As per usual, the fighter is the last one to realise that he’s shot. Was very sad to watch his fights since Jack. He’s had a really good career on reflection though and done much of it away from the UK. Had he been managed a little better, he could have had more big nights in the U.K. and earned a few more quid. A very high skilled fighter...hope he has a happy retirement.
I think this is exactly the right time for him to go. After his last performance (read collecting a paycheck) his time as a force at the weight has gone, so he can't expect big paydays anymore. He has a very big chunk of his life left to enjoy the money he's made, so unlike so many he should stay retired and do some commentating or hosting gigs from now on.
I think if we look at the Degale we saw in the professional ranks, then Groves beats him each time and Froch rearranges his face. Look at how Degale looked after the Jack fight. However, I don't think Degale applied himself 100%, took too many breaks mid-fights, and IMO simply didn't make the most of his undoubted ability. Had he done so, then perhaps he would beat Groves and maybe even Froch & Jack. Still, Olympic Champion and 2x World Champion is still something to be very proud of.
Guess it's just the way their respective careers panned out but I always thought it was a shame we never saw a Groves DeGale rematch. Whilst the first fight wasn't necessarily an all time classic it was both enjoyable and close enough to justify a second viewing, and with the added intrigue that both clearly improved after it. He was a bit of a strange character DeGale and I understand why people didn't take to him in the same way they did with the likes of Groves, Calzaghe and Froch, but he should be immensely proud of what he did. First British man to win Olympic Gold and a world title wasn't he?
Don’t blame him for taking that last fight against Eubank. Nice little earner for your last fight. I’ll never forget that Dirrell win, was so estatic when he scored the KD.
Never liked the kid, remember before the first Truax fight he was saying he wanted to earn 30 million per fight
The Truax fights were both very weird. Terrible opponent, terrible fight, rematch which felt like a fight in a school gym, won the title back, dropped it. What a waste of time.
Agreed. I think it was just about putting the result right that rematch and ensuring one last big payday.
Good luck to James. He's achieved a lot both as an am and pro. He's had some good payday and will retire with a healthy bank account, I would hope. I wouldn't of liked to see him carry on, especially after the jnr fight.
Good career. Deserved the decision Vs Groves (Although at the time I was dying for Groves to beat him)
Leaving your amateur sport as an Olympic god medalist and retiring from the pro game as a 2 x World champion is simply phenomenal. Personally though, I couldn’t take to him and I think that was the general consensus amongst the fans. Despite his achievements he probably should’ve done more, but his personality prevented it.
I remember scoring the Groves fight for DeGale at the time. I must watch it back. Although I rate Groves higher. Groves had consistency in his work, a jab that rarely faltered. DeGale's career was a strange one for me. Even at his best, he seemed to be in a war in certain rounds. He could go from looking elite to looking clueless in the space of a couple of rounds. He was a good character, extremely talented and had a good career but I'll always feel we didn't see enough of the best of him. Perhaps the rumoured poor lifestyle is true and he never dedicated himself the way he could have. That would make sense.
Class fighter and I honestly think he would have beaten Groves until the Jack fight took his soul. Never really took to him as he had a really **** attitude and came across as a bit of an arrogant twat.
Wise move to retire. He looked a shadow of himself in his last few fights. He's had a career to be proud of, but I feel like he could've done even more, considering the talent he had. But a great career nonetheless.