Britain's best prospect :rofl The guy has some massive improvements to make. It appears I'm the only one that thinks Wilczewski won (even though the punch stats actually agree with me), DeGale looked clueless again last night.
I felt Degale barely won last night. Today's amateur game can produce fighters with some horrible inherent flaws, and Degales punching technique is, on the whole, abysmal.
He's only had 12 fights... Who is at world level after that many fights? Of course there's improvements to make! That fight will be good for him in the long run. Beside the point, but does this now mean Groves is overhyped too as afterall, he struggled against Anderson and scraped passed DeGale who, for the sake of this thread, is going nowhere fast?
I know 12 fights is one way to look at it but theres also the fact he's Olympic champ who has been a professional for 3 years and he can't throw a left hook properly yet.
I was surprised that he stayed in range after throwing a combination/flurry when it was obvious he had to move to avoid the Polish guy moving to close the distance and throw his own shots.
Which is true and even though he's only into his 12th pro bout it might already be too late to alter that. Especially if he stays with the same team. Bad habits and bad technique always seems to rear their ugly head in the long run, regardless. Dennis Andries was virtually transformed by Steward but when **** got heavy the old flailing wild and crude Dennis resurfaced. It always goes on. I don't know, maybe James can learn, can improve his technique. I think it's there, he just needs to walk away from things as they are and start afresh.
Possibly mate, depending on the fighter, and not sure yet what Degale is really made of. Khan got to the top with really sloppy hands and feet, and he's still in the processes of tightening his game up. But his handspeed is extraordinary, Degale is fast but it's not enough to get him to the top. He needs to totally re-think his application. Really work on turning his punches over, and picking single shots and making sure they're thrown right. Once he gets that down, then work in combinations and really get the most of his handspeed. Then again, he might be fast because he's not throwing 'properly'. He keeps falling in as well (another Khan problem) and getting himself in trouble. Like Dirrell and Haye, he uses over-excessive movement to stay well out of range, not allowing either fighter to feasibly work. In short, he's not half as slick as he thinks. All fighters listed are products of 'Post-Seoul' amateur school, and are also even more recent examples. All pretty clueless, negative fighters at different levels.
Well DFT, you knew I'd be posting in this thread Last night, Degale didn't impress me at all. I was hoping to see some improvement, but I didn't see anything different if truth be told. Your right by saying his footwork is poor, and his punch technique is very slappy (then again, so was Calzaghe). His chin is very very questionable, Petey is NO puncher, and he had Degale on ***** street for a time. Now, for the positives. Degale showed a lot of heart last night, and beat a tough European Champion with an awkward style in his 12th fight. I said it last night, can you imagine Ronnie Heffron winning the European title in 6 fights time? He also showed good power, that uppercut on the inside was a beauty, and he would have finished him if not for the slip IMO. What I would improve: 1) his output. Degale has good speed and good power, but he doesn't punch enough! I don't know if it's a stamina issue it whether he doesn't want to be countered, but he just doesn't throw enough. He could have made it a lot easier on himself last night by throwing 20-30 more punches in the close rounds to ensure he would nick them. 2) all this talk about a world title is stupid. He isn't on that level, and never will be mentally until he beats Groves IMO. Groves beating him has mentally scarred the lad 'the controversial loss' is all he says. He needs to defend his european title against tough, and more importantly, SKILLED European fighters. Like it or not, he is still learning his trade, and is still a novice to the pro game. I would have 2-3 fights at European level, then put him in there with groves again.
And I doubt he ever will throw it "properly" Gaz. That's just his technique, if it lands and he doesn't leave himself open afterwards I don't see the problem (unless he does leave himself open, I haven't really noticed)
So true. To those saying '12 fights' extensive amateur experience is supposed to give you the heads up on other fighters plying their trade as 'prospects'. Degale doesn't look out of the ordinary, and it's worrying. If he was something special, he'd be blowing this kind of opposition away (more often than not)
Wilc never in a million years won that fight.... i was impressed with DeGale he showed heart and dug deep when needed against a seasoned pro who has been in with some decent fighters ! It was only Chunkys 12th fight and he would have learnt bags from last night ... i became a fan last night and he was very humble in victory ....
yep, Smudger. Its just the way he does it. Its bloody awful to look at though and do think theres a "12 fights vs. 3 year pro" argument to answer from DeGales point of view.