James DeGale: Five of the world title challenger's best fights
Tuesday 19 May 2015 17:35, UK
James DeGale could win a world title and make British boxing history when he takes on Andre Dirrell for the vacant IBF super-middleweight title in Boston on Saturday.
Here are five fights that have seen 'Chunky' at his best and even if the result didn't go his way in one of them, it was still a massive occasion and an even bigger learning curve...
Live International Fight Night
Marco Antonio Periban
Won KO 3. November 22, 2014
Liverpool has become something of a second home for DeGale. Against Periban, the Londoner was victorious at the Echo Arena for the fourth time in his pro career. The fact that his old friend George Groves was on the same bill prompted the inevitable calls for a rematch, and the two families clashed behind the scenes. So he knew he had to put on a show. And he did.
He's never been stopped, Sakio Bika couldn't stop him and I was only getting warmed up,
Periban hadn't been stopped and had taken Sakio Bika - then the WBC champion - and subsequent holder of the belt Badou Jack all the way.The Mexican, by nature, was supposed to be durable and tough. He might have been but he didn't last more than three rounds as DeGale went up another notch. In the third a straight left pinged Periban back into his corner and before he could hit back, a left hook floored him. He beat the count but the referee was in like a shot and despite Periban's complaints, called a halt. DeGale was the IBF mandatory and labelled a certain Carl Froch "a bit of a coward"!
Brandon Gonzales
Won TKO 4. May 31, 2014
It was supposed to be his biggest test to date, about an hour before Carl Froch and their common enemy Groves met again in front of a sold-out Wembley Stadium. And on an historic night when it was all about the finish, Chunky did not disappoint. With Virgil Hunter in his corner and Amir Khan and Andre Ward as his gym-mates, Gonzales came over unbeaten but lasted just four rounds - and has not boxed since. DeGale's slick, stinging shots opened up a cut in the second but in the fourth, two huge rights hammered home and a left hook sent the American tumbling to the canvas.
What I wanted to do tonight was put on a performance and that is exactly what I did
Gonzales made it to his feet but his legs, and his chances, had gone and as soon as DeGale set about him for a second time, referee Steve Gray stepped in. Gonzales was nicknamed Flawless but he wasn't floorless, on the back of a brilliant, short and explosive DeGale special. It not only put him in line to fight for the world title but saw him at his best - and still not fully fit.
Piotr Wilczewski
Won MD 12. October 15, 2011
It's no surprise the loss to bitter rival George Groves was not his best showing, but the first one back in the ring following that defeat was always going to be the hardest. Fighters often say that, but in DeGale's case you could understand exactly where he was coming from. Yes he was back to winning ways but his grit, his bravery and his will to win were there for all to see. He was back in Liverpool and Wilczewski's European title was the target. The Pole had only lost once in his previous 30 and he was hard, simple as that.
I got caught in the fourth round and after that I could not hear, my legs went a bit, but I got through it and showed some grit
The five-month break after the Groves fight was the longest he'd taken and any ring-rust was washed away early on when he was cut above the right eye. DeGale was then in trouble in the fifth, and looked like he was about to go after a big right. But he held on, regained his balance and his breath and from then on simply got better and better. By the end, the tables had turned and Wilczewski was the fighter in trouble, especially in a final round where both men realised it was going to be tight. And it was. But the 114-114, 113-115, 113-115 scorecard was in DeGale's favour. He was back!
George Groves
Lost MD 12. May 21, 2011
It remains DeGale's sole defeat to date and in terms of what he learned, what he experienced and what he took on board, you cannot ignore the Groves fight. First and foremost he was - and still is - adamant he won it. The cards of 115-115, 114-115, 114-115 showed how close it was but the whole occasion will live long in the memory. He was the favourite, he had told the world he would gain revenge for that amateur loss, and then insisted Groves had got worse! The build-up was something to behold and the first time since the Olympics that the pressure was really on.
George and I will never like each other. There will always be animosity between us
DeGale had the swagger and the speed and slickness to do the job but in an intriguing, bitter battle, he was soon up against it. He seemed to land the harder shots early on, but the fluency was not there and in the sixth, the pair were practically shadow sparring. It literally came down to the last and many people thought he had got it, as many went for Groves and even more would have accepted the draw. A lesson learned? And a rematch? But a world title first... and ahead of his foes!
Paul Smith
Won TKO 9. November 12, 2011
DeGale had been booed up in Liverpool on his fourth professional fight and was booed again as he took on one of the Smith family, who he had spent so much time with before turning pro. It was only his ninth fight and the British super-middleweight title was on the line with Paul looking for the Lonsdale Belt with three defences of the title. It got off to the worst possible start for the local lad as a clash of heads opened up a cut over his eye in the fourth, and although Smith pressed and pushed forward, DeGale was in complete control.
I was too good and always felt in control. After the first round I thought 'oh my God, this is easy'
Boxing on the back foot a lot of the time, DeGale showed his countering class and slowly but surely set up his man for the finish once they passed the halfway stage. Eight saw Chunky step it up and in the ninth he landed three hard left-hooks as Smith was on his way in. More big shots suggested the end was nigh but it took a vicious left uppercut when Smith was in a corner, for Howard Foster to step in and call a halt. Smith questioned it, the crowd booed it but DeGale celebrated it; his first significant success just over two years since striking gold in Beijing.
Watch James DeGale v Andre Dirrell live on Sky Sports 1, from 8.00pm, Saturday, May 23.
