By Scott Gilfoid: We’re now just one week away from seeing #2 IBF Andre Dirrell (24-1, 16 KOs) and Britain’s #1 IBF James DeGale (20-1, 14 KOs) square off on May 23rd for the vacant IBF 168lb strap on NBC on Premier Boxing Champions from the Agganis Arena, in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Dirrell sees DeGale as a decent fighter, but he sees a lot of flaws in his game that he’ll be able to exploit next Saturday. Dirrell didn’t specifically mention it but he had to have noticed DeGale’s flat-footed fighting style and his lack of hand speed. Dirrell notes that DeGale likes to switch stances during his fights.
DeGale is a “sort of a brawler, a boxer who switches; when he turns righty he swings hard, as a southpaw he toys with a jab, counter hooks, offers a little pressure. He doesn’t like to get hit, but he’s a pretty decent fighter,” Dirrell said via RingTV.com.
DeGale’s jab is more of a pawing jab rather than one thrown with power. He mostly slaps with his hooks at close range, and clowns around against the weak opposition that he’s been facing for his entire career. DeGale has won his last 10 fights, but he’s done it against very, very soft opposition.
Dirrell plans on whipping DeGale and then defending the IBF title for the next 3 to 4 years before retiring at the age of 36, and going into the boxing Hall of Fame.
Dirrell has looked incredible in his last four fights in beating Derek Edwards, Nick Brinson, Vladine Biosse and Michael Gbenga. Dirrell’s punching power seems to have gotten better, and he still has his amazing hand speed.
“I’m nowhere near as big as I want to be. I plan on being a world champ, retiring at 35 or 36, making the Hall of Fame. I cannot stop here, I cannot be satisfied,” Dirrell said. “I’m ready for the big leagues again! A win in Boston will be part of my legacy!”
Beating DeGale is only the start for Dirrell. He plans on sticking around and beating all the top fighters in the sport. He’d like to fight Carl Froch again so that he can clear up the controversy from his loss to the British fighter in Nottingham in 2009. That was the fight in which Dirrell out-boxed Froch for 12 rounds in front of his own British fans, yet Froch was still given the decision. It was just sad scoring for the fight.
Dirrell’s superior talent will be the factor in this fight. He’s just on another level compared to DeGale, and it’s going to make this fight a really one-sided affair. That’s the way I see it. DeGale doesn’t belong in the same ring with Dirrell, and that much will be apparent from the opening bell.
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