James DeGale told Ringside that hard graft in the gym is the reason behind his winning form.

The 2008 Olympic middleweight gold medallist slipped to a points defeat to bitter domestic rival George Groves in May of last year, but has won his four fights since, culminating in a triumph over Fulgencio Zuniga in December.

DeGale relinquished his European super-middleweight strap this week and believes that after a morale-boosting victory over Colombian Zuniga he is on the path to world gold.

"I have been in the gym with Jim McDonnell working on all different things," said the 26-year-old. "Professional boxing is totally different to the amateurs, so I have had to start afresh and work on my defence and being on the ropes.

"Zuniga was a good world-class opponent, who has been in with some great names; Tavoris Cloud didn't stop him and in his last fight he faced an unbeaten South African (in Thomas Oostuuizen).

"He has been there and done it and I was pretty impressed with the 12 rounds I did, so I am getting there and I am going to stay busy.

"The fights will come and I will be a world champion."

March on

Sky Sports pundit Jim Watt was also on the Ringside set on Thursday night and he reckons DeGale, 14-1 as a pro, is ready to mix it with the elite.

"James seemed to plateau for about a year," said the former world lightweight champion.

"He moved up to a level and then didn't seem like he was putting everything into his fights, but he is now established as the best in his weight in Europe and I am now fully confident he can march on."

DeGale's adversary Groves, meanwhile, saw off veteran Jamaican Glen Johnson at London's ExCel Arena last weekend - but the Harlesden-born puncher, who has won nine of his bouts via knockout, says he was not impressed.

"Johnson is a 50-year-old man (sic) who is shot to bits; you may as well hang him up by his feet and use him as a punching bag," added DeGale.

"There were rounds when he was throwing three or four punches. Groves beat him on points - but I would have made him look silly."

DeGale also believes he can give fellow Brit Carl Froch a stiff test if the two ever fight. Hit the the video above to find out why...