Peoples opinions on James Degales potential?

[lefty]

Personally im not a huge fan of degales and its for numerous reasons,the first one being that i dont like his arrogant attitude but aside from that i dont overly rate his boxing skills either.Ive watched all of his fights and im not impressed with his technique ie he slaps/cuffs with his shots,his footwork seems slow and he seems to plod,He constantly changes stances like literally every 5 seconds and he quite often comes in square on!As soon as he steps up in levels he's gonna be found wanting unless he improves those technical deficiencies!On the plus side he has pretty decent handspeed and i also think he has a fair bit of punching power also if you dont focus on his technique.Anyway he's clearly got ability otherwise he wouldnt of won a gold medal at the olympics but just going on what ive seen so far im not majorly impressed to be honest and when you compare him to the likes of Andre Ward and Andre Dirrell,guys who are fellow olympic medallists i dont think he matches up in technique or speed!I know people will say that they have had more fights,etc which is true but just looking at the fundamentals degale doesnt seem to be on the same level.

[bennie]

He has only had seven fights so you can't compare him to Dirrell. There seems to be an antipathy towards DeGale because, I believe, the fans were betrayed by Audley Harrison in terms of their faith in the once-proven ability of an Olympic gold medallist. DeGale is a nice kid, he's only 24, he's hitting hard and he steps up big-style in September.

[Counter-puncher]

I agree with you lefty his fundamental skills aren't as good as his athletic gifts and he does sloppy stuff i really don't like.

also agree with bennie that audley has something to do with degale's lack of popularity

[ALI]

I dont rate him either, he has shown me nothing in any of his pro fights so far, i'd take George Groves to give him a spanking.

When you think about all of our biggest stars over the recent past that went on to become world champions like Hatton, Calzaghe, Naz, Benn, Eubanks, Haye, Khan etc etc, all of them looked exceptional in their early days as pro's. Any future world champion worth their salt should be able to at least show something when fighting at such a low level but DeGale, like Audley before him, has looked rotten, so any comparisons between the two are justified IMO!

[bigdaddy]

I dont rate him either, he has shown me nothing in any of his pro fights so far, i'd take George Groves to give him a spanking.

When you think about all of our biggest stars over the recent past that went on to become world champions like Hatton, Calzaghe, Naz, Benn, Eubanks, Haye, Khan etc etc, all of them looked exceptional in their early days as pro's. Any future world champion worth their salt should be able to at least show something when fighting at such a low level but DeGale, like Audley before him, has looked rotten, so any comparisons between the two are justified IMO!

I heard in manchester yesterday Degale is boxing Carl Dilks, will slap him to bits

[whiskey]

I see why many regard him as a plonker. I don't think there is any real malice in him, but he is not very cool !

I recall the cameras going into his changing room, with him doing stupid dance moves and then completely screwing up the pad work for the camera. Then he danced into the ring with that absolutely talentless MC singing 'chunky'.

I desperately tried to get down to the Notts gym where he was to take the piss, but couldnt get out of work. He was there with Jaffa and Froch for a Lonsdale thing.

I want him to do well, like all the other lads we have from these shores. I just wish he'd drop the poncing about for a minute, talking about the women, china white and his range rover. And to concentrate on what it took to get where he was.

There are stone cold warriors in boxing and there are playboys. I think Degale falls into the latter. And most playboys end up prostrate on the canvas with people laughing at them.

Roberto Duran, Marvin Hagler, Miguel Cotto, Erik Morales, Antonio Barrera.... would you imagine them coming out like a prat to their fights ?

To borrow a phrase from 90's icon, Angry Frank (as portrayed by Harry Enfield)

Oi !

Degale !

No !!!

[hitman_hatton1]

best prospect in british boxing.

take that to the bank.

[iamasadlittleboy]

Arrogant and cocky whilst flawed. I'm not a fan and think Groves is significantly better.

[hitman_hatton1]

To borrow a phrase from 90's icon, Angry Frank (as portrayed by Harry Enfield)

Oi !

Degale !

No !!!

i think he's got the ability to go all the way.

he can fight going forward and box well on the backfoot.

looks a tough sort.

although i admit his chin hasn't been fully tested yet. :>

just a matter of time before he's mixing it with top fighters.

[DavidPayne]

As long as he's doing the hours int he gym and listening then, then the playboy-arrogant marketing scam could make him very wealthy.

Plenty will pay to watch someone else try and shut his mouth.

[iamasadlittleboy]

As long as he's doing the hours int he gym and listening then, then the playboy-arrogant marketing scam could make him very wealthy.

Plenty will pay to watch someone else try and shut his mouth.

Lets see how that works for Anthony Small

[Chambers2]

We'll know alot more on 19th Sept

[hitman_hatton1]

We'll know alot more on 19th Sept

that'll just be another marking time fight.

won't learn much.

like to see an eliminator for the british by the end of the year tbh.

he's bombing thru the level he's at right now.

[Wrists]

DeGale I think could be the best prospect we have had for a long time.

Dont be fooled too much by Groves's win over Adamu, Adamu was shot to pieces and Groves gets a lot of leeway as he is a non FW fighter.

If Degale beats Dilks easily which he could do even though Dilks is a tough fighter then its a very good win.

