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Cloutier’s Canada Corner
James DeGale:
"Bute Had His Time, Now It's My Time"
By Daniel Cloutier
QUÉBEC City, Canada — The British James DeGale is the new
IBF super middleweight champion of the world, a crown that
the Montrealer Romanian Lucian Bute detained from 2007 to
2012. DeGale (21-1-0) will proceed to the first defense of
his world title November 28th in the ring of the new
Vidéotron Centre in Québec City… against Bute (32-2-0).
“I respect Bute, he won 10 IBF super middleweight
championships of the world in a row, but he got his good
time, and it’s now my time, said DeGale Tuesday afternoon in
Québec City after a public training day. Bute has a good
technique, I saw him in action, but he is 34 years old. I am
29 years old. I am on my peak, or close to my peak, but him
was at the top his career few years ago. I am sure I am more
energetic than him now, and I really believe I am a stronger
puncher than him. The crowd should assist to a good fight,
an intense bout, but I will certainly be in the winning
shoes.”
However, DeGale has the conviction that Bute will give
absolutely everything he has to beat him. “Bute said it, he
is dreaming to take back a world title he detained from 2007
to 2012, said DeGale. Then, he will certainly give his 100%
to beat me, but I know perfectly what to expect from him. My
intention is to hurt him in every rounds, and we will see
how he will react. It’s important for me to show I am the
master of the ring when i am fighting.”
Bute lost his IBF 168 pounds world championship in May 2012
in Nottingham, England. The British Carl Froch (33-2-0)
dethroned him in beating him by TKO in the fifth round.
After this cruel defeat, Bute won by unanimous decision
against the Russian Denis Grachev (13-5-1) at Bell Centre in
Montréal, but he did not impress his fans in that bout. Bute
got a deceiving offensive performance. And in January 2014,
again at Bell Centre, Bute lost by unanimous decision
against the Montrealer Jean Pascal (30-3-1), a former WBC
light heavyweight champion of the world, in a NABF North
American light heavyweight championship.
After this loss against Pascal, Bute has decided to change
of trainer. Since the beginning of his pro boxing career in
2003, Bute was working with the Montrealer trainer Stéphan
Larouche. Bute joined the team of the prestigious
Californian trainer Freddie Roach, but this association
ended after only six months. Last April, Bute joined the
team of the Grant brothers in Montréal. In working on a
daily basis with Howard and Otis Grant at the Monster Gym in
Dorval, in the West Island of Montréal, Bute found back his
enthusiasm, his desire to train and fight… a feeling he lost
for three years after his defeat with Froch.
In August, at Bell Centre, Bute got his best performance in
three years. Confident, enthusiast, aggressive, Bute beat
the European super middleweight champion, the Italian Andrea
De Luisa (17-3-0), by TKO in the fourth round.
A few weeks ago, Bute said: “I lost my title to a British in
2012, and I will get it back against another British…”
A comment which is making DeGale smile. “If Bute believes
seriously he has now the weapons to dethrone me, it’s his
business, said DeGale. But I know he is dreaming if he
thinks he will leave Québec City with one IBF crown in his
luggage. I am the new IBF super middleweight champion of the
world and I am really determinef to keep my title.”
DeGale said he got a fantastic training camp. “I worked like
hell in the last two months, said DeGale. My trainer
prepared be perfectly mentally and physically. I was running
two hours each morning, and I got every day 15 rounds of
sparring. I am positive I got the best preparation of my pro
boxing career. Normal. If it’s difficult to become world
champion, it’s more difficult to stay it. I will work
extremely hard in the next years to stay world champion the
longest time possible. I worked so hard to get the statute
of world champion.”
DeGale’s trainer, Jim McDonnell, has no doubt: his fighter
will return in England with his IBF belt in his luggage.
“James has always been good, but he is better than ever
since the moment he became IBF champion of the world, said
McDonnell. He is faster, more crafty, and he hits harder
than in the past. It’s obvious that the statute of IBF
champion of the world made him more confident than ever. I
am sure he will impress you next Saturday. No matter if the
fight will be disputed in front of the Bute’s fans, James
will give absolutely everything to stay world champion. His
determination is higher than ever.”
DeGale won a vacant IBF title in March in Boston, when he
beat the American Andre Dirrell (24-2-0) by unanimous
decision in 12 rounds. DeGale won a title abandoned by Froch
last January.
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