degale463453 James DeGale will be fighting fit for his professional debut – and so will health conscious members of the public he is working with. The Olympic gold medallist will have his first fight under promoter Frank Warren on February 28 at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham. He’s been training hard under taskmaster Jim McDonnell, ensuring that he is in the best shape possible for his big night.

And now DeGale is poised to pass on some of McDonnell’s secrets after signing up for The Feelgood Factor for ITV1, a major new initiative to encourage the nation to get fit and lose weight.

The high-profile campaign, supported by ITV’s most popular shows and their stars, will see three groups of viewers with bad eating habits and poor exercise regimes attempt to get fitter with celebrity mentors.

Eamonn Holmes and Mylenne Klass will host the show.

DeGale will take training sessions with one of the groups, and is delighted to be involved.

“Healthy living is really important and it will be great to pass on a few tips,” said DeGale.

“And I’ll be able to sympathise because when I was I kid I was called ‘Chunky’ because I was a bit over weight.

“But although I’ll push my group hard, I won’t be as tough with them as Jim McDonnell is with me – it wouldn’t be fair!

“I don’t think I’ve ever worked as much as have done in the last few weeks, and Jimmy is leaving no stone unturned to get me in the best possible shape for my debut.

“Things have been going fantastic in the gym – and I could have my first pro fight tomorrow I feel so good.

“I can’t wait to find out who I will be fighting and to get in the ring on February 28 and get my career started with a bang.”

Tickets for the Olympian show, priced at £30, £50, £100 and £150, are available from:

Ticket Factory
0844 338 8000

Ticketline
0871 888 9991

See Tickets
0871 220 0260

Ticket Master
0844 847 2500

ANDRE WARD, 2004 US OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST, DEFENDS HIS CHAMPIONSHIP FEB. 6 AT TACHI PALACE

On Friday, February 6, Goossen Tutor Promotions will kick off its 2009 Tachi Palace pro boxing series with a nationally televised show featuring undefeated Andre “SOG” Ward the Oakland, California native whose gold medal victory in the 2004 Olympics in Athens is the last since David Reid in the 1996 Atlanta Games.

Ward will be defending his NABO Super Middleweight, along with the NABF Super Middleweight Championship against Henry “Sugar Poo” Buchanan at the Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino in Lemoore, California. The Live “ShoBox: The New Generation” coverage on Showtime will begin at 11 pm ET/PT (delayed on the west coast).

The scheduled 12-rounder for Ward (17-0, 12 KOs), co-promoted by Antonio Leonard Promotions, will mark the third appearance for him in a main event on Showtime’s “ShoBox” series. Ward’s first two appearances emanated from the picturesque Caribbean. In November 2007, Ward traveled to the Island of St. Lucia, where he stopped then-undefeated prospect Roger Cantwell in the fifth round. Then, last June he made the trek to Grand Cayman and TKO’d former Dominican Olympian Jerson Ravelo in the eighth round to capture his NABO championship.

In his most recent outing last month, Ward registered his seventh consecutive knockout by blasting out former Mexican champion Esteban Camou in three rounds in Cabazon, California, cementing his world ranking by all four major boxing organizations.

“I’m looking forward to keeping my title at Tachi Palace and on Showtime, the 24-year old Ward said. “I have enjoyed many successes at Tachi with three wins and, of course, I won my first pro title on a ShoBox telecast.

“Each bout has its own unique significance and everything I’ve been working towards is at stake in every fight. Henry Buchanan is the next fighter looking to stop my destiny. That’s my main motivation. He has a great record and I am undefeated. This is the kind of fight the super middleweight division needs to see who is the top dog at 168 pounds.”

In 30-year old Capitol Heights, Maryland resident Henry Buchanan (17-1, 12 KOs), Ward will face off against a hard-hitting knockout artist who, with the exception of his one loss to current undefeated and world-rated contender Jean Paul Mendy, has an identical pro record. Perhaps Buchanan’s biggest claim to fame to date is that he is the nephew of San Diego Chargers Pro-Bowl linebacker Shawne Merriman. He hopes to eclipse that by handing Ward his first loss as a pro and claiming his title in the process.

