George Groves and James DeGale Card Moves to Liverpool, December 9

by Scott Christ on Nov 16, 2011 11:00 AM EST in Boxing News Analysis

James DeGale and George Groves are back together on December 9, co-headlining in Liverpool. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

After failing to secure the previously advertised ExCel Arena in London, Frank Warren's big December 9 show has moved to Liverpool's Echo Arena, reports Sky Sports.

The show will feature familiar names against yet-to-be-named opponents. Serving as co-headliners will be British and Commonwealth super middleweight champion George Groves (14-0, 11 KO) and his rival and new European super middleweight champion James DeGale (11-1, 8 KO).

Also featured on the show will be middleweight prospect Billy Joe Saunders (11-0, 7 KO); former British and Commonwealth featherweight champion Stephen Smith (12-1, 6 KO); Stephen's younger brother Liam Smith (8-0-1, 4 KO); and junior middleweight prospect Joe Selkirk (7-0, 4 KO).

Groves just fought on November 5, flattening Paul Smith in the second round of his first title defense, while DeGale is returning from his tight majority decision win over Piotr Wilczewski on October 15. Saunders also fought on November 5, going 10 one-sided but frustrating rounds with Gary Boulden.

Tweet Comment 7 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Good to see Groves and Degale in regular action. Although if they still havn’t got opponents, I presume they will be fighting stiffs

by Sweet science on Nov 16, 2011 5:58 PM EST reply actions

Yeah I’m not expecting much

Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."

by Scott Christ on Nov 16, 2011 6:51 PM EST up reply actions

You think if they are both fighting on the same bill

Against what is probably going to be less than average opponents, that Warren is steering them to a rematch in the not to distant future?

by Sweet science on Nov 16, 2011 6:56 PM EST up reply actions

I don’t think Warren needs to rush a rematch. They still only have 26 fights combined.

The first fight wasn’t very good…..tense, but a lot of staring.

by DPlainview on Nov 16, 2011 7:06 PM EST up reply actions

Neither do I

But I know he favours Degale. He pretty much said so himself when he signed Groves. And I am sure Degale wants it bad

by Sweet science on Nov 16, 2011 7:16 PM EST up reply actions

It wasn’t very good, but it built a lot of buzz, made money, and people keep asking both of them and Frank Warren when they’ll do it again. Their positions mean more than their combined fights — with DeGale as Euro champ, Groves is going to want to step up from British ranks soon enough, and that’s the next step. DeGale didn’t look good enough in the Wilczewski fight to be rushing into a major title fight, either. All of the major titlists at 168 (Froch, Ward, Bute) would have their way with him, and I think Warren realizes that. He’d stand to lose a lot more credibility getting smoked by one of them than he would losing a second fight with Groves.

Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."

by Scott Christ on Nov 16, 2011 7:30 PM EST up reply actions