James Degale: Too much too soon?

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At just 25 years and 12 fights into his professional career James Degale should be well placed for a future attack at world honours, especially in this age of almost unlimited belts to aim at. He has the amateur pedigree, we know that, and the title of Olympic Gold Medalist is one echoed in every ring announcement as he prepares to take centre stage. But is that title hanging a little heavier these days?

Degale is a natural talent, perhaps one of the best from these shores since Prince Naseem Hamed. He can switch, prove elusive, has shown a decent chin and when he lets them go, has very quick hands. All of this is talent that still needs refining in their respective degrees, but they're invaluable tools of the trade and he has them in abundance.

But somehow, even at this early stage, he seems to have faltered a little in his charge.

His career was going to plan over the first 8 fights. He was an olympic champion looking good, dominating the well picked out opponents and moving up in rounds; he looked assured and confident in the ring. In his ninth outing he met his toughest challenge to date in the form of tough scouser Paul Smith, who, although unrefined in comparison to Degale, was more than game for the task. Degale dominated from start to finish, stopping his opponent in 9 and despite sometime unfavourable press in relation to his attitude; he was looking like a serious talent.

Now a British champion his career continued on the fast track as he was pitted toward a clash against his amateur nemesis. It would be only the tenth fight of Degale's career and one which could easily have been placed on hold until both prospects had established themselves in the professional ranks, but it was a fight Degale wanted and one he was supremely confident of winning. But Degales pre fight confidence would turn into a post fight nightmare as the tightest of decisions went the way of Saint George that evening.

It was a fight that might have gone Degales way, but regardless of who the rightful victor might have been the loss showed he was by no means the fully developed fighter that fans might have been fooled into believing he was. Groves executed his game plan perfectly, staying at distance and looking to get of with two or three eye-catching combos before disappearing again on the back foot. Degale, who had anticipated fireworks had no real answer to his opponents coy stance and despite keeping it razor close, Degale looked lost as to deconstruct an opponent with the skill and savvy not to engage recklessly with him.

That was James Degales eleventh fight, he was European champion in his twelfth.

Just a couple of weekends ago we saw his return to the ring as, despite his loss, he was granted a European shot against the durable champion Piotr Wilczewski. Another close fight followed. Degale looked to be more aggressive than he had been against Groves and in doing so left himself open to the type of punishment we had not seen him take in previous battles. Flat footed at times and lacking both the lateral and upper body movement that we are accustomed to, he was tagged often and even rocked on occasion. Degale dug deep and ground out a narrow win, but again we were left with question marks.

The post fight presser brought even more intrigue. Degale was vocal about the need to get back in the ring this year and called for tougher challenges. reiterating his goal of being a world beater in 2012. ****** sounded supportive but even his face showed little signs of believing that Degale was as advanced as he wants to believe he is.

Degale is a talent, he has natural abilities that make him an attractive fighter to watch and potentially, a future world beater. But at only 25 years of age and having already lost one fight due to his inability to find an answer to an unexpected game plan the question has to be asked,
is James Degale rushing his career a little?

A defeat so early in his career is not the end of the world, in fact, it may prove beneficial in the long run; if he learns from it. But being so determined to run in the super middleweight ranks before he has fully mastered walking we wonder, is it going to be a case of too much too soon for the man from North West London?

 

he is definately missing something and it's called a boxing IQ. Agaisnt both Groves and the Polsky he has shown some seriously poor judgement in terms of gameplan. He is young in the pro ranks so he can learn, if he is paced right, but I think he is going too fast. Gavin is good, but he is a) fighting a weight class above what he should and b) not shoing the dedication necessary int he gym. great talent tho