James DeGale vs Jose Uzcategui

Mismanaged himself. He’s the one out partying every weekend when he’s supposed to be in camp. Getting on it in Ibiza and then heading to Dubai etc. He chose the playboy lifestyle over hard work and dedication. It was his decision to run off with Al Haymon over the other side of the pond too, in a way it was a decision that won him a world title but it made him a forgotten man in the uk and that’s where his bread and butter should be.

 

I suppose deciding whether he is a failure can be down to perception. With the natural talent and skill set he had lots of people thought that James would become #1 in the division and unify so even by winning one of the world title belts to go along with his Olympic gold can still be seen as failure although it does sound harsh.

Like many I think if James had been with a different coach and I mean no disrespect to Jim McDonnell saying that but I feel a coach that would have utilised his talents and skills better we might have seen him rule the SMW division but saying that no coach can give you the desire or attitude to keep grounded and continue learning throughout your career.

 

I hope Uzctegui beats him and enters WBSS season 2.

 

Maybe call him an underachiever then as a compromise?

 

Certainly no failure but he has also not optimised his professional boxing career potential.

 

Another shocking decision from Degale.

 

On Twitter that he's vacated the belt. He knows he's not got long left now. probably 2 fights max. Maybe target Saunders and or Eubank for domestic matches the hype machine can get behind.

 

Have you been advising DeGale?

 

Was never gonna happen....He would have been smashed to bits

 

No one advises him apparently

 

Personally I can't view his career as a whole as a "failure"..

Olympic Gold Medalist, British title, European title and two time World Champion, I believe it's hard to call somebody a failure after achieving all that but I can see why some say he has not achieved what he maybe should have.

In your opinion what coach do you believe would have got the more out of him?

Or who he would have been better suited to?

 

Booth IMO

 

Booth would see his lack of dedication rapidly and show him the door. Like someone has said, he got by on talent and lacked passion and hunger.. Hes had a good run considering. For me by the skin of his teeth at one stage was the best 168lb fighter in the world

 

Firstly I'm not saying his career was a failure I was just pointing out that with his talent, natural ability etc it could be seen that he 'failed' to reach the heights possible so in turn people could perceive that his career was a failure.

On the coaching aspect, I think he would have been better with a more technical coach that would have continued to grow his skill set but they would also have had to be firm with him and not just be happy to work with him if that makes sense? I always felt that James was the boss when I watched him and Jim McDonnell and imo that doesn't work in the long term.

Dominic Ingle would have been a great fit for James Degale, he would have had him in great shape and he doesn't take anyone's sh*t in the gym either. If he decided to go stateside then there was a few options Virgil Hunter, Naazim Richardson were 2 that would have worked well with him imo.