Olympic gold medallist James DeGale has vowed to retain the style that saw him reign supreme in China earlier this year. The middleweight champion will be shortly be confirming his professional trainer, but says there won’t be too many changes style-wise when he makes his debut early next year. “Obviously I will need to do a few things differently,” said DeGale..
“But I must have been doing something right to win the Olympics. You don’t get a gold medal if you’re no good.
“Amir Khan showed last weekend that you can punch and move and be exciting in the professional ranks, and that’s exactly what I’m going to be doing.
“I’ll be looking to sit down on my shots and plant my feet a bit more, but I will still be using my hand speed and my elusiveness as a professional.”
DeGale, 22, has narrowed down his training options to two vastly experienced cornermen, and is expected to announce who he will work with before Christmas.
However the North Londoner says he has already returned to the gym to begin preparations for his first pro fight – which will probably be in February – and is relishing the thought of boxing again.
“I talked to a lot of potential trainers, including some guys in the north of England, but I’ve decided to stay in London because that is where my home is,” said DeGale.
“I need someone who will push me hard and the guys on my shortlist will certainly do that.
“It was great to get back into training last week. I love all the attention I’ve got since becoming Olympic champion and being asked to go to different events, but boxing’s what I do.
“When I got back in the gym and the heart was pumping and the sweat was flowing I felt like I was back where I belong.
“I’ll be training solidly now until I fight, and the only day I will have off is Christmas day.
“And that will be a proper day off – I’m planning on having a big Christmas dinner because I’ve been working so hard in the gym, but Boxing Day will live up to its name because I’ll be straight back in the gym!”
Kiilu bursts up Snarski
In a real crossroads battle between two boxers who could hardly afford to loose, Kenyan David “Silent Danger” Kiilu (now 30-9-2, 16 KOs) scored a twelfth-round stoppage of local hero Dariusz Snarski (now 26-29-2, 6 KOs) in Bialystok, Poland on Sunday December 14th. With the victory Kiilu captured the vacant UBC lightweight title.
While Snarski was the busier of the two, Kiilu landed by far the hardest and cleanest punches, and even had his adversary hurt on several occasions. Already in the first round Snarski began to bleed from his nose, and midway through the fight his left eye began to close after receiving numerous southpaw jabs from Kiilu. The fight was stopped by the doctor at the beginning of the last round when a huge, almost grotesque cut had literally split Snarski´s lower lip in two as a consequence of Kiilu´s many hard left hands.
In between the start and the finish, the fight had been ebb and flow with both warriors having their moments. Snarski started best and managed to press Kiilu to the ropes a few times before unloading, but as the fight progressed the visitor started to get the upper hand and seemed to have figured out how to handle the aggressive Pole with nice footwork and slick counterpunching. Many rounds were close, but while Snarski punched more, and handled himself best during infighting, Kiilu scored with several crisp, clean and hard punches from the outside and at times exhibited superb ring-generalship.
A happy manager Henrik Risum said after the victory:
“David made the fight too hard for himself in the first four rounds, and because of that it turned out to be too close for my liking. But I was stunned to hear after the fight that one of the judges had us behind by five or six points, which is an absolute hilarious joke. One judge had David in front by a few points, and the last judge had him trailing by one or two, which I won’t rant and rave too much about.”
“As it turned out, it was a close fight, and Snarski was fighting in his own back-yard and doing a helluva good job too, so I didn’t expect any favours in the scoring. I felt David was ahead by two or three before the twelfth, but I guess it turned out to be our luck that the doctor had seen enough blood before the final bell. At the end of the day all that matters is that David won, and deservedly so, but I must say that I am impressed with how well Snarski was fighting and both David and I want to congratulate him on his performance.”
Risum, still irritated by the ludicrous scoring from one of the judges, finished his evaluation of the fight by saying:
“I am very proud of David, and when that totally-off-the-mark-judge came up to me after the fight and told me that David was so-and-so lucky to win the fight, I couldn’t help but start laughing. I wish I had been cool enough to ask him what he thinks is most lucky: to win a fight with one punch that knocks your opponent out, or to win a fight with dozens and dozens of punches that cuts and bruises the other guy so bad that he cant continue? One punch can be lucky, but two hundred landed punches, or more, is not luck. That’s called SKILL!”
JESSE BRINKLEY HEADS TO D.C. FOR BOUT THIS SATURDAY NIGHT
RENO, NV (December 16, 2008) World ranked super middleweight Jesse Brinkley will travel to the nation’s capital, Washington, DC, this Saturday night to battle James Johnson at the Burr Arena in a six round bout.
With the announcement of “CIVIL WAR”, Brinkley’s cross town grudge match against Joey Gilbert set for Saturday, February 14th, at the Reno Events Center , the Yerington, NV resident will look to stay sharp with his last bout coming six months ago. He defeated Jason Naugler by unanimous decision on June 13th, sweeping all three judges scorecards in the twelve round bout.
“I’ve been training in Rhode Island with Peter Manfredo Sr. since September but this fight will give me an opportunity to shake a little rust off”, said Brinkley, 31-5-0 (21KO’s).
The 32 year old Johnson of Houston, Texas, brings a record of 23-30-3 (13KO’s) in the battle with Brinkley.
On the campus of Howard University, the Burr Arena is located at 2400 Sixth St. NW in Washington DC . The card is promoted by Cassandra White’s Babie Girl Productions, for tickets and more information; contact 202-365-5021 or www.babiegirlproductions.net
Jesse Brinkley is promoted exclusively by Terry Lane ’s “Let’s Get It On” Promotions of Reno, NV.. He is currently world ranked #11 by the IBF and holder of the WBC USNBC Super Middleweight title.
Reno, Nevada based “Let’s Get It On” Promotions was founded in 2000 by legendary boxing referee Mills Lane . In early 2005 he was joined by sons Terry and Tommy in the operations of the company. Along with Jesse Brinkley, Let’s Get It On Promotions also promote highly regarded brothers Tyler and Derek Hinkey. They have consistently promoted world class boxing events in northern Nevada .
Further information on “Let’s Get It On” Promotions can be viewed at www.letsgetitonboxing.com