JAMES DEGALE is on the pads. The southpaw, I have to admit, does look sharp. The punches slam into Jim McDonnellโs pads with a satisfying crack. His back doesnโt touch the ropes, not once. He moves, slinging the shots easily into his trainerโs mitts. He doesnโt look like the boxer who laboured in both a stunning loss to Caleb Truax and then a gruelling win for the rematch. He looks good.
But DeGale is no longer a world champion. He relinquished his IBF super-middleweight title and will not face mandatory challenger Jose Uzcategui. This, he tells Boxing News, is โa smart business moveโ.
โI want the big fights,โ he explained. โI got a lot of stick for vacating my belt, but I was world champion for just over three years. It was a long time, I had a long reign. I lost it but four months later I won it back. This is just a wise business move now.
โI can see the finishing line with my career. Iโve only got a couple of years left so I want the biggest fights and the biggest money. Itโs not all about money but when youโve dedicated yourself to boxing for 20 years, you want those last couple of big pay days.โ
It has been a long road for DeGale from winning Olympic gold, winning the British title, losing to old rival George Groves, rebuilding, falling back and rebuilding again. Heโs entitled to look fondly over his career and, as he opens an old trainer and friendโs boxing club, memories of his days as an amateur at Dale Youth flow easily back. โWhen you talk about amateur pedigree: Schoolboys, NABCs, a two time ABA champion, Commonwealth bronze, Olympic gold, do you know what Iโm saying. When I turned pro, British, European, two-time world champion. I lived the dream. I went to America, boxed some world class opponents. My career has been fantastic and I donโt mean to blow smoke up my arse but Iโve done well,โ he says.
At the opening of this refurbished gym in Acton, DeGale entered the ring at the the new Hooks amateur boxing club, run by Steve Newland, to demonstrate the skills that made him a champion.
โSteve Newland, he means a lot to me. He was a massive part of my journey towards to Olympics. He trained me the last bit of my amateur career so anything I can do to help Steve Newland Iโll do,โ he told Boxing News. โHeโs just opened his new gym, Hooks. He is so dedicated to amateur boxing, he loves it, he loves bringing up the kids, bringing them to all his shows. Heโs wicked so anything I can do I do to help.โ
Revisiting the amateur scene is a pleasant interlude from the machinations and complications of professional boxing. But DeGale does have an upcoming fight in the works, even if he declines confirm the date and the venue.
โMy teamโs working hard behind the scenes, somethingโs coming real big. Iโve got [American manager] Al Haymon behind me. Heโs got a plan, heโs got my next move sorted,โ James says. โI want to get back in there, get back in camp and get back in the ring.โ
A defence against Uzcategui would be a war, no doubt, but it would obstruct the major fights DeGale wants. โI want to get out of boxing with all my faculties and a rich man. I want those big fights. I know Iโve had a couple with Groves. I want to be in those big domestic grudge matches and British boxing is booming at the minute,โ he said. โIf I can get those last couple with Groves, [Chris] Eubank, [Callum] Smith, whoever it is. Wait and see. Iโve lived the American dream, Iโve been over there, Iโve boxed, Iโve done it. So now I think itโs time.โ
Eubank Junior figures prominently in DeGaleโs wishlist. โEubank, heโs run his mouth, his dadโs got a massive issue with me, so I think hopefully his wish is going to come true,โ he said. โHis wish could be coming true, so weโll see. Thereโs a lot of options out there. People think because I gave up my belt I donโt bring a lot to the table [but] who wouldnโt want me on their record?
โSometimes it doesnโt have to be a world championship. Itโs just about the grudge and two quality fighters fighting and making it an event which people want to see.โ
With the influential Al Haymon advising him, DeGale could still box in America once more, with David Benavidez, the WBC super-middleweight champion, and WBO boss Gilberto Ramirez obvious targets.
โI think thatโs another possible fight, Benavidez. Heโs a hungry young Mexcian, heโs game, throws a lot of punches. Heโs very ambitious. He think heโs the best, heโs confident and heโs a good fighter. Ramirez I donโt think is looked at as good but heโs still a quality fighter,โ DeGale said.
โWorldwide thereโs good fights all over the place. Iโve got a lot of options. Weโll see.โ