Is James DeGale...

[ykdadamaja]

... a Bernard Hopkins trying to be a Roy Jones Jr.?

I liked his last outing. It was against Dyah Davis, a good, solid opponent. Upped his aggression a bit, which EVERYONE has been asking for.

He's not as crisp as Groves, but neither Hopkins is/was as crisp as Roy Jones Jr.

What next for DeGale? He has too much talent to be relegated to a good amateur with little to no professional upside. Would be such a waste if it happens like that for his career.

[g3org3]

He needs to try and get a belt then get the re match he wants with groves

[ykdadamaja]

He needs to try and get a belt then get the re match he wants with groves

Well, he is slated for a title eliminator with Perriban, the guy that fought Sakio Bika for the WBC strap and lost.

I feel he can beat both Bika and Perriban.

Bika is next up with Andre Dirrell, however. Dirrel is probably a heavy favourite over 12 rounds UD.

DeGale may be in with Dirrell at the next hop if he wins against Perriban, with Perriban a very good and underrated boxer. Not a big puncher, but good enough to win a few rounds and impress the judges.

Good little set up situation for DeGale. He has to win out all of these fights to get bigger ones.... with Dirrell being a big fight, but bigger and more lucrative ones can be made with Froch/GGG and/or Chavez Jr.

It seems as if everyone wants a bit of Chavez Jr. these days.

[Bo-Bo24]

How much do you think Mick Hennessy is holding DeGale back? If he fought for another promoter would his career be further along by now?

[ykdadamaja]

How much do you think Mick Hennessy is holding DeGale back? If he fought for another promoter would his career be further along by now?

I think quality sparring is what DeGale needs. He is being packaged well thus far. Hennessy is doing a fairly decent job considering the European options for Super Middle's. He's ok.

He should have won that fight against Groves. But apparently Groves is a lot tougher than folks gave him credit for at that time.

But, for DeGale's case, there is a lot he can improve IF he gets good quality sparring into his regimen. He may need to go to the USA for a few months stint and get in there under a Freddie Roach or Nazeem Richardson's tutelage.

I'm just saying...

[Dean Duke]

How much do you think Mick Hennessy is holding DeGale back? If he fought for another promoter would his career be further along by now?

I think quality sparring is what DeGale needs. He is being packaged well thus far. Hennessy is doing a fairly decent job considering the European options for Super Middle's. He's ok.

He should have won that fight against Groves. But apparently Groves is a lot tougher than folks gave him credit for at that time.

But, for DeGale's case, there is a lot he can improve IF he gets good quality sparring into his regimen. He may need to go to the USA for a few months stint and get in there under a Freddie Roach or Nazeem Richardson's tutelage.

I'm just saying...

I have seen DeGale at the Glow (awfull venue) he needs to step up his comp or he will be left behind, he is not as snappy as Groves or as good on his feet, the sparring needs to improve and he needs to put the gas on in his fights he just seems content to do just enough. I think he needs to dump fat Mick and get out of his comfort zone and challenge himself or he is going to find himself way behind his contemperaries.

[bzkfn]

How much do you think Mick Hennessy is holding DeGale back? If he fought for another promoter would his career be further along by now?

Absolutely it would. Hennessy is the most protective promoter in Europe by a country mile. Not one of his fighters goes into a legitimate test under his promotion.

Neither Darren Barker nor John Murray were in with a live body until they left Fat Mick.

Look at it now. Fury hasn't fought anyone that on paper would be considered dangerous. Eubank Jr. is just waiting for Saunders to give up his British or Commonwealth Title and is still fighting tomato cans. Junior Witter has been with Hennessy for a long time and during his reign, he only went in with a live body (Tim Bradley) because he was forced into a mandatory.

The only time Mick put his fighter in deep was with Froch going into the Super Six, and I bet that's because Froch pushed him into it. Froch binned him because Mick said he'd secured the Abraham fight in the UK, but only got a verbal agreement that they later went back on.

ITV stopped showing boxing altogether because they had a deal with Mick and his uncompetative fights brought in poor ratings.

[ykdadamaja]

How much do you think Mick Hennessy is holding DeGale back? If he fought for another promoter would his career be further along by now?

Absolutely it would. Hennessy is the most protective promoter in Europe by a country mile. Not one of his fighters goes into a legitimate test under his promotion.

Neither Darren Barker nor John Murray were in with a live body until they left Fat Mick.

Look at it now. Fury hasn't fought anyone that on paper would be considered dangerous. Eubank Jr. is just waiting for Saunders to give up his British or Commonwealth Title and is still fighting tomato cans. Junior Witter has been with Hennessy for a long time and during his reign, he only went in with a live body (Tim Bradley) because he was forced into a mandatory.

The only time Mick put his fighter in deep was with Froch going into the Super Six, and I bet that's because Froch pushed him into it. Froch binned him because Mick said he'd secured the Abraham fight in the UK, but only got a verbal agreement that they later went back on.

ITV stopped showing boxing altogether because they had a deal with Mick and his uncompetative fights brought in poor ratings.

But in DeGale's case he is simply not as seasoned yet. That's DeGale's case. While he is skilled, his professional demeanor in the ring needs definite sharpening.

Whether Mick is a ditherer or not, his dithering in DeGale's case is helping DeGale more than it has hurt. It has given folks a chance to chime in and stop DeGale's train before he destroys his professional rep any further than his loss to Groves has.

[son of bonters]

He needs to try and get a belt then get the re match he wants with groves

Bika is next up with Andre Dirrell, however. Dirrel is probably a heavy favourite over 12 rounds UD.

Bika is fighting Anthony Dirrell, not Andre.

[ykdadamaja]

He needs to try and get a belt then get the re match he wants with groves

Bika is next up with Andre Dirrell, however. Dirrel is probably a heavy favourite over 12 rounds UD.

Bika is fighting Anthony Dirrell, not Andre.

That kinda changes things then. He may have a chance to win a SD.

[Silkeyjoe]

I'm on the fence whether to like degale or not. I used to think he was a complete prick but since his loss to Groves he seems to be a bit more humble. I thought before the groves fight he would be a world champ. I haven't been as impressed since and doubt he will beat the top guys in the div but could still be champ if he gets Bika