Adam Smith gets to know James DeGale - and finds boxing's 'Mr Marmite' an acquired, but agreeable taste...
In the first of a two-part special, Adam meets the man behind the medal
He's confident, cocky, flash and brash. Many say he oversteps the mark with his bragging and even arrogance. Yet I now know it's safe to say... what you see with James DeGale MBE, is literally what you get.
When I saw James win gold in Beijing, I was surprised. He admits he was too! DeGale was never supposed to go the whole way. Yes he had the talent and the hand-speed but I wasn't sure he was rounded enough to cope in such a competitive and elite competition.
I first met him before his professional debut in Birmingham in February, and I must say I immediately thought he possessed that certain spark - even charm - which may be useful assets as he develops.
Boxing is of course not just about the pure art of the sport. There is pressure to sell tickets both from a stylistic and personable stance. We need strong fighters with good personalities.
Yet even though that gold medal was a wonderful achievement, it can also be a chain around the winner's neck. It hardly helped Audley Harrison through his professional stumble. (Anyone spotted Audley recently by the way?)
Pressure
There's huge pressure and a whole host of expectation on the shoulders of any medallist, let alone a golden one. So many people want to see them succeed; but some - rather sadly I think - crave for them to fail.
As most boxing fans know, promoter Frank Warren is bringing James DeGale through as part of an enticing trio, along with the former world amateur champion Frankie Gavin, and hot teenage prospect Billy Joe Saunders. They all need to perform each and every time, and they have the friendly competition of appearing side by side.
Billy Joe Saunders has the least pressure on him because he is the youngest; Frankie Gavin famously came home from Beijing for failing the weight and while he has to make up for that, James DeGale is still the young boxing man most under the spotlight.
After Saunders and Gavin both stopped their debut opponents, DeGale met the boo-boys in an unnerving start. The fact that James went on after his two comrades had made the perfect beginning to their professional journeys - and this looks to be the pattern for the foreseeable future - was part of the problem.
There was also plenty of Martin Rogan supporters there that night, and they may have had a pop at DeGale, because of his rivalry with Ireland's Darren Sutherland.
Dazzle
It was his rather amateurish fencing and a stand-off style that was most to blame over the four rounds. The display was just a tad dull. He easily beat the crab-like Georgian, Vepkhia Tchilaia, but didn't exactly dazzle - something, ironically Sutherland did when he stopped the same opponent in three.
Moreover, James tried to defend himself against his lacklustre performance in the interview afterwards. I think he was just frustrated and angry. Consequently he didn't come over too well. Boxing's all about ups and downs, and in many ways it's good to experience this early.
DeGale bounced back in May over in Belfast. He enjoyed a slightly better reception, and it was a far superior performance as he wiped out Jindrich Kubin from the Czech Republic in one round. Kubin was unbeaten in five, and although he looked fairly hapless and upright, it was the ideal response from DeGale - who also amused me in the post-fight interview.
I saw James the following week when we joined hundreds of fighters and fans at a special East End workout from the brilliant Floyd Mayweather, one of James' heroes. DeGale bounced in alongside his frenetic trainer Jim McDonnell, and took advantage of Mayweather's rather inefficient time-keeping to keep the crowd entertained with a session on the pads.
It made me think: it was time to go and pay James a visit at home to find out more about this enigmatic young fighter.
Pirouette
Twenty-three year-old James Frederick DeGale is a Harlesden man through and through. He is often listed as coming from Hammersmith. He might have been born in Hammersmith Hospital, but James wanted to make it perfectly clear that Harlesden, in North West London, is his patch.
I live in Acton, which is very close. In fact James was telling me he used to perform in Acton in ballet shoes! Pink ones?! Apparently James could do a mean pirouette and also excelled at tap-dancing!
This all took place at Barbara Speake's stage school. He was a really promising dancer! I can't wait to take him back there on a shoot! James also used to copy and practice Naseem Hamed's extravagant ringwalks at home, dancing in front of the television.
I met James at his lovely family home in Harlesden. I arrived early, so he called me to say 'knock on the door, and my brother Alex will make you a cuppa!' So I did! James is obviously very close to his family, which I always think is a good sign for fighters. Look at the success of Ricky Hatton and Joe Calzaghe, and how grounded they have always been.
James began boxing when he was nine, and his mentor was his grandfather Charlie. He boxed at Trojan and then Dale Youth ABC. James was nicknamed 'Chunky' because he was a tubby kid and that absolutely stuck. He says all his friends still call him 'Chunky', and never James.
Fighting
DeGale slipped up in his early teenage years, and began messing around the Harlesden area: "I was always in trouble, not really bad things, but I was lazy, smoking weed, and fighting," he said.
James used to sneak out at nights, and this is where his family come in. Mum Diane literally saved him from that alternative life. Diane and James' dad Leroy sat him down and threatened to kick him out of home, unless he sorted himself out fast.
He responded, and went back to boxing at Dale Youth. The natural talent that had been nurtured a few years before flourished again as he picked up schools and NACYP titles. DeGale struck gold in the Commonwealth youths in Australia in 2004, and then he really began to motor.
Meanwhile he was still a trainee plumber, but four years ago began concentrating solely on his sport; with his success had fortunately come an increase in funding. James DeGale became a two-time Senior ABA champion, before collecting Commonwealth bronze and finally Olympic gold last summer.
From a street terror to a role model for kids - another heart-warming boxing tale, the second part of which I will bring you in a couple of days...
What do YOU think of James DeGale? Has this changed your opinion? Let us know your view on one of British boxing's brashest and brightest talents...
