Historic world champion DeGale on path to sporting greatness

“I’m looking at Froch and he had his chance, he gave up his belt for me to fight for it. I want the big fights, the bigger the better. Mikkel Kessler, George Groves, Golovkin. They can come to me.”

Newly crowned IBF world champion DeGale was faster, stronger and more determined than ever before in his match-up with Dirrell, downing his opposition twice in the second round, before eventually narrowly securing a points victory, with two judges scoring it 114-112.

Although, Canadian judge Alan Davis bizarrely gave a 117-109 in favour of the eventual winner despite such a razor fine contest, with DeGale having worryingly thought he would be succumb to a shocking second career defeat before his historic victory was finally announced.

“I was a little bit worried. I was looking at Jim and he had the same face that he did after I boxed Groves and I thought ‘not again’, but when they announced it, it was the best feeling in the world,” added the 2008 Beijing Olympic champion.

The Hammersmith-born southpaw is obsessed with leaving his mark on the sport, and this latest triumph has undoubtedly inscribed his name in the boxing history books, but now the world title holder will look to capitalise on his maximum potential and remain hungry for further success.

DeGale’s last opponent was certainly no pushover, with the scorecards clearly highlighting the fact, and the Londoner; having rallied past a fighter of similar stature and skills, will now turn attentions towards a showdown with any of the top super-middleweight, with Carl Froch, Groves and Andre Ward in his sights.

The future of this recently-crowned world champion and Olympic gold medallist is promising, with his astute abilities in the ring set to catapult the man known as ‘Chunky’ to a prolifically prolonged career at the top of British and global boxing.

“The future is bright, the future is Chunky,” exulted DeGale.

In other bouts, DeGale’s fellow Briton Amir Khan will be aiming to rediscover his own clinical credentials in the ring when faces Chris Algieri in the early hours of Sunday morning (odds-on 1/14 with Coral to triumph) while Sheffield’s Kell Brook faces Frankie Gavin on Saturday night (15/8 to win on points).