Saturday 28 November 2015 11:16, UK
James DeGale has warned Lucian Bute he is planning a destructive early stoppage in Quebec City on Saturday.
The Londoner defends his IBF super-middleweight belt on Bute's home turf, live on Sky Sports, in his first fight since outpointing Andre Dirrell to claim the vacant title in May.
The contest has taken second billing to Tyson Fury's Sky Sports Box Office challenge for Wladimir Klitschko's world title, but DeGale says he is in the kind of shape to make headlines in the early hours of Sunday morning.
"They think it's going to be a boxing match, but it will be a destruction," said DeGale, who weighed in just below the 12-stone limit at 167.4lbs, with Bute at 167.2lbs. "I feel like a beast. It will be explosive.
"Place your bets. Trust me. Going to be six rounds, but it may be three."
DeGale says he had no problems agreeing to travel to Canada, where Romania-born Bute has made his home and made his name as a world champion before a brutal stoppage at Carl Froch's hands in 2012.
"Carl exposed him and I'll finish him," he said. "But I don't care about Carl Froch - he's old. I'm the new champion.
"Once [Bute] feels my power that will be it. I'm going to start fast and throw loads of punches. He's great in the centre of the ring, but I'm not going to stand there. It won't be a chess match. I'll start fast and we'll see how he takes it.
"I'm an old school fighter - I don't mind travelling to fight in my opponents' hometown. He was a great champion who has fought some great fighters so I should get kudos when I beat him."
Bute said: "It's a great opportunity to fight for my old belt in front of my hometown fans. I think they'll push me toward the victory. I'm looking forward to becoming world champion again.
"I think he's the best super middleweight in the world right now, but I'm very confident in myself. I'm healthy, I feel great physically."
