Saturday afternoon at the Agganis Arena in Boston, James DeGale fights Andre Dirrell for the vacant IBF super middleweight title?
Saturday afternoon at the Agganis Arena in Boston, Massachusetts, in a fight televised live on NBC, James DeGale (20-1, 14 KOs), from Harlesden, London, UK, fights Andre Dirrell (24-1, 16 KOs), from Flint, Michigan, for the vacant IBF super middleweight title.
In anticipation of the fight, the boxers recently met with the press via teleconference call. Both expect to win, but neither takes anything for granted.
?You?re in for a treat,? said DeGale, ?because you?re going to watch two very talented hungry fighters fight it out for a world title. It?s going to be a hell of a fight, one I?m confident of winning. So fasten your seatbelts, man. It should be good. I?m buzzing. I really can?t wait.?
Not long ago DeGale was fighting before a handful of people in a shopping center. Those days are over and perhaps for good.
?It?s fantastic,? he said about moving to the big stage. ?A lot of credit has to go to Eddie Hearn. I?m a buzz fire. I like the big audience. I like the big lights. I?m just feeling real relaxed, chilled and ready to perform. Just being in America and knowing that I?m going to make my debut this Saturday in front of millions of Americans and in the UK?it?s going to be fantastic.?
Opinion is equally divided about whether DeGale or Dirrell walks away with the win.
?Momentum is a big thing,? DeGale said in his favor. ?Look at my last two performances against good, quality opponents and look his last three. Listen, I come from good pedigree and so does Andre. We?re good, quality, young fighters. But I just think overall, I?m better. I think he struggles. He doesn?t like it when it gets hard in there. He?s a competent fighter, but he likes it when he?s dictating the pace and he?s on the front foot.
?Well, I?m not going to let him rest. He thinks this is going to be a boxing match. Well, this ain?t. I?m telling him now. This ain?t going to be a boxing match. I?m going in there and I?m taking the title. I?m taking it. I?m ripping it away from him.?
