Tuesday 26 January 2016 14:40, UK
George Groves can become a world champion and then beat James DeGale in a unification bout, says new trainer Shane McGuigan.
The 27-year-old parted company with previous trainer Paddy Fitzpatrick in the wake of the split decision defeat to WBC world super-middleweight champion Badou Jack and will fight under McGuigan for the first time on Saturday night.
McGuigan has clearly been impressed by what he has seen from Groves (21-3-KO16) as they prepare to face the Italian (18-3-KO12) and has no doubt the Londoner's fourth push for a world title will be a successful one.
McGuigan told Sky Sports News HQ: "I think George is always very quietly confident. I just think he needs to have the trust in his team and confidence in his team. He's had some bad losses but we're not going to dwell on them. It's a new chapter and we're going to do things right.
When he's hitting guys hard, they're going to slow down but when he's looking to layer his shots and diffuse them with four or five shots rather than two, he's wasting energy.
"His training in the past, he wasn't doing the right things. He wasn't punching hard and fast. There was a lot of technical work being done. George is technically sound anyway so you don't need to go and work on it. You need to get him really fit, work on a couple of little things and get him punching hard and fast.
"Doing it in the gym day in, day out, his stamina will come up. When he's hitting guys hard, they're going to slow down but when he's looking to layer his shots and diffuse them with four or five shots rather than two, he's wasting energy.
"I'm very confident he could beat DeGale. I'd prefer to go in to that fight with a world title around his waist. A unification fight would be fantastic. We are going to establish ourselves and fight out the right route. DeGale v Groves II - bring it on!"
On his growing legion of fighters, which now includes former world champion David Haye, McGuigan added: "I can't handle any more. I've got three prospects I'm working with as well. I'm very happy with what I've got right now and I appreciate what I've got, so no more.
"I organise my diary correctly and make sure everyone has individual time. There are 24 hours in a day. I need six to eight of those to sleep and the rest of the time, I'm going to go and lay it out, especially when it comes to fighting. The last two weeks of the fight, they become the priority."
