Joe Calzaghe exclusive: James DeGale must beat Lucian Bute in style

Joe Calzaghe on James DeGale

Legendary super-middleweight, Joe Calzaghe, endorses James DeGale ahead of the latter’s fight with Lucian Bute, during an in-depth interview with George Gigney in this week’s issue of Boxing News.

“YEAH, I like James, heโ€™s a pal of mine. I can sympathise with him as well because he gets criticism like the criticism I used to get for years. People like him, heโ€™s got fast hands, heโ€™s a little bit spicy like me. I like him. Heโ€™s a bit brash but thatโ€™s a good attitude to have, it does good business and as long as he doesnโ€™t lose again now he has the title, I think heโ€™ll do really well. Obviously he needs to beat Lucian Bute in style [this weekend] but heโ€™s a work in progress. Like me when I fought Chris Eubank, I was gassed after seven rounds and I struggled a bit. Although heโ€™s world champion, the experience of fighting 12 rounds with top-quality fighters doesnโ€™t come overnight. I fought Eubank in โ€™97 and then beat [Jeff] Lacy nine years later โ€“ I was a completely different animal. Heโ€™s learning all the time, but Iโ€™ve always been impressed with him. He can go on to big things.”

TO READ THE FULL, EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW, INCLUDING CALZAGHE REFLECTING ON HIS OWN CAREER, DOWNLOAD THE LATEST EDITION OF BOXING NEWS MAGAZINE HERE

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