James DeGale

DeGale Stays on Course; Galahad Impresses

degale66James DeGale made a successful first defence of his WBC Silver super middleweight title in Kent tonight against Stjepan Bozic. The English super middleweight improves to 16-1.

‘Chunky’ was entering the ring for the third time in only 6 months. The 2008 Olympic Gold medallist claimed the vacant title via a unaminous 12 round decision against the tough Colombian Fulgencio Zuniga back in December.

DeGale was guilty of losing focus that night, allowing his veteran opponent enjoy periods of success as the Englishman loitered unnecessarily on the ropes.

In his most recent outing the London native travelled to Canada where he comprehensively demolished Sebastien Demers in 2 aggressive rounds.

James DeGale: “I’m in it to win it!”

degale213Exclusive interview by Dan Emicus

How did you get into boxing initially?

I was a bit boisterous and naughty at school, so my Grandad suggested to my Dad that I do a bit of boxing to release some excess energy. I was 9 when I started and loved it from the beginning. Initially all I wanted to do was spar and I didn’t like the fitness side of it, but once I started having fights, I realised how important the fitness was.

You won a bronze medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. Was that the point where you and everyone around you believed that you could go on and win a medal at the Olympic Games?

It was actually a disappointment to get bronze at the Commonwealth Games as I was expected to come back with Gold, and to top it all I didn’t even win a medal at the World Championships! The experience and the buzz I got at the big competitions did however make me more determined to work hard and earn a place at the Olympics.

Nigeria’s Isaac Ekpo demands James DeGale clash

Ekpo being decorated as new WBO AFrica Super Middleweight kingBy Prince Dornu-Leiku: Fresh from winning the Interim WBO Africa Super Middleweight belt, Nigerian pugilist, Isaac Ekpo has declared his readiness to take on the very best Super Middleweights in world boxing beginning with Briton James DeGale, against whom he is demanding an immediate match-up.

Ekpo, nicknamed ‘Grenade’ claimed the vacant WBO title courtesy a round 2 knockout victory over Algerian Said Mada Hamou at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos Nigeria on December 2.

In fact, Nigerian fight fans enthusiastic to see mostly Ghana-based Ekpo who was fighting in the homeland for the first time in over a year and half, were highly disappointed at the short duration of the fight. Opponent, Hamou appeared to have a good start but after two minutes of the first round, Ekpo delivered quality shots and blows that soon had the Algerian dazed. In the event, the second round lasted just 20 seconds when Hamou couldn’t continue any longer.

DeGale struggles to beat Mohoumadi in a war

DeGale struggles to beat Mohoumadi in a warBy Michael Collins: In another poor performance from EBU super middleweight champion James DeGale (13-1, 9 KO’s), he went life and death tonight in defeating little known Frenchman Hadillah Mohoumadi (13-3-1, 9 kO’s) by 12 round unanimous decision at the Glow, Bluewater, Greenhithe, Kent, United Kingdom. DeGale took an awful lot of punishment in this fight and spent most of the fight against the ropes soaking up punishment.

The final judges’ scores were 119-109, 117-111 and 116-112. The scores were something of a joke because the fight was a lot closer than the scores would have you believe. 116-112 is a lot closer to reality, but even that was far off the mark. The judge that scored it 119-109 for DeGale appeared to be watching a different fight altogether because DeGale took a real beating in this fight and no way did he deserve to win the fight by that kind of score.

DeGale’s face was badly swollen on the left side of around his eyes from Mohoumadi’s hard right hands.