The former IBF super-middleweight world champion will bid to regain his title tomorrow night. He will rematch Caleb Truax who denied him a fourth successful title defence with a dogged and determined display at London’s CopperBox Arena.
Reflecting on that night, DeGale has been critical of his performance that night and he has once again echoed those sentiments.
“I was horrendous,” DeGale said.
“Anyone would’ve beaten me that night. You could’ve put anyone in the ring with me that night, and they would’ve beaten me.
“Because with this shoulder, I wasn’t fit as well.”
“I took everything far too lightly. I overlooked him. But don’t worry, I learned the hard way, man. I’ve done it all my life, learned the hard way.”
DeGale has once again stressed he didn’t feel physically prepared in the lead up to that first fight. DeGale however, says he exhibited some arrogance by thinking he still had enough in his locker to deal with Truax.
“The whole camp, the sparring and everything, I knew I shouldn’t be boxing,” DeGale said.
“But if I’m being honest, this is the way I was thinking – I was thinking it’s Caleb Truax. I can beat him with no hands.”
“I’ll just move my feet and jab. And when I get through it, I’ll just start the year off again, but I’ve still got my title and whatever. I’m getting paid. That was my mentality at that time.”
DeGale assured fans that there will not be any repeat mistakes this time around.
“I promise you I am not taking this guy lightly,” DeGale said. “I promise you. Do you think I’m taking this guy lightly again?
“The past four months, I’ve had a grey cloud above my head.”
“I haven’t wanted to go out. I don’t wanna see no one because I’m embarrassed about the performance, how I performed that night.”
“Do you really think I’ve taken this guy lightly again?”
“I’ve taken this guy extremely seriously. If anything, I think he has overlooked me.”
I think he’s thinking, ‘DeGale is saying his shoulder, his shoulder. There’s nothing wrong with his shoulder.’
I think he has overlooked me. I think he’s seriously underestimating me.”
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