Seriously, Degale??

Another shopping centre, another Degale fight another day.....

How can he even be taken serious as a world title contender??

That was one of the most boring fights I've ever sat through....and I watched Skelton vs Sprott 2!!!!!!

Can't wait until his own bubble bursts because I fail to see how any fan of the sport can explain how he is a serious contender when he makes fights like that seem a massive struggle.

Any title holder or slight level below would have emptied that guy Davies in a heartbeat. But Degale stumbles around with his useless power.

He is miles off the level he thinks hes at.....but hey, theres always a shopping centre that needs a headline act when the boxing is on.

Fat Mick "the worlds his oyster"......really Mick??? A guy that can barely sell a 10p mix up?? Boxing is a business first and foremost....and James isn't a draw.

Really going nowhere fas....slow.

DeGale's similar to Bellew.

If talking was worthy of being world champion, both would be undisputed champions.

DeGale gets destroyed by all the title holders at 168, even Bika who's very average.

It was a shocking fight between 2 very average boxers, Degale needs to fight a real live opponent because so far he has only done that once and lost. If he gets a title shot on the back of that display against a journeyman here just to do the rounds then boxing is in a bad place. Degale showed tonight why he is still fighting in shopping centres he is dire to watch and other than fast hands there is nothing to get excited about.

Did you see Chris Eubank knock out the tin can and stare into the camera as if he had just knocked out a prime Ali hahahaha

These Hennessy cards/fighters make me want too cry. I know people say "but at least boxing is being shown on terristrial Telly" but to be honest, I'd rather not see this garbage on TV. If the casual is being exposed to these weak, cheap, embarrasing cards then showing it on Channel 5 is a bad thing.

I honestly dont think i will bother to watch it next time Channel 5 show fights, its almost painful to watch.

That was poor. Shame Mick Hennessey is in charge of this crew on ch5, he has no idea what he is doing.

Degale hasn't improved since Paul Smith fight. Same old story.

De Gale will win a strap next year


Decent performance, 12 rounds under the belt against a nice level operator.

Steads him well going into the eliminator

Nice to see him active and free to air to the public.

I genuinely hope he can up his game when the quality of oppo increases. Hennessey surely can't be blamed for Degale's lack of obvious progress in the ring though, personally I think he's dine well to keep his head down. The issue is, when he sticks it back up again he should be a better fighter but that blame lies squarely with his moronic trainer.

Easy to blame the trainer, but it could also be the this is as good as Degale is gonna get. Take away hype of the gold medal and what we have is a 27 year old prospect who has not got better in the last few years and is so boring to watch that he fights in Bluewater. Not sure he will every be more than a fringe contender now he still throws punches like an amateur has no real power and does nothing really at a championship fighter level other than talk.

This has been a lot of times DeGale has made it painful too watch fighting a seriously woeful opponent. He claims he is being dodged and deserves to be mentioned along with Froch, Ward etc....imagine what would happen too Davis against Froch, Ward, even Bute, Groves etc. there's no way on this earth he would have seen the final bell. Yet DeGale slapped and held, had his nose busted and was caught far too much. His situation is comical. Terrestrial TV does not need shabby cards like this, a few mates text me last night laughing at channel 5's coverage. Any wonder most casual sports fans say UFC is more exciting than boxing if being exposed to the Hennessy Shopping Centre Promotions is what they are seeing. Pointless fights and then to rub salt into the wounds Richie and Al Bernstien are praising DeGale as if he put on a clinic against Andre Ward.

Have not seen the fight but there seems to be loads of Degale haters here so will have to wait to see it in Demand 5...

from the reports he completely out boxed the guy apart from being caught mid fight a couple times..

people ask why he should get a World shot?, because all of the other level fighters he has fought he has out classed so why should he not step up?

It's not just DeGale tunes , it's the awful opponents he gets put in with, the shabby production and the useless commentators.

Now last night DeGale did win almost every round but he made it look so complicated and terrible to watch. His punches last night were remenisant of a Paulie Malaggnaggi (sp) fight. I would even take Callum Smith to have laid Davis out in at least 3 rounds. And yet this is a guy who is being talked about as a future Ward opponent. He is going to get mopped up at world level if these performances are anything to go by

Agree Tunes. Rounds 1-5 he outboxed Davis. Good combinations working head and body with great defence and lateral movement.

Nice little step up for him. Hopefully he goes onwards and upwards from there.

Degale thinks he's a helluva lot better than he actually is. He can only box for 6-7 rounds before gassing. He has poor power and is easy to hit. Apart from his handspeed he doesnt bring alot to the table. Once hes in with a top opponent he will be beaten again.

