Frank Warren gives Geroge Groves 48 hours to accept offer
British boxing promoter Frank Warren has given super middleweight George Groves (10-0, 8 KOs) 48 hours to accept terms for a fight with WBA super middleweight international champion James DeGale (8-0,
6 KOs). Warren issued the conditions Monday morning, meaning Groves will have to act by Wednesday morning.
DeGale is coming off of a spectacular first round TKO of Carl Dilks this Saturday in which he retained his title.
In the past Groves and Hayemaker Promotions, who promote the fighter, have called out DeGale and said publicly that they wish to make a fight. At the time of an original challenge Warren did not respond.
Warren said he wants to slate the fight for 11 December, in hopes of assembling a super-card that night to celebrate his 30th year as a promoter.
“I have written to Groves formally offering him a fight against DeGale,” Warren said. “He will not get better money elsewhere. It's the fight he keeps saying he wants, now we will find out whether he
is man enough to back up his word. If he doesn't accept the very generous offer within 48 hours, then he will not be getting another chance.” He emphasized: “James will be well beyond the likes of Groves by early 2011, so it really is a case of take it or
leave it."
DeGale himself commented on a potential fight with Groves, saying: "I've said all along that I will fight Groves, and nothing has changed.”
In an earlier bid to get DeGale to fight Groves, Adam Booth, who runs Hayemaker Promotions with David Haye, said: “This is a fight George wants to take now, as he’s desperate to prove a point against Degale.
George doesn’t want to wait and risk the fight never happening – he wants to meet Degale as soon as possible and he wants to do it on the biggest stage possible.”
Some suspect that Hayemaker Promotions will not accept Haye’s offer for the simple reason that it only allows for a 48 hour consideration period. This puts Warren in the driver seat and expects Hayemaker
Promotions to settle for his terms. At the same time, now that the challenge has been issued Groves may be heavily criticized if he fails to capitalize on it.
As of 6 PM British time, Warren has received no response for Hayemaker Promotions.
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