BoxRec

James DeGale has denied that he is just boxing for money – despite admitting to giving up his world title to chase money-spinning fights.

The 32-year-old won back his prized belt in Las Vegas last year with victory in his rematch against Caleb Truax.

“Everyone thinks this is my last fight and that I am just cashing out. It’s annoying me,” DeGale said when the fight was confirmed.

“I gave up my title because my adviser Al Haymon told me who I was fighting and how much I was getting and it was annoying.”

“Then, two days later, he came back and said, ‘I have someone better for you, I have Eubank.’” DeGale continued. “It’s for much more money and I had to give up my title, but I said ‘yes’ and he has promised me another title shot before the end of my career.”

The former British, Commonwealth, European and two-time world champion aims to go out on a high, saying that he believes he far more in the tank ahead of the Eubank Jr. showdown, which has been long in the making and goes back to an infamous sparring session shortly after DeGale's aforementioned defeat to Groves.

“I’m financially nice. I’ve not got AJ [Anthony Joshua] millions, but I’m milled up,” he chuckled. “It’s a difficult one, knowing what to do after boxing, but I’m going to f*** Eubank up first and then I’m probably going to beat George Groves and call it a day. That would be perfect.

“Or beat Eubank, then another shot at a world title, then knock it on the head.”

Degales a joke. Hes avoided his mandatory to avoid a beatdown and thats a fact!

Uztecaguai wouldve battered him!

On paper Degale has had a perfect career - Olympic Gold then British, Commonwealth, European and World titles.

Yet, this doesn’t tell the full story - and of course he is a proper nob

‘I’m milled up’

What a div

lillywhite14 wrote: ↑06 Jan 2019, 12:02 ‘I’m milled up’

What a div

I'll always remember the build up to the Groves fight and him and Jimmy Mac waiting for the result to be read out,what a pair of absolute twats

Zero personality. I thought he was at least educated. Talks like a lamppost.

bigjack wrote: ↑06 Jan 2019, 12:09

lillywhite14 wrote: ↑06 Jan 2019, 12:02 ‘I’m milled up’

What a div

I'll always remember the build up to the Groves fight and him and Jimmy Mac waiting for the result to be read out,what a pair of absolute twats

And Adam Booth making the wanker sign at them both after.

Jimmy Mac then complained about this in an interview after the fight when he was a complete bellend in that press conference (the one where Tony Bellew called Cleverly a rat.) When the two boxers shook hands on that supposed bet Jimmy Mac was jumping around shouting at Adam Booth so for me Booth was completely entitled to his reaction.

bripez wrote: ↑06 Jan 2019, 11:44 On paper Degale has had a perfect career - Olympic Gold then British, Commonwealth, European and World titles.

Yet, this doesn’t tell the full story - and of course he is a proper nob

20 years time his resume will look bang average. For those of us that have followed it, meh, not so good. And the tail end of his pro career will have 4-3 = Truax loss, Truax win, Eubank Jr loss and whoever Haymon feeds him to in a "title" fight being a loss. So yeah, not that good.

Listen to the talk outta this div

bripez wrote: ↑06 Jan 2019, 11:44 On paper Degale has had a perfect career - Olympic Gold then British, Commonwealth, European and World titles.

Yet, this doesn’t tell the full story - and of course he is a proper nob

He never won the Commonwealth title unless you are including winning bronze at the Commonwealths as an amatuer

Steveh583 wrote: ↑06 Jan 2019, 14:47

bripez wrote: ↑06 Jan 2019, 11:44 On paper Degale has had a perfect career - Olympic Gold then British, Commonwealth, European and World titles.

Yet, this doesn’t tell the full story - and of course he is a proper nob

He never won the Commonwealth title unless you are including winning bronze at the Commonwealths as an amatuer

Just double checked and you are correct - the fight with Groves was for the British and Commonwealth titles and he lost that fight.

You get the gist though

bripez wrote: ↑06 Jan 2019, 15:23

Steveh583 wrote: ↑06 Jan 2019, 14:47

bripez wrote: ↑06 Jan 2019, 11:44 On paper Degale has had a perfect career - Olympic Gold then British, Commonwealth, European and World titles.

Yet, this doesn’t tell the full story - and of course he is a proper nob

He never won the Commonwealth title unless you are including winning bronze at the Commonwealths as an amatuer

Just double checked and you are correct - the fight with Groves was for the British and Commonwealth titles and he lost that fight.

You get the gist though

Soz to be a smart arse

Steveh583 wrote: ↑06 Jan 2019, 14:47

bripez wrote: ↑06 Jan 2019, 11:44 On paper Degale has had a perfect career - Olympic Gold then British, Commonwealth, European and World titles.

