EXCLUSIVE James DeGale: ‘If I don’t stop Lucien Bute, it’ll be like a loss’

How are your preparations for Lucien Bute on Saturday?

Iโ€™m always trained by Jim McDonnell. [Lucien Bute] is a tall southpaw. Heโ€™s got weird movement. Weโ€™ve been working on that in the gym. Heโ€™s got a good left hand. He likes to box at his own pace, if you give him his own space thatโ€™s when heโ€™s good. But stick him on his toes, close the gap quick, he donโ€™t like it. All of his fights, look at [Carl] Froch exposed him, heโ€™s still a good fighter, a very good fighter, but it shows you how to beat him. [Against Librado] Andrade you got little glimpses of him under pressure and he didnโ€™t really like it. Even against [Jean] Pascal, he got outboxed really by Pascal for the first 10 rounds.

He says heโ€™s injury free and whatever โ€“ Iโ€™m too young, Iโ€™m too fresh, Iโ€™ve just come off the best win of my career [against Andre Dirrell to win the IBF super-middleweight crown], winning a world title and making history. Iโ€™m confident, Iโ€™ve chosen to go to Canada. It just shows you how confident I am and how winning the world title, making history, itโ€™s made me a different fighter. Jim says it makes you a different fighter, it makes you a better fighter.

Were you nervous during the Dirrell fight?

It was a bit nerve-wracking then. But if you listen to the American commentary, Sugar Ray Leonard, he was giving me ratings I couldnโ€™t believe it and, if you listen, they said James DeGale finished stronger, he wants it more. After six they had me up. Itโ€™s only seventh, eighth, ninth, 10th, I did let him in…ย I think Al Haymonโ€™s PBC shows are fair.

Do you feel like you need to stop Bute?

I need to stop him. If I win a points victory, people are going to go, โ€˜Carl Froch stopped him.’ Heโ€™s been stopped. If I donโ€™t stop him and look good itโ€™s going to be a bit like a loss, because people are going to expect it. Really, I donโ€™t have to take this. Heโ€™s had a right touch, hasnโ€™t he? Because Iโ€™m giving him the chance. I didnโ€™t have to do this for him. Itโ€™s only because I think itโ€™s a good name on paper, he was world champion for a long time.

Iโ€™m going over to Canada.ย Heโ€™s never been stopped in Canada. Heโ€™s only lost once [there] to Pascal but heโ€™s never lost in Quebec. I keep watching that Froch fight and I watch his last fight, he didnโ€™t look too good. He doesnโ€™t throw too many punches, if you give him space, he looks alright, he looks good and if I do that I will let him into the fight. Iโ€™m not going to do that. Iโ€™m going to start fast and throw a lot of shots. But be clever with it. I canโ€™t be stupid and wild. Iโ€™ll do it intelligently.

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