JAMES DEGALE will defend his IBF world super-middleweight title against Rogelio Medina in America on April 30.
The fight will take place on the undercard of Badou Jack’s WBC title defence against former world champion Lucian Bute, whom DeGale outpointed in his most recent outing.
DeGale was originally mandated to fight Jose Uzcategui but the Venezuelan picked up an illness, meaning ‘Chunky’ will face ‘Porky’ Medina next.
“He’s lost six of his fights and the only win on his record is J’Leon Love – which was a really good win – but every time he’s stepped up, he’s lost,” DeGale told Boxing News.
“To be honest, I think he’s made for me. He’s tough, a typical Mexican, comes forward and likes to fight. I’m looking forward to it.
“It should make me look good, it should make me look like Floyd Mayweather [laughs]. These are the dangerous fights, the ones you’re expected to win and you can go in over-confident. I’m a true professional though and I’ll go in there and do a proper job on him.”
Since that win over Love in 2014, Medina has won three more on the spin – all by stoppage – but against limited opposition.
Uzcategui, Gilberto Ramirez and Jack all hold wins over Medina, who was the next available challenger behind Jose.
It has been agreed that the winners of Jack-Bute and Degale-Medina will meet each other later in the year in a unification fight. SHOWTIME will air the card in the US, while a venue is still being finalised.
The Harlseden hero – now considered the best super-middleweight in the world after recent wins over Andre Dirrell and Bute – has not boxed in the UK since his three-round demolition of Marco Antonio Periban in November 2014, and his last outing in London came six months before that.
While the exposure he’s been gaining in America is doing wonders for his career, the 30-year-old is keen to box in front of his countrymen.
“The plan is to get this fight out the way, look a million dollars, then box the winner [of Jack-Bute] in September,” he revealed.
“In Las Vegas would do me, or London, maybe at the Emirates Stadium. I’m world champion now, I’m at my peak, I’m 30 and I need to make the most it and get the big fights. Everything’s looking good.
“I need to box in London, my hometown. I haven’t boxed there since I won the world title, it’s been over a year and a half. I’m looking forward to seeing the kind of reception I’d get, I really want to do it. I’m a London boy, I love my city and I haven’t boxed there for a while. Being world champ and boxing in my hometown, I’m looking forward to it.”
