BoxRec

Have to say James Degale looked very very impressive tonight, have to say he looks like the business, IMO a star of the future.

To outclass a top champion like Smith is top class in only his 9th pro fight.

well played Degale. Future world champion IMO

Very Calzaghe like. Wait until the Yanks see him, he will be big!

He'll get (significantly beaten) by a genuine World Class opponent.

whicker wrote:He'll get raped bumwise by a genuine World Class opponent.

Too right he a gooner tosser!

Above commentsd editted...

a Class act imo, and ive been saying that for along time even after the first pro fight

I reckon he could be ready for a world title shot in about a year. Perhaps Smith was a bit overrated on here; he comes across as a great guy on here, but he's had wars with fighters who aren't near world level.
Groves didn't look good against Anderson, so I'd back DeGale to win that one.
DeGale is 24, which obviously isn't old, but he'll be approaching his peak in about 18 months.

gb wrote:I reckon he could be ready for a world title shot in about a year. Perhaps Smith was a bit overrated on here; he comes across as a great guy on here, but he's had wars with fighters who aren't near world level.
Groves didn't look good against Anderson, so I'd back DeGale to win that one.
DeGale is 24, which obviously isn't old, but he'll be approaching his peak in about 18 months.

Alright mate. As you know, I've been singing Degale's praises for a long time. He's the brightest prospect we've had for a long time. I can't see a match up with Groves even being competative to be honest. Groves has so many fundamental flaws that Degale would exploit. I actually have serious doubts about Groves. For me, he'd have been stopped by Anderson if Anderson had had a full training camp and Chunky is in a different league.

gb wrote:I reckon he could be ready for a world title shot in about a year. Perhaps Smith was a bit overrated on here; he comes across as a great guy on here, but he's had wars with fighters who aren't near world level.
Groves didn't look good against Anderson, so I'd back DeGale to win that one.
DeGale is 24, which obviously isn't old, but he'll be approaching his peak in about 18 months.

A bit of an understatement

Degale was absolute class tonight. Particularly impressed with his ability to fight on the inside and his temperament. Even when the ref was IMO unnecessarily on case for holding, he kept cool. Scary that he's only 24. He's got a very bright future and on that performance he'd handle Groves.

DeGale was very impressive, but Paul Smith has never been nothing to write home about. If Smith was any good, Warren wouldn't of arranged the fight.

In terms of class, they were miles apart.

Yeah, I actually really enjoed the fight. All the best to DeGale, hope he does well.

carlbcfc wrote:Very Calzaghe like. Wait until the Yanks see him, he will be big!

That's exactly what I thought except with a stronger jab and better reflexes (not necessary a better defence though) really good performance though showed immense potential I see him as a definite world champ

on that performance degale would kill groves...degales the real deal if i was groves i would avoid him for a little bit longer.

Perfect end to a good year for DeGale. Wonder if Brian Magee is on his radar for next year

degale was class last night and he did it without getting out of 2nd gear i think hes gunna be a star feel sorry for smith losing in front of his home fans but i think hes lost to a class fighter no shame in that i like degale chats shit but backs it up i like that in a fighter

Terrrrry wrote:DeGale was very impressive, but Paul Smith has never been nothing to write home about. If Smith was any good, Warren wouldn't of arranged the fight.

In terms of class, they were miles apart.

DeGale did well and backed up all his talk. He has talent and promise, but is still green so lets not get carried away. He has beaten Paul Smith who is competent but is nowhere near world class as some people have stated, Forget these alphabet ratings.

To put it in perspective James DeGale, an Olympic Gold Medalist has boxed 30 professional rounds and just met his toughest test (on paper) in Paul Smith.

Then consider that former Olympic Silver Medalist, John Mugabi, fought Doug Demmings in his 30th professional round. two fights later he fought Gary Guiden. I would suggest that both these guys would have beaten Smith even giving a stone away.

DeGale can only beat those put in front of him and he is being handled very very well. But if he gets carried away into thinking that by beating Smith he is capbale of breaking top European and world class contenders, then he needs to think again. Its a bit early for that. DeGale now needs to be tested a bit, and maybe even some sparring with the likes of Carl Froch or dare I say it Bernard Hopkins.

i agree mcCannW14 theres no rush with degale but the talent is there but he needs a couple of years to become a bit more grizzled and then i think he can take on the the very best at his weight

Sparring with Froch would be good for him, i think he'd learn a lot from it in seeing how hard Froch works and how hard he hits too. In a couple of years Froch could then leave the division safe in the knowledge that there's another Brit ready to lead the way in the SMW division

whicker wrote:He'll get (significantly beaten) by a genuine World Class opponent.

What a pointless statement? A gold medal winner steps up in his 9th fight and completely outclasses a solid British champ with far more experience who had never been convincingly beaten - and some people can't find anything good to say?

I agree with the calzaghe comparisons, excellent performance from degale. Warren has got a job on his hands matching this guy now

carlbcfc wrote:Very Calzaghe like. Wait until the Yanks see him, he will be big!

the yank's didnt like calzaghe??

i dont think degales style will be appreciated stateside, he will allway's feature in good fight's as you have to fight hard to beat him & he has that mayweather esq slipperyness where he can avoid engaging in battle & i think people will watch him to see if he fail's as being cocky & cagey thrustrates people.

leforge wrote:

whicker wrote:He'll get raped bumwise by a genuine World Class opponent.

Too right he a gooner tosser!

What a pair you two are. The kid was in his ninth fight against a quality domestic operator, whom he fully outclassed and you two, especially whicker, are dismissing his future chance at world level. How do you reach that conclusion?

Moshe_Crescas wrote:

leforge wrote:

whicker wrote:He'll get raped bumwise by a genuine World Class opponent.

Too right he a gooner tosser!

What a pair you two are. The kid was in his ninth fight against a quality domestic operator, whom he fully outclassed and you two, especially whicker, are dismissing his future chance at world level. How do you reach that conclusion?

He a cocky pudendum I dont have to like him.

Cocky, arrogant, confident.....couldn't care less if he is 1 or all 3. Your not inviting him to your dinner party, he's won a gold medal for GB and after 9 fights is as good as any prospect I can think of in the last 10 years.
Smith was a solid, proven British champ. Showed great heart and guts but he was a level below Degale last night. I haven't seen any serious flaws that will stop Degale rising higher than British title level.
Happy to wager against anyone who fancies the opponent in his next 3 contests......

hes a fanny