Olympic champion James DeGale has completed his first week of training in Las Vegas with Floyd Mayweather Jnr. and says he knows what he needs to do to become world champion. The Londoner is in America for two weeks along with his trainer Jim McDonnell as he prepares for his fourth professional fight on the big Echo Arena show in Liverpool on October 30. DeGale, 23, who had an explosive first round win over Ciaran Healy in Manchester last month, will feature in a four-round middleweight contest..
He said, “This week has been an experience of a lifetime working with and watching the best pound to pound fighter on the planet Floyd Mayweather Jnr. Watching him train for 2-3 hours non-stop each day as made me realise how hard I need to continue working to become world champion. His drive, determination, discipline and dedication is second to none,”
“Floyd and Roger Mayweather, his trainer, have given me advise and tips after sparring with one of the gym’s hot prospects Deon Savage, 5-0 who I handled with ease. Savage said to me afterwards “You are going to the top and I am going to chase you there.” Savage has sparred Andre Ward and Andre Dirrell and he told my trainer Jim McDonnell that Ward and Dirrell have more experience than me, but I have more skill,”
“Unfortunately I did not get the chance to spar with Floyd as I am too big, but Steve O’Meara, who I train with at Loughton, had the privilege to have a couple of rounds.”
He added, “My trip to Vegas and Mayweather’s camp has been better than expected and without any doubt it has made me realise the saying we use “If you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail”. Mayweather never fails. As part of my learning curb I will certainly be following his script.”
Tickets priced at £30 (Tier), £40 (Tier), £50 (Tier), £100 (Floor), £150 (Floor) and £200 (Ringside) are available from:
Liverpool Echo Arena
0844 8000 400
www.accliverpool.com
THE BRAWL FOR IT ALL IS ON!!!
THE biggest all Brit clash of 2009 will take place on Friday 23rd October when Jamie Moore defends his European light-middleweight title against Ryan Rhodes.
Promoter Frank Maloney has also applied for the fight to be given eliminator status by the WBC which means the winner could become mandatory contender for Sergio Martinez’s crown.
The venue for this cracking punch up is yet to be confirmed by Maloney, but he expects it to take place in Manchester or Wigan.
Maloney said: “The fight is a natural with so, so much at stake.
“The winner will almost certainly get a world title fight next year, while the loser will find it hard to come back.
“I think Moore will win and go on to beat Martinez, but Rhodes is dangerous particularly early onand Jamie faces a tough night.”
Moore (32-3) is a former two time British champion and won the European title earlier this year by blasting out ex-world champion Michele Piccirillo inside three rounds.
In the Salford southpaw’s first defence he hammered one time Russian amateur star Roman Dzuman and is back on track after a bout of swine flu postponed a defence in July.
Moore, 30, will start favourite but knows that his Sheffield challenger will give him the hardest night of his career.
Rhodes, 32, first became British champion at the age of 20 in December 1996, but lost his way after losing a WBO middleweight title fight against Otis Grant a year later.
The southpaw (42-4) had rediscovered his best form recently and is on a seven-fight winning streak regaining the British title and winning the WBC international belt – belts he subsequently relinquished.
Ticket details will be released in the next couple of weeks.