Yet, this doesn’t tell the full story - and of course he is a proper nob

He never won the Commonwealth title unless you are including winning bronze at the Commonwealths as an amatuer

Didn’t he win the ABA and all that other amateur stuff.. he was quite successful. His pro career, overall, he’s underachieve IMO. He might hype himself up. ‘British, European champion.. 2-time world champion’... but someone will look back on his resume in maybe 10 years and will think.. meh.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑06 Jan 2019, 15:40

Steveh583 wrote: ↑06 Jan 2019, 14:47

bripez wrote: ↑06 Jan 2019, 11:44 On paper Degale has had a perfect career - Olympic Gold then British, Commonwealth, European and World titles.

Yet, this doesn’t tell the full story - and of course he is a proper nob

He never won the Commonwealth title unless you are including winning bronze at the Commonwealths as an amatuer

Didn’t he win the ABA and all that other amateur stuff.. he was quite successful. His pro career, overall, he’s underachieve IMO. He might hype himself up. ‘British, European champion.. 2-time world champion’... but someone will look back on his resume in maybe 10 years and will think.. meh.

I'm sure if you told him at the start of his career what he'd go on to achieve, he would be more than happy. The problem is he never had momentum behind him or a defining fight. Too much jumping around with promoters. But hey, he's "milled up" so fair play.

What's with all the anti DeGale sentiment? The guy's done really well so far whichever way you look at it, and it's still not over.

He's also a very good fighter. I don't see Chris beating him, unless he's suddenly a spent force.

Noxy wrote: ↑06 Jan 2019, 17:03 He's also a very good fighter. I don't see Chris beating him, unless he's suddenly a spent force.

Which he probably is ,
Hasn't looked on it for ages now.

Noxy wrote: ↑06 Jan 2019, 17:03 He's also a very good fighter. I don't see Chris beating him, unless he's suddenly a spent force.

suddenly? he had two gruelling close fights with caleb truax and lost one of them

Noxy wrote: ↑06 Jan 2019, 17:02 What's with all the anti DeGale sentiment? The guy's done really well so far whichever way you look at it, and it's still not over.

He's a fornicating fanny, an arrogant tosser who thinks he's better than he is.

Steveh583 wrote: ↑06 Jan 2019, 16:39

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑06 Jan 2019, 15:40

Steveh583 wrote: ↑06 Jan 2019, 14:47

He never won the Commonwealth title unless you are including winning bronze at the Commonwealths as an amatuer

Didn’t he win the ABA and all that other amateur stuff.. he was quite successful. His pro career, overall, he’s underachieve IMO. He might hype himself up. ‘British, European champion.. 2-time world champion’... but someone will look back on his resume in maybe 10 years and will think.. meh.

I'm sure if you told him at the start of his career what he'd go on to achieve, he would be more than happy. The problem is he never had momentum behind him or a defining fight. Too much jumping around with promoters. But hey, he's "milled up" so fair play.

Wasn’t he with Hearn at the time he wanted Froch? Then obviously, whilst still being promoted by Hearn, he shipped himself overseas, aligned himself with Al, won a world title and made defences overseas. Then after his shoulder injury, he had no promoter. At the time he was fighting Jack, Hearn was also present. All throughout the build up he was begging for Mayweather to sign him up, clearly his Matchroom contract was ending right then. Big Frank W then signed him on a one-fight deal, brought him his first home defence, fücked that up! Lost the belt, then started yelling uncle Al’s name saying he gonna talk to him about the rematch. Got his rematch months later, won the title back.. vacated the belt and said he wants legacy/big money fights.. now we’re here.

rd350lc wrote: ↑06 Jan 2019, 17:10

Noxy wrote: ↑06 Jan 2019, 17:03 He's also a very good fighter. I don't see Chris beating him, unless he's suddenly a spent force.

Which he probably is ,
Hasn't looked on it for ages now.

I think he is spent enough"
For Eubanks flaws he is very fit, strong, determined, keeps coming and hits hard.
I think at this stage it will be too much for Degale.
Makes for an exciting fight.

Froch would have eaten Degale alive.

Alba wrote: ↑06 Jan 2019, 17:15

Noxy wrote: ↑06 Jan 2019, 17:02 What's with all the anti DeGale sentiment? The guy's done really well so far whichever way you look at it, and it's still not over.

He's a effing fanny, an arrogant tosser who thinks he's better than he is.

I know it's a cliche but, in boxing more than just about anything else, nice guys don't get that far. Arrogance, on the other hand can help. Fans want edge to their fighters and fighters know that and try to provide it. I can think of many boxers more obnoxious than James (I'm not going to name them).

Coco wrote: ↑06 Jan 2019, 17:22

rd350lc wrote: ↑06 Jan 2019, 17:10

Noxy wrote: ↑06 Jan 2019, 17:03 He's also a very good fighter. I don't see Chris beating him, unless he's suddenly a spent force.

Which he probably is ,
Hasn't looked on it for ages now.

I think he is spent enough"
For Eubanks flaws he is very fit, strong, determined, keeps coming and hits hard.
I think at this stage it will be too much for Degale.
Makes for an exciting fight.

Yes, it's a good match. I still have a problem with Eubank at supermiddle though, still it's not my decision. It's just with the way he fights and his size, I see him at middle.

With a style based on strength, middle def suits him better.
However the money is at 12 stone