I think Degale provided he continues to work hard will go all the way, as will Frankie Gavin.

Billy Jo Saunders - euro level
Jeffries - euro level
Price - too early to tell although power wise he could be world class.

In terms of the other 'prospects'. Stephen smith looks special.

Travis and Jon Lewis Dickinson are the sleepers in that they may get quite far without anyone talking about them.

Dont be fooled by Jon-Lewis's loss the other night, as long as he puts it right in September then jobs a goodun.

[iamasadlittleboy]

Scott Quigg is definitely one to watch as far as Brit prospects go.

[lefty]

I really dont think Degale will turn out to be anything that special!I think he has a good chance of becoming a world champion but thats because he has the countrys most powerful promoter behind him who can match him very cleverly but he isnt anything that special!If you take his olympic gold medal away for a sec and look at his overrall amateur career he didnt even win the commonwealth championships he got a bronze medal in that and him and Sutherland R.I.P fought 4 times and Sutherland won 3 of the 4 times!Compare that to say Andre ward who hasnt lost a fight amateur or pro since 1996!Frankie Gavin is the guy i rate highest out the bunch and Tony Jeffries told me he's the best guy he's ever been in the gym with!

[Bomber 1]

Chunky can fight, He's very misunderstood and while I see why he comes across as arrogant he really is ok, Gotta know him to be fair, He's very very confident and ambitious, I don't think he'll ever be as good as Ward BUT eh not many will, Ward is elite class, I feel them kind of fighters are very few and far between, However I feel we do have 1 elite fighter in this country in Frankie Gavin!!! A World Championship Gold Medal is the hardest thing to win in the am's imo and Frankie has that, It's not just the fact that he has 1 it's the manner in which he won it for me....

[lefty]

Chunky can fight, He's very misunderstood and while I see why he comes across as arrogant he really is ok, Gotta know him to be fair, He's very very confident and ambitious, I don't think he'll ever be as good as Ward BUT eh not many will, Ward is elite class, I feel them kind of fighters are very few and far between, However I feel we do have 1 elite fighter in this country in Frankie Gavin!!! A World Championship Gold Medal is the hardest thing to win in the am's imo and Frankie has that, It's not just the fact that he has 1 it's the manner in which he won it for me....

Hi Tony!Im new to the forum so just thought id say hello :) You're probably right regarding Chunky,maybe he's not really that confident underneath and its a defense mechanism you dont know!Just going on what ive seen i dont doubt his heart or his toughness because he doesnt seem to be fazed when he gets hit back and he also does seem committed to succeding even if it doesnt come across in the right way at times.I just feel that technically at times he is lacking ie his punches are abit loopy rather than straight and he paws abit too much with his jab.He also changes stance too often for my liking and as result sometimes comes in square on.On the POSITIVE!Lol.He does have good handspeed and even know his shots arent technically correct i do believe he can punch!What do you make of my assessment mate?!Ha :)

[jBacca]

I think Chunky has looked quality so far.

There have been times in bouts when he looks below-par, but it's plain to see he's been trying new things, which I like.

When he gets it all together, he'll be pretty special.

[Twinkle Toes]

No one can say he isn't being given the full support of building up a hot prospect, but the flaw with that is complacency, especially with British fighters.

I think the signs are ingrained already that when the going gets tough he won't be able to adapt, it's just a matter of how far he can go before that will give him his first loss.

I see parallels with Kevin Mitchell - He's going to look good and bad amassing a pretty impressive unbeaten record, and will then fail at the final hurdle.

[iftkwoody]

Not a fan myself don't like his style his arrogance or his ring entrances lol but he's doin it do far so let's just see where he gets to I'd love to spar him myself to see how those slaps he throws really hurt? Both him and groves seem pretty easy to hit so should be a good one if they get it on. I'd go for groves I reckon!!

[Dioufy]

Undecided on how far he'll go, but one thing's for certain, he looks like a cock in his ring-walks. And it's not even funny, like Usman Ahmed - it just makes you have society.

[FIGHTFANs]

Personally im not a huge fan of degales and its for numerous reasons,the first one being that i dont like his arrogant attitude but aside from that i dont overly rate his boxing skills either.Ive watched all of his fights and im not impressed with his technique ie he slaps/cuffs with his shots,his footwork seems slow and he seems to plod,He constantly changes stances like literally every 5 seconds and he quite often comes in square on!As soon as he steps up in levels he's gonna be found wanting unless he improves those technical deficiencies!On the plus side he has pretty decent handspeed and i also think he has a fair bit of punching power also if you dont focus on his technique.Anyway he's clearly got ability otherwise he wouldnt of won a gold medal at the olympics but just going on what ive seen so far im not majorly impressed to be honest and when you compare him to the likes of Andre Ward and Andre Dirrell,guys who are fellow olympic medallists i dont think he matches up in technique or speed!I know people will say that they have had more fights,etc which is true but just looking at the fundamentals degale doesnt seem to be on the same level.

Not many on here if any can say they won Gold, lot of jealous people about you have a lot to say

[Dioufy]

Is 'FightFans' James DeGale?

[lefty]

Is 'FightFans' James DeGale?

Lol whoever it is has just accused me of not being new to boxrec which i am and of being a two faced tosser!Ha