James DeGale: ‘Above all, I’m in it for the glory’

James DeGale

JAMES โ€œCHUNKYโ€ DEGALEโ€™S next defence of his IBF super-middleweight title against Rogelio โ€œPorkyโ€ Medina has been confirmed for April 30 at the DC Armory in Washington. DeGale is a clear favourite but said, โ€œIโ€™ve never disrespected an opponent yet in the ring and Iโ€™m not going to start now.ย Medina has a very good record and that means he is as dangerous and the next man. This is boxing and unless you prepare properly you get found out.ย Iโ€™m not going down that avenue.ย Iโ€™m a winner and what I do is get in the ring and win. Thatโ€™s what Medina is up against โ€“ a world champion and a winner.โ€

James did insist, โ€œIโ€™m too good for him, too fast, too strong, too quick. Iโ€™ll beat him and it is just a question of how. I donโ€™t care how it comes as long as I look good and I give the fans what they want, another winning performance and a reminder that I am the best super-middleweight out there operating today.โ€

โ€œI respect Medina, but I belong in a different level and I will show that on April 30,โ€ he continued,ย โ€œIโ€™m looking forward to it because this is another chance to show what I can do in America and it is also a mini-tournament.ย The winner of my fight faces the winner of Badou Jack and Lucian Bute and that means a world unification clash.ย I want to clean up the division and I have the opportunity to do that.

โ€œI think Jack will win, but Iโ€™ve been in the ring with Bute and I know how strong he is.ย He is a proper fighter and I would always give him a chance against anyone. I think Jack will be too good for him, but who knows? I hope it is Jack as Iโ€™ve already taken care of business against Bute, but I want to unify the titles and that means I will fight whoever is put in front of me.โ€

DeGale is keen to bring that unification fight to England. โ€œIโ€™ve no trouble fighting in the US and never will. I would love to win again and take on the winner of Jack and Bute in London, but that is down the line.ย What I am concentrating on right now is the next person who is standing in my way and that is Medina,โ€ he said.

โ€œI canโ€™t wait to get back in action because I live for fighting. It is in my blood and I know that a win over Medina means a very lucrative fight with Jack or Bute.ย Iโ€™m in this to make me financially comfortable for the rest of my life but above all, Iโ€™m in it for the glory.

โ€œThe day I became world champion was the best of my life, along with winning Olympic gold, and I donโ€™t want to be a world champion for a few months.ย I want to be recognized as one of the greats in the super-middleweight division.ย That means win a title and defend it against all-comers, anywhere and everywhere.โ€

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