JAMES DEGALE and Badou Jack are both determined to defend their world titles in Washington on April 30 and then box to unify the IBF and WBC super-middleweight belts later this year.
Jack will fight Lucien Bute, the Carl Froch victim that DeGale beat last November, but the American insisted, “He looked good. People wrote him off like they did with me. They thought DeGale was going to blow him out in a couple of rounds. But he looked good. That’s why he got this opportunity to fight again for the title because he looked that good.
“I think his style and my style will match perfectly. He likes to fight. I like to fight. We both got boxing skills as well. So I’m excited.”
He expects DeGale to beat Rogelio “Porky” Medina when they box on the same show. “As far as talent and skills, he’s way better. But I’m fond of Medina. I know what kind of tough guy he is, mentally very strong. And he can punch. He’s dangerous. So I would say again I would not overlook him because this guy is dangerous. But I think he’ll win but he’s just got to be careful,” Jack said.
DeGale has no qualms fighting abroad on April 30. “I’m used to it if I’m being honest. Listen, I won my Olympic gold medal away from home. I won my world title away from home. I’m actually getting used to it. That’s what I’m saying. So this is why I keep on telling you people, I’m a road warrior because I’m willing to go anywhere to fight anywhere and to prove I’m the best,” he said.
As part of that, proving his supremacy, he has an eye on the unification with Jack in September, if they both play their part and win. “It’s good. It’s good. This is what boxing needs. The best boxing the best. As I say, all I want to do is win titles and add the WBC title to my IBF would be fantastic because these days there’s not many unification fights because people don’t want to fight the best,” he said. “I want to box a fresh, new world champion, someone like Badou Jack. I think the clash of stars would be fantastic. We’re both hungry. We’re both here. And we’re peak. I think it would be a fantastic fight. But if Lucian Bute wins, we can do it again as I say. But this time around we’re doing it in London.
“Listen, I think Badou Jack is a very good fighter. I think he’s come on as he’s become world champion, he’s growing in confidence. He’s become a better all-around fighter.
“A couple fights ago, even I underrated him. I thought he wasn’t all that. But he’s proven in these last couple fights against [George] Groves and against [Anthony] Dirrell that that guy is a worthy world champion and he can fight.
“But as I said, I’m the best super-middleweight in the world. I’m willing to prove that.”
