What's on the horizon for Degale?

[Stuarty]

Yeah, although with both associated with Al Hayman, who doesn't like to travel - I cannot see it happening, but yes DeGale is the proper champion he SHOULD have home advantage.

After Andre's bitch fit after the Froch bout I can't see him being too excited about heading back over here.

Don't get me started on that one... Not saying I'm a huge Dirrell fan - I admire his skill set though and would have loved to have seen him and Ward at their pomp go for it... but for me Dirrell vs Froch was one of the worse decisions in a UK ring.

I thought Dirrell had it although it was a horrible fight and I've never watched it back and never will. Was a long watch that night man!

[SaadOffTheDeck]

I had dirrell by a point and a bet on dirrell and I was happy he lost. His performance made Oscars performance down the stretch against Tito look like an Erik morales highlight reel. Andre dirrell is the one fighter I'm comfortable calling a bitch made pussy.

[gilgamesh]

Yeah, although with both associated with Al Hayman, who doesn't like to travel - I cannot see it happening, but yes DeGale is the proper champion he SHOULD have home advantage.

After Andre's bitch fit after the Froch bout I can't see him being too excited about heading back over here.

Don't get me started on that one... Not saying I'm a huge Dirrell fan - I admire his skill set though and would have loved to have seen him and Ward at their pomp go for it... but for me Dirrell vs Froch was one of the worse decisions in a UK ring.

I thought Froch deserved it myself. Dirrell performed great down the stretch in the fight when he found his balls, but he fought like a scared little child for the first several rounds so Froch kept getting 'em by default. By the time Dirrell started opening up, and fighting he had already given too much anyway.

[gilgamesh]

I had dirrell by a point and a bet on dirrell and I was happy he lost. His performance made Oscars performance down the stretch against Tito look like an Erik morales highlight reel. Andre dirrell is the one fighter I'm comfortable calling a bitch made pussy.

[lefty]

A set of false nashers in the bedside drawer.

[PredatorHayds]

I don't like the Dirrells especially Andre and the Uncle.

But Andre has never lost a fight on my scorecard. I had him edging both Froch and DeGale

Shows the thin margins in boxing. He gets them decisions he's a big star. Instead he's largely forgotten due to disputing fights and inactivity.

[lefty]

I don't like the Dirrells especially Andre and the Uncle.

But Andre has never lost a fight on my scorecard. I had him edging both Froch and DeGale

Shows the thin margins in boxing. He gets them decisions he's a big star. Instead he's largely forgotten due to disputing fights and inactivity.

I thought that Andre had noticeably declined athletically when he fought Degale. His foot speed in particular was noticeably slower. His hands didnt look as quick as they once were either. One area where he was far improved was the amount of heart he showed. He was a lot more gutsy than he had shown in years gone by.

[gilgamesh]

I don't like the Dirrells especially Andre and the Uncle.

But Andre has never lost a fight on my scorecard. I had him edging both Froch and DeGale

Shows the thin margins in boxing. He gets them decisions he's a big star. Instead he's largely forgotten due to disputing fights and inactivity.

I thought that Andre had noticeably declined athletically when he fought Degale. His foot speed in particular was noticeably slower. His hands didnt look as quick as they once were either. One area where he was far improved was the amount of heart he showed. He was a lot more gutsy than he had shown in years gone by.

Finding your balls once you can't fight as good as you used to be able to....how ironic.

[Twinkle Toes]

I think we have seen the best of Degale

[jamamb]

I think we have seen the best of Degale

pretty sure ur right. looked downright ragged against porky and look what happened to porky next fight. boxed well at times vs jack but ended up taking a lot of punishment. more than groves did against jack even though groves lost. seems like a wearing down fighter though maybe im being hasty.

[gilgamesh]

I think we have seen the best of Degale

pretty sure ur right. looked downright ragged against porky and look what happened to porky next fight. boxed well at times vs jack but ended up taking a lot of punishment. more than groves did against jack even though groves lost. seems like a wearing down fighter though maybe im being hasty.

Another thing too is that guys are just figuring him out more and more. Every time I've seen Degale fight he does well early in the fight, and then fades and struggles down the stretch of the fight.

If I see that, and the fans see that, you know damn well his opponents see that too. It's harder to keep guys from beating you when they know what to expect from you, and have trained for it.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

He was also in both of those fights with a bum shoulder. He's definitely taken a good deal of punishment but I'll wait to see him healthy.

