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Photo by Suzanne Teresa/Premier Boxing Champions
James Degale wants you to know the British are coming. “I’m obsessed with making history,” he said during a fight week press conference. “[Dirrell is] tricky, talented and confident but I’m doing it for my country.” He wants to be the first British boxer to win an Olympic gold medal and a pro world title. He believes no one, including Andre Dirrell, can stand in his way.
Dirrell however, isn’t taking his shot at another title fight for granted, and he appears to want it just as bad as DeGale: “I’m much hungrier than I was early in my career and I’m more focused mentally. With age comes wisdom. Everything I went through is all a blessing.” It’s a bit of a relief to hear Dirrell say those words after the obstacles he’s had to overcome, and his mental grit being questioned.
Both fighters have had slick verbal jabs toward each other, and even Dirrell’s brother Anthony had a word or two for the British boxer. The two got into a heated exchange during DeGale’s media day workout.
Call it defending his brother’s honor, or blood being thicker than water, but Anthony isn’t the only Dirrell who wants to see DeGale lose. Andre Dirrell feels that now more than ever, is his time to shine. He knows what this victory will mean to him.
[otw_shortcode_quote border=”bordered” border_style=”bordered”]I visualized the first time [against Froch] what I would do. I imagined it would feel just like getting a medal. I wasn’t that excited because it was a bronze, but I made my grandfather proud and that was important to me. That’s what I aimed to do. Every fight that’s over, you get that sigh of relief. It’s like, I did it, I got another victory, and I could move forward in my career to see what’s next. It will be the same exact scenario [on Saturday] except that I’ll be holding up a world title and it will be more significant to people.[/otw_shortcode_quote]
There’s a lot on the line for Dirrell and DeGale personally and professionally. It gives the fight the competitive edge it needs, and it gives each man something for which he can fight. This is a huge opportunity for Dirrell to make the most of the second chance he’s been given in the sport. It’s also a grand opportunity for DeGale to take that moment away from him.
