James DeGale will get his chance to put right where he went wrong in his last fight this coming weekend.
‘Chunky’ will challenge the American native, Caleb Truax in a Las Vegas rematch this weekend following surrendering his world title to Truax at the CopperBox Arena in London late last year
Reflecting on that performance, DeGale offered a very frank and scathing assessment of his performance that night. DeGale also added that he believes his career and status will be on the line in the upcoming rematch.
https://twitter.com/boxnationtv/status/979674640904802304
It was a terrible performance, it was shocking,” said DeGale.
“I rushed my shoulder back after reconstructive surgery and if I’m being honest I took him lightly, I wasn’t very fit. It was a combination of those things really.”
“I’m very lucky that I’ve got a chance to make it right. My career is on the line 100 percent.”
“I’ve been criticised a lot, people are saying I’m shot. I don’t know how they think that because I’ve had two hard fights in my career — Badou Jack and the European title fight [against Piotr Wilczewski in 2011].”
“In my last two fights, my performances have been deteriorating so there’s a lot on the line but I know what I have left and I know what I’m going to do. I have a point to prove.”
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“He really believes that my shoulder is an excuse but we will see. I’m so confident of winning this fight and if I don’t I will retire.”
“If I can’t beat Truax and look good then I’ve given up my title and knock it on the head. Truax is a tough, strong competitor but if I can’t beat him that means I have gone backwards.”
“Looking forward there are some massive fights for me in London against Smith or Groves, but I’m just concentrating on Truax,” DeGale said.
“There’s a hell of a lot that’s on the line. I can’t believe we are at this point with me talking about retiring if I lose to Truax.”
DeGale also added that the thought of hanging up his gloves and calling time on his professional career ‘breaks my heart.’
.@jamesdegale1 (23-2-1, 14 KOs) was the first British boxer to win a Gold Medal in the Olympics (2008 Beijing Games) and a world championship as a professional. He returns to the ring to try to become a two-time IBF champion against Caleb Truax. #TruaxDeGale #FighteroftheWeek pic.twitter.com/ZPoszUbNSO
— Premier Boxing Champions (@premierboxing) March 17, 2018
“The thought of walking away from boxing breaks my heart. If I haven’t got it anymore I will quit. But I know what I have left — I’m 32 and this should be my prime. The last two fights ain’t been a fully focused and fit me.
“But talking is cheap and I have to get in there and do the business and get back the title and I have to look good. This has to be a statement fight.
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