It's just the opportunity to face a different style, thus far he has faced guys with what I would describe as having similar styles. David is awkward and has the style that could frustrate him. It's building up much needed experience which gives him and his team a chance to see how he can handle different styles, he has only had 9 fights he needs at least another 6 fights before he should step up to World Level in that time he should face a mixture of styles and fighters with different backgrounds. Facing a range of styles is something that is missing in a number of our fighters a la Mitchell, Cleverly etc.
well i dont believe this bull**** anyway. Besides i thought The Groves fight was going to purse bids according to Warren
It is but if you believe him (and I do) Booth called for a postponement of the purse bids which is never a good sign.
Style is one thing, and I agree, but level is an even more important requirement. He needs people at minimum on a similar level to his last opponent, or better. Otherwise its a bit of a pointless exercise as they're not good enough to test him. I can see Mock. He's a different challenge to these straight up plodders he's been hammering. But David, nah, simply not good enough.
Don't understand why people are bothered about degale "stepping up to early" most people on here seem to think degale is a wanker so why are you bothered about seeing him in competetive fights?
Theres a difference between not liking a fighter for how he comes across and wanting to see his career mis-managed.
If I'm going to assume he won't fight for a title, which I'm not actually against him fighting Stieglitz or Sartisan. However, I'll rule them out. Names that would be good...trawling boxrec here Jesse Brinkley JP Mendy Franciso Sierra Curtis Stevens Enrique Ornelas Jeff Lacy Kingsley Ikeke Tarvis Simms (this would be ideal for facing a new style) Lolenga Mock Brian Vera (great litmus test) George Groves
If he fought George Groves in a big fight early in the year. Tarvis Simms, is quite slick defensively and Green didn't look great against him. (interchangeable for Vera if they want to see him against pressure) Then a shot to **** Jeff Lacy next, that would make a huge year for DeGale profile wise.
I've only seen Simms, Brinkley, Lacy, Vera and Mock but they are all good calls to hopefully start asking (and answering!) a few questions of Degale.
I agree my number one choice would be Mock but I'm making the assumption based upon Sky's Title Rules. The British scene at 168 is very meek (damn all these weight divisions) beyond Degale, Smith, Groves, Magee there is nothing. I see no point in sticking him in with Tony Quigey who has a very similar style to Smith but is smaller and been very inactive. Magee and Smith are out for obvious reasons and right now I don't think a Groves fight will happen or make sense. I don't think it makes sense after a poor performance from Groves, if Degale won he wouldn't get much credit. So that leaves David who at least has a different style and was let down when they pulled the Liverpool Bill in November so he deserves something back from FW after that, so he fits the bill in my books.
Good call on Simms, I would choose Mock for his next fight and if he comes through that fine, he could take a step up and take on Simms. Don't know if he would come over though, he is with Main Events now and they will get his career moving in the right direction.
Lacy would be a bit of a masterstroke actually for how easy it would be. Even though every man and his dog knows hes done there always seems to be a passing interest in him. Money could be the issue, whether there is enough money in it to tempt Lacy is debatable. Ornelas would be great for rounds, if it was a good enough tune up for Pavlik and Hopkins its good enough to keep DeGale progressing. Vera would be the easier to make fight in a similar vein, he lost in Ukraine recently so there would not be a problem getting him over. Mendy has fought a few of our lads, Barr and King, has a pretty record and is French so it would likely be easier to make than American based fighters. They ain't short of options, hopefully they don't pick random Euros.
Vera is taking on Mora soon, for me he has lost to many fights recently to make it an interesting fight. Ornelas would be a decent test but he might be a bit expensive his last fight was for a world title and before that he has taken on Pavlik and Hopkins so he will have some decent pay checks in the bank. Mendy is IBF#1 so I seriously doubt that they would put him in with Degale who would spank him.
Oh its clear they dont want that fight at all just yet. George Groves knows he will get destroyed and so does Booth. But thats why i want it to happen now...because Groves has run his mouth about this since they both turned pro and now hes looking a bit of a nob. I hope it gets enforced just to further embaress Adam Booth and Hayemaker as a bunch of **** talking wannabe big time charlies who give it the big one but cant back it up