James DeGale targets a rematch with Badou Jack
Wednesday 18 October 2017 17:19, UK
James DeGale has made a rematch with Badou Jack his main priority and admits he would have to go up to light-heavyweight for a return bout.
DeGale put his IBF strap on the line against the then super-middleweight WBC beltholder Jack back in January at the Barclays Center, Brooklyn.
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In an entertaining affair, both fighters hit the canvas before two of the three judges scored the unification showdown as a draw.
'Chunky', who has been out of the ring with a shoulder injury for most of 2017, feels that there remains unfinished business between the pair and the 31-year-old hopes that they can get in the ring again.
Badou Jack, that's the fight that I really want because I don't think Badou Jack is in my class at all
"Badou Jack, that's the fight that I really want because I don't think Badou Jack is in my class at all," DeGale told On The Ropes Boxing Radio.
"I know he's a good world-class fighter, but I just think styles make fights, and I don't think on my game when I'm fully fit, I don't think he beats me.
"It's frustrating that I made him look so good, I made him look like a world beater.
"It was a bit of a controversial end to the fight but a lot of people thought I won and a lot thought he won. So, I see no reason why we shouldn't get in the ring again."
Jack now operates at light-heavyweight and stopped Nathan Cleverly for the vacant WBA 'regular' title in September, a title 'The Ripper' has since vacated.
London's DeGale is aware that he will probably have to move up to 175lbs to pursue the rematch, but admits that he still has plenty of options at super-middleweight.
"If that fight happens, I'd probably have to go up in weight because I think he struggles to make 168lbs," 'Chunky' continued.
"I don't think he's coming back down, so I'd have to go up to him.
"There's a lot of fights out there for me, obviously Great Britain has a lot of big domestic fights with the likes of George Groves, Chris Eubank Jr and Callum Smith.
"I want to be boxing back at home because that's where the money is made.
"On the world scene though, there's some great fights, Benavidez just won a WBC world title and there's Gilberto Ramirez. Those are the kinds of fights I want to be in.
"I'm going to be a fully fit, injury free, super sharp, super fast and have super power in my next fight, expect a wicked performance."
