DeGale: 'Debut cringeworthy'

DeGale: Promising powerful display

I can only watch the entrance and the first round but then after that I start cringing because of the booing.

James DeGale
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James DeGale has vowed to let his fists do the talking on Friday night after working on the shortcomings that were highlighted in his professional debut.

The Olympic middleweight gold medallist failed to live up to the pre-fight hype in a four-round bow against Georgian Vepkhia Tchilaia at the end of February.

Despite clearly winning the contest on points, DeGale's big night turned sour when the Birmingham crowd started booing and, as he prepares for his second professional outing against unbeaten Czech Jindrich Kubin in Belfast, the 23-year-old has promised to deliver a more aggressive performance.

"I can only watch the entrance and the first round but then after that I start cringing because of the booing," DeGale said when asked about his pro debut.

"I should have stuck it on him a bit more, let's keep it real. I should have stuck it on him and stopped him. I'm my own biggest critic and when I look back, I should have stopped him.

"We've been working in the gym in an imaginary circle. I don't need to keep jumping out; I can use angles, movement and let the punches go.

"I just need to stick it on him and I should stop him. It will come."

Fitness

Trainer Jim McDonnell has been putting DeGale through his paces, practising boxing at close quarters rather than at distance, and the youngster has been itching to get back in the ring for some time.

"It's definitely been frustrating," he said. "I'm so fit, ahead of schedule, and if I could box every week I'd be happy. I'm pretty busy now because I've got this and then a fight six weeks later at the O2 Arena so I'm knocking them out now.

"All this talking, all the rubbish, I'm fed up of it. I just want to get in there and get along with my career and become a world champion."

Local hero Martin Rogan defends his Commonwealth heavyweight title for the first time against Sam Sexton at the top of the Belfast bill, with fellow British Olympic team members Frankie Gavin and Billy Joe Saunders also in action.