[northern]

It's a strange situation for Degale right now since his choice of ideal and likely opponents is open for debate.

The first choice would the interim champion But it's the same person he beat for the belt so it's up to the IBF if they really want to force a unification bout and risk a repeat of the same match again against Andre Dirrell.
and even looking past him to the highest ranked person in the IBF otherwise is Jose Uzcategui, who Dirrell's just beaten for the interim belt making the waters even murkier unfortunately.
Gilberto Ramirez is looking for an opponent but he isn't booked to fight until February 2018 when he'll defend his belt, and after a long lay off I doubt Degale's team would risk such a big fight so soon. After that his biggest domestic rivals in Eubanks Jr. and Groves are in the Super Series so they're out of the question.

For a fight before the end of the year, Domestically his best fight would be with Rocky fielding right now, Who's just won both the commonwealth and British titles this year so he's a worthwhile contender and on a four fight win streak, so he's no push over and a growing name.
Outside of that a good return fight could be made against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr or with Arthur Abraham, both men coming off loses but with Degale coming back from injury the field could be level and a proven big name would be a worthwhile fight for him.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Dirrell and uztegui we're ordered to rematch.

[TheGingerBomber]

I'd bet on Degale vs Eubank being British FOTY if it ever happened. I'd also bet on Eubank. There's so many fights at SMW for these lads, I hope we aren't denied them.

[KiwiRider]

It's a strange situation for Degale right now since his choice of ideal and likely opponents is open for debate.

The first choice would the interim champion But it's the same person he beat for the belt so it's up to the IBF if they really want to force a unification bout and risk a repeat of the same match again against Andre Dirrell.
and even looking past him to the highest ranked person in the IBF otherwise is Jose Uzcategui, who Dirrell's just beaten for the interim belt making the waters even murkier unfortunately.
Gilberto Ramirez is looking for an opponent but he isn't booked to fight until February 2018 when he'll defend his belt, and after a long lay off I doubt Degale's team would risk such a big fight so soon. After that his biggest domestic rivals in Eubanks Jr. and Groves are in the Super Series so they're out of the question.

For a fight before the end of the year, Domestically his best fight would be with Rocky fielding right now, Who's just won both the commonwealth and British titles this year so he's a worthwhile contender and on a four fight win streak, so he's no push over and a growing name.
Outside of that a good return fight could be made against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr or with Arthur Abraham, both men coming off loses but with Degale coming back from injury the field could be level and a proven big name would be a worthwhile fight for him.

That makes a lot of sense. Fielding would be a good way to ease back into it after the surgery. Abraham is shot IMO, his fight with Eubank Jr was terrible and he barely threw more than 20 punches per round. People write James off because of his last two fights, both of those were under an injury cloud. If his rehab has gone well, then an outing against Fielding will show what he has left to give. Rameriez would be too much too soon

[lefty]

I don't like the Dirrells especially Andre and the Uncle.

But Andre has never lost a fight on my scorecard. I had him edging both Froch and DeGale

Shows the thin margins in boxing. He gets them decisions he's a big star. Instead he's largely forgotten due to disputing fights and inactivity.

I thought that Andre had noticeably declined athletically when he fought Degale. His foot speed in particular was noticeably slower. His hands didnt look as quick as they once were either. One area where he was far improved was the amount of heart he showed. He was a lot more gutsy than he had shown in years gone by.

Finding your balls once you can't fight as good as you used to be able to....how ironic.

such a cynic. That's a fair point. In fairness to him though, I guess he could have still quit in the early stages of that fight though.

[Stuarty]

After Andre's bitch fit after the Froch bout I can't see him being too excited about heading back over here.

Don't get me started on that one... Not saying I'm a huge Dirrell fan - I admire his skill set though and would have loved to have seen him and Ward at their pomp go for it... but for me Dirrell vs Froch was one of the worse decisions in a UK ring.

I thought Froch deserved it myself. Dirrell performed great down the stretch in the fight when he found his balls, but he fought like a scared little child for the first several rounds so Froch kept getting 'em by default. By the time Dirrell started opening up, and fighting he had already given too much anyway.

Fair point mate. I wouldn't argue either way as it was close and hard to score.

[Ossyrules]

I wouldn’t write off chunky till we see what he’s like after surgery. Missing the tournament is a missed opportunity for him, but if he claimed he was boxing not at 100% and needed the surgery, then it’s a good call.

Hope groves keeps his belt and then get it on again