James DeGale predicts classic super-middleweight contest against Badou Jack in January
Thursday 17 November 2016 10:33, UK
James DeGale is excited to have the chance to fight Badou Jack and unify the IBF and WBC super-middleweight belts in a clash he sees as "the best fighting the best".
DeGale (23-1-KO14) and Jack (20-1-2-KO12) will meet at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on January 14 in a unification fight that sees boxing make a return to New York after a five-month absence.
Live Fight Night International
'Chunky' will be defending his IBF title for the third time, having defeated Lucien Bute and Rogelio Medina since he took the vacant belt by beating Andre Dirrell in May 2015.
He has been out of action since April, when he won a points decision over Medina on the same card in Washington DC that saw Jack fight out a draw with Bute.
"I am so happy that this fight has finally been made," DeGale said at a press conference in Brooklyn. "This is the best fighting the best.
"This is what boxing is all about. Badou Jack is a very good fighter and he's underrated. I am going to have to be 100 per cent on my game to beat him, but I am confident I will deliver on January 14.
"I have already fulfilled my dream of becoming a world champion and now it is time to unify."
Jack took his belt from Anthony Dirrell a month before DeGale beat the American's elder brother Andre, and went on to beat George Groves on a split decision before his close call against Bute.
And he is confident of taking another British scalp and inflicting only a second career defeat on DeGale, whose sole defeat came against bitter rival Groves in 2011.
"I'm expecting a very tough fight from James DeGale," said Jack, who was born in Sweden but fights out of Las Vegas under the direction of Floyd Mayweather Jr.
"I'm very confident that I'm going to win the fight and become the unified champion. This is an incredible stage to be at Barclays Center and I'm going to take full advantage of it. I'm ready to make my mark as the best in the division."
