James DeGale insists the boo-boys will not sidetrack him in his bid to become a world champion.
Londoner vows to use Calzaghe and Mayweather as inspiration
James DeGale insists the boo-boys will not sidetrack him in his bid to become a world champion.
The 23-year-old, a gold medallist at the Beijing Olympics, was jeered by sections of the crowd in Birmingham on his professional debut last month.
DeGale was given the bird despite comprehensively outpointing Vepkhia Tchilaia over four rounds.
However, the Londoner has vowed to try and win over his critics when he steps back into the ring in Belfast on May 8 or 9, on the undercard of Martin Rogan's Commonwealth heavyweight title defence.
"I believe in myself and maybe people take that as cocky and flash but in this game you have to believe in yourself or you won't get anywhere," stated the middleweight.
"Joe Calzaghe and Floyd Mayweather both got booed in the early part of their careers and look where they are now.
"I'm used to it, though, in the Olympic final I got booed by the Cubans and the Chinese so I'm ready to deal with it, do what I do and beat what is in front of me.
"Of course I noticed it and I thought it must have been the Irish fans, but when I went to watch Amir (Khan) there were a few boos too, some cheers, but boos as well.
"I was a bit bamboozled by that to be honest because wherever I go all I get is support and love. It takes me hours just to walk to the toilet at these events because of all the autographs, so I wonder where are all these booing boys?"
Warren confident
DeGale's promoter Frank Warren also backed his charge to win over the fans in time, insisting the southpaw has all the attributes to become a world champion.
"I know there were a few people that booed, let's deal with it," he said.
"James is a winner, he's going to go all the way. He's got the mentality to do that and he's going to show the crowd just what he is capable of.
"I genuinely believe he has everything he needs to be a world champion provided he focuses and keeps his feet on the ground."
Like his first professional outing, DeGale will be joined on the undercard of Rogan's bout by fellow Warren signings Frankie Gavin and Billy Joe Saunders and the promoter feels all three will be contending for belts in the near future.
"I believe in all three of these guys, I think they are tremendous," he continued. "I'm confident that in the next 18 months they are going to have titles under their belts, maybe not world titles but certainly at a stage where they are going to have titles around their waists.
"They all have the pedigree to do that and they have already beaten the best in the world (at amateur level).
"If they go to Northern Ireland and do the business they will leave with the crowd cheering."
