Tuesday 26 May 2015 12:13, UK
James DeGale will be aiming to create British boxing history on Saturday night when he takes on Andre Dirrell for the IBF super-middleweight.
The 29-year-old, who claimed gold at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, has the opportunity to become the first Brit to combine ultimate success in the amateur and professional ranks at Agganis Arena in Boston.
Ahead of this career-defining clash for DeGale, The Panel have their say on who they think will come out on top.
DeGale is going to put it on Dirrell. He is becoming much better on the front foot. He has learned from the mistakes made in the defeat to George Groves and become a more explosive fighter.
But eventually DeGale will work him out, start landing hard shots and Dirrell is the sort of fighter that once he’s under the cosh his heart goes out of it,
I’ve got a feeling that DeGale could do the job within seven or eight rounds. It could be nip-and-tuck early on, with Dirrell making it difficult for him by being defensive and negative. But eventually DeGale will work him out, start landing hard shots and Dirrell is the sort of fighter that once he’s under the cosh his heart goes out of it.
If DeGale can jump on him and put the pressure on, just after the middle rounds when he starts to get tired, then he can get him out of there.
Dirrell will go in there extremely confident. I don't think he or his brother, Anthony, have any respect for British fighters - he will not realise how effective DeGale is until he's been hit by four or five shots.
Dirrell will try and dictate the pace and will think he can control the fight. But as I often say, Brendan Ingle calls it 'three-smart' and I think he'll out-smart himself. His pace won't be high enough, he'll try and be a craftsman but there's no time for that stuff.
DeGale will stop him, probably in the ninth or 10th. It might be a bit cat-and-mouse to start with but as soon as DeGale gets the measure of him, it will change. Slowly but surely he will take over.
DeGale has really got his head where it should be. He's boxed fighters at a much higher level recently and he has the momentum that Dirrell doesn't have. He will not let Dirrell mess him around, so I am going for DeGale, on points.
DeGale has to keep the fight at a good range because if he gets close, Dirrell will start grabbing, frustrating and annoying him. DeGale needs space to get his shots in and then get out so he can't be held. He has to be careful that he doesn't get sucked into that sort of fight.
DeGale has to keep the fight at a good range because if he gets close, Dirrell will start grabbing, frustrating and annoying him,
I've always said when you're fighting for a world title you can't afford to factor the judges in. There is nothing you can do about them, all you can do is hope you get a fair shake. Mind you the last time we had a fight in Boston, Ricky Hatton just nicked a very close fight with Luis Collazo...
You just don't know what Dirrell's approach is going to be. Will we see a different fighter than the one we're used to? I am not so sure. So DeGale is going to have to hunt him down and when he does get in there, he must let those shots fly and then get out so he can't grab hold.
I think it could be close and I am looking forward to seeing what unfolds. But here and now, looking at the Dirrell I know and the DeGale we all know, I think DeGale can do this on points. But let's hope he does it before that.
In this fight, the winner will have to show real grit and desire. I think that will be the difference, because they are both so evenly matched. The winner will not be decided by technical skill as they are both very good. It's going to come down to who is prepared to tough it out, give that bit more.
It's going to come down to who is prepared to tough it out, give that bit more.
DeGale must have the right mindset to go out there and take this title on US soil. It could swing one way and then another. It’s really going to depend on who has put the work in when they head into the later rounds. I’m expecting DeGale to start getting to him late in the fight, come out a fair winner on points and get a decision win.
