DeGale looking past Dyah Davis, sees title shot in 1-2 fights

By Boxing News - 11/13/2013 - Comments

degale43By Scott Gilfoid: In a bad sign that could mean upset, British super middleweight contender James DeGale (16-1, 11 KO’s) is looking past his fight this Saturday night against Dyah Davis (22-3-1, 10 KO’s) towards a hoped for world title shot, which DeGale sees happening in 1 or 2 fights. DeGale says he wants to face Edwin Rodriguez and Thomas Oosthuizen while he’s waiting for one of the 168 lb. world champions to fight him.

DeGale, #3 WBC, #4 WBO, #5 IBF, #9 WBA, will be facing Davis at the Glow, Bluewater, Greenhithe, Kent, United Kingdom. Davis, 32, was recently knocked out by Sakio Bika last year in June in a pretty much one-sided fight. I suppose that’s what has DeGale assuming he has the victory in the bag. But I wouldn’t be surprised in the last if Davis is able to step up and pull off an upset to shock the crowd on Saturday night.

“Oosthuizen, Rodriguez, they’re all possible fights for me in the very near future,” DeGale said to RingTV. “I want to box for that world title…I’ve got to get in there and do a job on Dyah Davis.”

I don’t think DeGale would fare well against the likes of Edwin Rodriguez and Thomas Oosthuizen. Those guys are a level above where DeGale has been fighting since turning pro in 2009, and I think it would go badly for him. DeGale’s best fights thus far has come against George Groves, who beat him in 2011, Piotr Wilczewski, Cristian Sanavia, Hadillah Mohoumadi, Fulgencio Zuniga and Paul Smith. I really don’t think DeGale can beat Edwin Rodriguez, and I’d be very surprised if he could beat Oosthuizen as well, because that guys a nightmare to fight.

DeGale needs to stay focused because Dyah Davis has the skills to pull off an upset in this fight like he did when he beat Alfonso Lopez in an upset. Davis totally blanked a very good Lopez by a lopsided 10 round decision by the scores 100-90. Davis was really impressive in boxing his way to a decision against a guy that gave Kelly Pavlik huge headaches.

I don’t see DeGale getting a title shot in 2013. If he can somehow keep winning, he’ll get a crack at one of the world titles in 2015, and not before that unless one of the champions selects DeGale as an optional title challenger, and I don’t see that happening. DeGale has the wrong kind of style for him to get selected for a fight by one of the world champions. DeGale is too slick with his fighting style, and guys don’t like to fight those types of fighters.



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