38 Thursday November 27, 2014, The Times Sport 2 Groves – I’ll DeGale tells ‘coward’ Froch to be a world champion face him or surrender his belts Boxing George Groves will now prepare with his big showdown with WBC Boxing world super-middleweight cham- n Brent pion Anthony Dirrell next year, ‘Box me or vacant your IBF belt’ is writes Ziad Chaudry. the stern message James DeGale While his bitter fellow Dale has issued to domestic super-mid- Youth ABC rival and world title dleweight rival Carl Froch as the chaser James DeGale had a rela- Harlesden man looks set to finally tively easy Saturday night at Liv- grab his much-deserved world ti- erpool’s Echo Arena, the 26-year- tle shot next year, writes Ziad old from Hammersmith dig deep to Chaudry. secure his seventh round stoppage The 28-year-old former Dale victory over American ‘Momma’s Youth amateur and 2008 Olympic Boy’ Denis Douglin. gold medallist dismantled experi- A crunching body shot then a enced Mexican Manuel Antonio big right hand floored New Jersey- Periban in three rounds at a sold- based southpaw Douglin, also 26, out Echo Arena, Liverpool, on Sat- towards of the end of the seventh urday evening on the undercard of of the scheduled 12-rounder. the massive Tony Bellew v Nathan As soon as a tired-looking Dou- Cleverly 2 bill. glin received his count of eight Two massive left hooks from Groves, who took a nasty cut ‘Chunky’ early in the third saw across the bridge of his nose due Periban, who once challenged to clash of heads, dished out fur- for the world title against Cam- ther punishment before referee eroon’s WBC champion Sakio ‘The Victor Loughlin stepped in. Scorpion’ Bika, left reeling on the “This showed I dealt with a southpaw again, which isn’t easy, ropes, which prompted referee so I’m happy with the result,” Howard Foster to end the scheduled said Groves, who later admitted 12-rounder. the Douglin bout was a very risky bout to take after his 21st profes- Disrespect Harlesden’s James DeGale (right) is the first boxer to stop the Mexican Manuel Antonio Periban sional victory in 22 outings. “He’s never been stopped,” said “He (Douglin) was difficult. He DeGale, who is trained by former bling around, he wasn’t in a posi- (Froch) can vacate or box me,” De- fights or he doesn’t, time is running was aggressive and good with European featherweight champion tion to carry on.” gale continued. “How could I disre- out but I know I’m fighting for that his head. It took me a couple of Jim McDonnell, after pocketing his Degale’s victory confirms his spect a man who’s done so much in world title. But I don’t think Carl rounds to switch on and when I 20th pro career victory in 21 out- position as mandatory challenger boxing? Froch will fight me.” did I found my range and obvious- ings. for the IBF title currently held by “But I don’t care if he wants to Reports suggest that Froch will ly got him out there. It’s nice to be “Sakio Bika couldn’t stop him Nottingham-based Froch, who was box me or not. I’m boxing for the vacant his IBF mantle to finally back blasting guys out. and I was only getting warmed up. watching at ringside. world title early part of next year, secure his dream lucrative Las Ve- “It was an unnecessary fight in That left hand is my shot at the mo- “It’s time now for me to go on Carl Froch or no Carl Froch. I’m fed gas bout with Mexico’s Julio Cesar many ways because there was a ment. I hit him and he was stum- and win my world title so either he up about talking about it. He either Chavez Jnr next March. lot at stake but we wanted to take that risk. Rounds banked and now all guns blazing for a world title Harlesden’s John Keble school win QPR primary tournament shot.” After twice losing to IBF and Junior football all over west London competed in goals in four games, which earned Match sponsor WBA champion Carl Froch, the QPR Primary School Premier them a place in the prestigious final Groves, who is promoted by two The John Keble Ace football team League Cup and the Harlesden side against Deanesfield School, who O’Farrell’s butchers former Kilburn schoolboys, broth- (pictured below) won the inter- recovered from a defeat to win the they beat 4-1. 020 8459 2840 ers Kalle and Nisse Sauerland, school competition which was run rest of their games in the group The team will now go on to rep- now hopes to be successful third Supporting grass roots time around when he faces un- by QPR and held at Goals in Wem- stage and secure their place in the resent QPR in the Primary School beaten American Dirrell for his bley. knockout stage. Premier League Tournament, football in Brent WBC mantle some time in 2015. The team then went on to score 19 where they will compete against Forty-four primary schools from Middlesex battled bravely but “We’re hoping that the fight will the very best teams from across the conceded again from two set-pieces, take place in the early part of next country. putting the hosts firmly in the driv- year,” he added. “I’ll be training The tournament will take place ing seat 3-0. Altan Aydin scored the over Christmas with the mind in May 2015 and will be held at Old goal of the game, a 25-yard drive frame of preparing for a world ti- Trafford, the home of Manchester into the top corner, but it was too tle, which will be nice. United. late for Middlesex and served only Middlesex Under-14s were as a consolation. knocked out of the PlayStation na- Middlesex coach Chris Ampofo tional cup after losing 3-1 against said: “The team played some great Oxfordshire. stuff at the start of the game. I’m The visitors nearly had a dream really proud of the way the lads bat- start when Brent’s Cai Burrows in- tled and worked for each other. tercepted and sent a slide rule pass “They are improving and if they to Damani Ayre to put him in on show that fight the results will goal. Ayre outpaced the defence and come.” smashed the ball past the keeper Middlesex players from Brent: Odain Don- only to see it come back off the post. aldson (Capital City), Keiano Josephs, Jaevon In the second half, against the Brathwaite (Claremont) Cai Burrows, Michael run of play, Oxfordshire took the Adjei, Reece Weekes (St Gregory’s), Damani lead on the counter-attack. Ayre, Kyle Mathews (Wembley High). Shaq can go right to the top, says Neasden ABA coach Miller Boxing by a unanimous decision and boxes Another Neasden debutant, Adri- O’Donnell, who was making his de- tonight (Thursday) on the Bognor an Thompson, won by TKO in the but, lost to K Bhoarla. Neasden ABA coach Xavier Miller Regis show alongside Bobby Woods. third round in Horsham. Coach Steve Newland said: “It is confident 18-year-old Shaquille Miller said: “Shaq got into box- Hooks ABC duo Danny Barrett was good to see both boys out. It Johnson can go right to the top of ing because he had some problems and Billy O’Donnell were beaten on isn’t easy getting bouts for Danny the sport after his impressive debut with his temper. He fights at 69kg the Gator ABC show in Hainult. and Billy will have learnt from the on the Horsham ABC show. and models his style on Tommy Barrett lost by unanimous de- experience. The ring was small and George Groves celebrates his win Johnson, from Stonebridge, won Hearns.” cision against Inder Bassi and the crowd were very vocal.” against Denis Douglin in Liverpool