give James DeGale a re-match if he wasn't so dangerous with his head. As you can see from my face, how many cuts are there? Every one from his head. I've beaten him twice, what more do I need to do?

"But I always said after I've beaten James DeGale that's the domestic scene cleared up and I'm looking for bigger and better things. Maybe that's James, maybe it's not."

DeGale is demanding a chance to put things right and said: "When you're the challenger boxing for the title, how can you run on the back foot like that and nick the fight?

"I thought I was up a couple of rounds. I'm gutted. I thought there were a couple he nicked and I was getting frustrated but I thought I won the majority and was up.

"How can they score it to George when he just went on the back foot?"