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.

[GAME]

Degale seems to have lost some snap in his punches. He was considered the banger going Into the groves fight but he has the reputation of a bit of a slapper like joe calzaghe. You're watching him box appreciating his skills but knowing he isn't going to spark anyone

He will be champ one day IMO

[Master]

Looks like De Gale is getting sidelined so must shine by getting a fight against the German or Bika who probably may lose to Dirrell.

[ykdadamaja]

DeGale just needs to go to Wild Card Gym with Roach or Brother Nazeem Richardson to work on that snap and crispness to his punches and he will be just fine.

I noticed the slapping too, and the lack of real pop to his punches. He has good movement and very good defense, he has good hand-speed and EXCELLENT timing, but Roach or Richardson WILL "fix" that slapping nonsense with no real weight behind the shots and teach him how to throw a hard-hitting professional punch.

He should consider it, spend the money with Roach and/or Richardson now, and then try to work back out of the UK when he has mastered real punching.

[ykdadamaja]

... on top of that, he leads in without throwing a punch. It's a nasty-lazy habit. If you are not going to throw a punch, then don't come in. At least initiate a clench. But, he just leads in, hands up, but without doing anything. That's not what a trained, elite and fully conditioned fighter does.

He needs some quality sparring and a coach that can correct these habits.

[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.

[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

[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.