Eubank jnr has the skill and speed to challenge but his constant copying of his dad is cringeworthy and makes him look a complete to$$er. His Ringwalk, leap over the rope, the ring swagger and last nights stare into the camera after he finished another road sweeper.Its forved and looks desperate stuff.

Considering Bika had a 10 rounder with this guy a couple fights ago and took 10 rounds to KO him (the only time he has been stopped) where Davis was coming forward and taking shots all night up until he was stopped on his feet very late on, then it seems he is not the push over people are making out.

You dont need to KO people to beat them, outboxing them also does the trick. That being said Im sure the goal for Degale was to do a better job with this guy than Bika done so they could put pressure on him for a fight... So on that note it was a disappointing night. But still , he has outclassed the guy so has the right to step up.

Haito wrote:Degale thinks he's a helluva lot better than he actually is.

"I'm not fully pleased. I was a bit lazy and switched off a couple of times," said the 2008 Olympic champion."

"It's another 12 rounds under my belt; I'm still learning. He's an awkward opponent."

Its not just his lack of power though. Its his lack of concentration and lack of stamina aswell. He switched off and was breathng heavy from the mid rounds again and He got caught and cut with 2,3 big shots lastnight because he was being lazy with no head movement. A bigger puncher and he could have been in alot of trouble.

[Yep its all well and good saying that afterwards but when hes clowning around show boating in the ring it paints a very different picture....

Haito wrote:Its not just his lack of power though. Its his lack of concentration and lack of stamina aswell. He switched off and was breathng heavy from the mid rounds again and He got caught and cut with 2,3 big shots lastnight because he was being lazy with no head movement. A bigger puncher and he could have been in alot of trouble.

According to Sky he quite comfortably took the last two rounds, which is a bit odd if he had no stamina.

In previous fights I have noticed Degale switch off, and for me it looks like he tries too hard to stop them early on, then when he does not he looses focus for a round or two before boxing again and doing what he should have done all along...

Its just as impressive to completely outbox someone for 12 rounds like a picnic than it is to KO them all be it less exciting... I get the feeling Degale tries too hard to give an impression rather than just keep doing what he is good at, boxing.

Also when you have "no power" or are a "powder puff" puncher, you fail to hurt people and Degale certainly does hurt people and has them sinking back. Which shows he has enough power to trouble opponents even if it not might be a concussive KO punch.

Im not completely defending him as their are faults there that need sorting out and for a learning fighter he is too inactive, but at the same time I think its not out of the question to say that if he did step up that his concentration levels may also step up...

There is no doubt at all that Degale is a valid world title contender, and I just don't think you can determine if he can become a champ based on his lack of concussive punch power, as if you cant be a champ without it.

Haito wrote:[Yep its all well and good saying that afterwards but when hes clowning around show boating in the ring it paints a very different picture....

Yet everyone on the board has called him boring... Seems the guy cant win.

More advisable to watch the fight first Tunes.

Degale was very poor he showed me nothing to suggest he will cut it at the top. No real power, stamina problems, tends to smother his own work, gets caught easily, hand speed isn't anything special. I don't see what there is to defend or get excited about. His only saving grace was that Davis had no power or work rate.

Clowning around with no real end product is boring tunes. Sky's commentary isnt ideal to take as gospel either....

Haito wrote:Clowning around with no real end product is boring tunes. Sky's commentary isnt ideal to take as gospel either....

I will most defiantly watch it, but BBC, Daily Mail, boxing news on line, and Sky all suggest it was an easy nights work apart from being hit with a few silly shots mid fight.. Which he seems to have a habbit of doing.

I have just heard people on here say he was poor in other fights when he most certainly was not poor, which leads me to think there are a good few Degale haters here.

He does not need to be the next coming to be a threat at world level, which I think he has the potential of being.

Haito wrote:Clowning around with no real end product is boring tunes. Sky's commentary isnt ideal to take as gospel either....

with the end product being beating a decent fighter 118-111.

degale did some decent work last night at times but he is going to struggle to advance his promoter doesn't seem to know how to sell his fighters and to get them attention the production of the night was poor and degale himself is not easy to like. It was decent enough win but cant see him winning a world crown especially if dirrel wins the wbc strap which I expect he will

Im not debating the outcome im debating how Degale has not improved greatly in how he goes about his work. His opponent didnt look anything more than average to me either.

Degale although didnt do his usual sit back on the ropes through the mid rounds, did show his usual failings which ive mentioned earlier and it could have cost him the fight with a bigger puncher.

