British super-middleweight James DeGale believes that George Groves is facing Carl Froch at the right stage of the IBF and WBA champion's career.

Froch defended his world titles against Groves with a controversial ninth-round stoppage, but with a rematch due to take place on May 31, DeGale believes that the Nottingham fighter's "best days are behind him".

The 28-year-old told Sky Sports News: "I think that he's had some hard fights, some tough fights. He's been around for a while now and I think that his best days are probably behind him, so maybe Groves has got him at the right time.

"Do I think Groves deserved the rematch? Probably - the way it ended, yes, but did he deserve the fight in the first place? Probably not."

DeGale, who is hoping to capture the WBC belt in 2014, is keen to face the winner of the highly-anticipated rematch.