European Champion DeGale In Conflict With Promoter

Within the past week reports have surfaced in the British sports media that states James DeGale, the former British Super-Middleweight Champion and current European Champion, has split with his promoter Frank Warren after four years.

DeGale, who turned professional after winning gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics at Middleweight, becoming the first British fighter to do so in the division since the late Chris Finnegan in 1968, signed for Warren alongside his amateur team mates Frankie Gavin and Billy Joe Saunders.

DeGale reportedly made the decision to leave his promoter due to the fact he feels that his career has slumped following the loss of his British title to former amateur rival George Groves at the 02 Arena in May, 2011.

This despite that fact that DeGale has since gained the European title at 12 stone (168 lb) after defeating the Pole Piotr Wilczewski on points and is currently ranked just outside the top 20 in the world in a very deep and competitive Super Middleweight division

Warren, a Hall of Fame listed promoter, reacted immediately by stating that DeGale is still under contract to his company, Frank Warren Promotions, until the 14th April, 2013.

Under Warren, DeGale has become one of the best paid fighters on the domestic scene in the UK. The promoter guided DeGale to a winning British title shot against Liverpool’s Paul Smith in just DeGale’s 9th professional fight, only to lose his first defence of a unification match with Groves on majority points decision.

Initial reports alleged that the dispute between Warren and DeGale first surfaced after purse bid complications for DeGale’s mandatory first defence of his European title against the Italian Christian Sanavia.

A European Boxing Union circular published on the website of the British Board of Control dated on the 11th of this month has stated that this fight shall take place at Wembley Arena, promoted by Warren.

However, DeGale’s biggest fight could be in the law courts against his own promoter if this dispute cannot be resolved.