I hope he gets his big shot now as although im not a hater of Degale he is 27 now and standing still in regards to real progression, nowhere near world class and he will get found out.

Haito wrote:


I hope he gets his big shot now as although im not a hater of Degale he is 27 now and standing still in regards to real progression, nowhere near world class and he will get found out.

My feeling is he needs to step up in order to improve as he does not seem happy where he is and looks bored.. Im not convinced he will shut off like he has done when faced against a world class operator. But I am open to the fact he can match their boxing skills, ie Dirrell and Bika.

Im not saying Degale is as good as he could be as such as I think despite where he is at the moment he should be applying him self better in fights despite how he is mentally.. But I just don't think his flaws are big enough to make him completely unworthy of challenging...

Apparently Degale could now be up for a fight with Marco Periban which will be a step up and a really tough fight, especially if its abroad. If he wins that then he will do doubt be worthy of challenging Bika for a world title shot.

he's gone on film telling mick H to 'pull his finger out' to get him good fights and a title shot early next year.

He was awful but ch 5 were trying to say he needed the rounds. 

If he wants a title shot he needs to start looking good in there. The center was so quite I could actually hear people putting their food through the check out

bip....bip....bip

lol must do better Degale you are the laughing stock of British boxing at the mo.

I personally don't think he was poor, dominated rounds 1 -5 making Davis miss badly at times. His switching was causing Davis problems. Mid rounds got lazy and undid get the feeling there was a stamina issue but. From round 10 went back to boxing and looked strong.

When he put his shots together with his hand speed he looked good and wasn't trying to punch him out of there, stepped off and looked composed to me. Would rather him be in with a higher level of competition but dealt with Davis easily.

I find Degale irritating and arrogant and don't like him as a person from what I have seen, but there is no doubt it was an easy nights work yesterday.

The way Degale was being talked about by the commentary team I thought I was watching the second coming of RJJ.

Degale's hands are far too low,blowing heavily in mid rounds and luckily for Degale was caught flush a few times by a fighter who couldn't put a fag out,but still managed to bust Degales nose.

Desperation at one stage from McDonnell, just 12 more minutes James,not exactly oozing confidence in the corner.
Will be surprised if Degale wins a world title just doesn't look good enough for me.

I always liked Jim but last night he lacked any depth that a title challenging fighter needs. In the mid to late rounds where Degale was dragging his heels Mcdonnell could do nothing but point out the obvious. No real direction or method.

Degale needs a new trainer and promoter.

ONETWOFOREVER wrote:

Degale you are the laughing stock of British boxing at the mo.

?? really?  

Degale looks like just a Euro level fighter, doesn't look world class.

Wasn't a great spectacle at all but don't think its fair to blame it all on Degale. I've watched a couple of Davis's last couple of fights and he is quite plainly awful to watch, constantly holding very economical with his punching, even the bika fight was horrible to watch, so didn't really expect this to be great but was hoping Degale might do something but it never really happened.

I actually think this is the right level of opponent for Degale, he just isn't nowhere near ready for the likes of Froch or Ward, The Periban fight would be a smart move next as he does have a few issues to iron out, Periban's a solid fighter but beatable, and then keep assessing his situation. I don't understand why he's sticking with his trainer who is clearly just a yes man, the longer he stays with him the less likely he's going to get to the upper echelons of the division, just not good enough. Having watched Ward v Rodriguez I don't think Degale would beat Rodriguez at this point in time, let alone Ward.

See Tunes' massive DeGale man crush shows no signs of abating.....

Pretty dull, turgid fight against a non-entity. And that's coming from someone that found Ward's fight entertaining! Think I even nodded off during the middle rounds!!

He just isn't an exciting boxer. He has no ko power and despite having really quick hands, his style means he doesn't stay on the outside enough to really throw them in exciting fashion. Chuck in southpaw's always looking a little ungainly and a JdG fight just isn't an fun prospect.

He's performing unspectacularly fighting no-names in a shopping centre he can't sell out.

JdG has gone nowhere since GG surprised him and unless he swaps trainer and promoter asap I can see him just drifting off into obscurity.

Degale is in a tricky position. There are two ways you can earn a title shot now, either get yourself into mandatory position or be marketable enough to be attractive as a voluntary defence. Given this it does look like the mandatory route is going to have to be Degale’s chosen option, because when you are fighting in front of a few hundred people in a shopping centre you don’t bring too much to the table and so it does look like unless a champion absolutely has to face him he is likely to be ignored. James is hardly aligned with the worlds greatest promoter either so struggle to imagine Mick can push Degale to the top of anyone’s thoughts when it comes to taking a voluntary defence.