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James DeGale dismantles Brandon Gonzales to earn world title shot James DeGale dismantles Brandon Gonzales to earn world title shot
(about 1 hour later)
James DeGale produced the best performance of his professional career as he dismantled the dangerous American Brandon Gonzales in four rounds to earn the promise of a world title fight by the end of the year. James DeGale produced the best performance of his professional career as he dismantled the dangerous American Brandon Gonzales in four rounds to earn the promise of a world title fight, perhaps by the end of the year.
Gonzales was no slouch. He entered this IBF super-middleweight eliminator with an unbeaten 20-fight record and had Virgil Hunter, who took Andre Ward from scratch to world champion and also trains Amir Khan, in his corner. But DeGale could see a world title fight dangled in front of him and leapt at it with a viciousness he has shown only fitfully since winning Olympic gold in Beijing.Gonzales was no slouch. He entered this IBF super-middleweight eliminator with an unbeaten 20-fight record and had Virgil Hunter, who took Andre Ward from scratch to world champion and also trains Amir Khan, in his corner. But DeGale could see a world title fight dangled in front of him and leapt at it with a viciousness he has shown only fitfully since winning Olympic gold in Beijing.
He hurt Gonzales in the first, kept up the pressure in the second and third, and destroyed him in the fourth. The penultimate act was artful. As Gonzales came forward, trying to close the distance, he was caught by a cuffing left-right followed by a right hook and a full-stretch left that put him down. He got up but never recovered. The fight was stopped with 22 seconds of the round remaining.He hurt Gonzales in the first, kept up the pressure in the second and third, and destroyed him in the fourth. The penultimate act was artful. As Gonzales came forward, trying to close the distance, he was caught by a cuffing left-right followed by a right hook and a full-stretch left that put him down. He got up but never recovered. The fight was stopped with 22 seconds of the round remaining.
At the finish DeGale held his gloves up to the sky and kissed his trainer, Jim McDonnell, on the cheek before insisting: “I am 100% ready for a world title shot.” And the promoter, Eddie Hearn, was in no mood to disagree. “The winner of Carl Froch–George Groves will fight James within 120 days,” he said. “It will be another big fight for Britain.”At the finish DeGale held his gloves up to the sky and kissed his trainer, Jim McDonnell, on the cheek before insisting: “I am 100% ready for a world title shot.” And the promoter, Eddie Hearn, was in no mood to disagree. “The winner of Carl Froch–George Groves will fight James within 120 days,” he said. “It will be another big fight for Britain.”
Meanwhile McDonnell purred over what he had seen. “For James to produce a statement like that shows he is in the big time,” he said. “James is about the big fights and the bright lights.”Meanwhile McDonnell purred over what he had seen. “For James to produce a statement like that shows he is in the big time,” he said. “James is about the big fights and the bright lights.”