DeGale on Froch: I'm all wrong for him

[BoztheMadman]

I sure hope you are.

James 'Chunky' DeGale is hoping for domestic super-fights and world honours after his win over Croatia’s Stjepan Bozic at the weekend. The 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist successfully defended his WBC Silver super-middleweight title at Glow, Bluewater, outclassing Bozic early on before his corner pulled him out at the start of the fifth round.

“I’m in boxing for the big fights,” DeGale said.

"Carl Froch is a very good fighter but everyone is making him out to be like The Terminator, who can't be beaten. But he has lost before and I think I'm all wrong for him."

Despite spending a little time on the ropes, DeGale never looked troubled by the Croatian Bozic, whose claim to fame is beating Carl Froch in the quarter-finals of the 2000 European Championships when the pair were amateurs.

DeGale was looking to impress and despite the action being temporarily stopped in the third and fourth rounds when he landed accidental low blows on his opponent, kept up a brisk pace.

By the end of the fourth, Bozic had soaked up a lot of punishment and his corner took the decision to stop the contest.

DeGale said: "He couldn’t take it any more. It wasn’t a vintage performance, but it was nice and I'm pleased.

"I’ve boxed my last four fights with a knee injury, but my knee is perfect now."

This was DeGale’s sixth victory since his controversial points defeat to arch rival George Groves back in May 2011. A rematch with Groves, or a shot at the winner of Cameroon-born Australian Sakio Bika and Mexican Marco Antonio Periban, who contest the vacant WBC world title in June, could be possible options for Chunky.

Watch DeGale's fight with Bozic on the Channel 5 Player - click here

 

[davemurphy]

Re: DeGale on Froch: I'm all wrong for him

 

I'm fine with Groves II or the Bika-Periban winner, both fights that I wouldn't take DeGale as the favorite, but this fascination with Froch has become laughable.

[poztin]

Re: DeGale on Froch: I'm all wrong for him

 

I'm all wrong for him

 

For once I agree with him. Likely to be a crap fight, with virtually nothing to gain for Froch.

 

Well said James.

[davemurphy]

Re: DeGale on Froch: I'm all wrong for him

 

For once I agree with him. Likely to be a crap fight, with virtually nothing to gain for Froch.

 

Well said James.

 

 

Agree, Poztin. It's the one thing he never addresses, just what the hell is in it for Froch?

[poztin]

Re: DeGale on Froch: I'm all wrong for him

 

He got the hump on saturday after his fight when interviewed by Richie Woodhall who had the nerve to point this out to him, and suggested by winning the WBC title he would have a much higher chance of making the fight with Froch.

[mofo2]

Re: DeGale on Froch: I'm all wrong for him

 

I'm fine with Groves II or the Bika-Periban winner, both fights that I wouldn't take DeGale as the favorite, but this fascination with Froch has become laughable.

He aspires to fight a genuine name there is nothing wrong with that,but he and Groves are high on drugs if they truly believe they can beat Froch at the level they are currently at!

[brooklynbrawler]

Re: DeGale on Froch: I'm all wrong for him

 

I agree with him in part...De Gale is slick and has fast hands, so looking at the fights Froch has had problems with, they've been similar opponents.

However, De Gale doesn't have the same lateral movement and upper body movement as Dirrell and Ward for example, so I can't see him making 12 rounds.

Can he outbox him for 7 or 8? Quite possibly...can he win the fight? I don't give him much of a hope.

[davemurphy]

Re: DeGale on Froch: I'm all wrong for him

 

I agree with him in part...De Gale is slick and has fast hands, so looking at the fights Froch has had problems with, they've been similar opponents.

However, De Gale doesn't have the same lateral movement and upper body movement as Dirrell and Ward for example, so I can't see him making 12 rounds.

Can he outbox him for 7 or 8? Quite possibly...can he win the fight? I don't give him much of a hope.

 

Brawler-

In that sense, I'll give him credit for seeing the strategic advantages of the style matchup and not just calling out a bigger name in the hopes of a payday. Like you, I disagree that he has the lateral movement, ring generalship, elusiveness and other things that have troubled Froch at times in the past, but I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt that he's simply overrating his own skills.

[davemurphy]

Re: DeGale on Froch: I'm all wrong for him

 

He got the hump on saturday after his fight when interviewed by Richie Woodhall who had the nerve to point this out to him, and suggested by winning the WBC title he would have a much higher chance of making the fight with Froch.

 

I'll have to look for that interview, Poztin. It's kind of hard for me to read the words coming out of DeGale's mouth on paper and get a sense of whether he's self-delusional or not.