“I know I am viewed as the underdog in this fight,” Buchanan, coming in off a knockout win over Brian Norman last June, observed. “But who’d have thought the Arizona Cardinals would make it to the Super Bowl? Our records are almost identical and we have the same number of knockout wins. This fight is more of an even match in my eyes and I feel my power will in the end be too much for Ward.”

Goossen Tutor’s latest addition to its impressive stable of championship-caliber boxers, John Molina, Jr., (14-0, 10 KOs), will make his debut both under the banner – as well as his first appearance on “ShoBox” — in a scheduled eight-round jr. lightweight contest.

The signing of the 26-year old pride of Covina, California, who is coming off an impressive fifth-round stoppage of veteran Fernando Lizarraga, was announced during Goossen Tutor’s final show of 2008 at Cabazon last month. Known as “John John,” Molina has already established himself as a fan favorite for the all-out offensive action and excitement he brings into each bout.

Another California-based favorite and Goossen Tutor fighter, Wasco’s Manny “El Toro” Quezada (25-4, 15 KOs), will be on the card defending his WBC CABOFE heavyweight title in a scheduled 10-rounder against Eric Boose (14-3-1, 8 KO). No stranger by any means to the Tachi property, Quezada will be making his 14th appearance as a pro there. In his last bout in November 2008, Quesada won a unanimous decision against the once beaten Teke Oruh in Ontario, California.

“2009 promises to be a big year for our boxers, our sport, our fans and for Goossen Tutor Promotions,” president Dan Goossen forecasted. “What better way for us and our partner, Antonio Leonard Promotions, to see an American Olympic hero in Andre Ward taking the next step toward a world title and headlining a “ShoBox” telecast from one of our favorite venues: the Tachi Palace in Lemoore, CA.

“In addition, when the fans and viewers on Showtime see ‘John John’ (Molina) in action, they’ll be watching the next exciting jr. lightweight in our sport. He is pure power and entertainment with tremendous star potential.”

Tickets are priced at: $30, $40, $50, $60 and $400 and can be purchased at the box office of by visiting www.tickets.com. Doors are scheduled to open at 4:30pm. The first bout will begin at 5:00pm (PT) and the televised bouts will begin at 8:00pm (PT).

The Price is right as Hayemaker snap up Olympic hero

Hayemaker Boxing are delighted to announce the acquisition of Olympic bronze medallist David Price to their growing stable of Merseyside boxers.

The 6’8 heavyweight signing was officially unveiled this afternoon at a Liverpool press conference. West Derby’s Price will now make his eagerly awaited professional debut on the HAYEMAKER 6: ‘Mersey Beatdown’ promotion at the Echo Arena on March 28.

The 25-year-old Price is a veteran of nearly 100 amateur bouts and was widely regarded as one of the best super-heavyweights in the world as an amateur.

Since winning a Junior ABA title in only his ninth bout, Price has gone on to grab a collection of major honours in the unpaid ranks. As well as winning three Senior ABA titles, Price can also lay claim to a 2006 Commonwealth gold medal, 2008 European Union gold medal and, of course, his 2008 bronze from the Beijing Olympics.

The Salisbury ABC super-heavyweight has long been considered one of Britain’s future hopes for pro glory in the heavyweight division. At 25 years of age, and with the priceless experience of competing in all the leading amateur competitions – Olympic Games, World Championships, European Championships and Commonwealth Games – Price has now decided to chase professional glory.

In an era of super-heavyweights, Price may well find himself at home. That’s certainly the view of David ‘The Hayemaker’ Haye, who has witnessed first hand what Price is capable of.

“David Price is the best young heavyweight prospect we have in this country right now,” enthuses former cruiserweight king Haye, whose trainer Adam Booth will also train Price in the pro ranks.

“I’ve kept a close eye on David ever since we first started sparring together a few years ago. He was always a very tricky, tall and rangy heavyweight with every shot in the book. I’ve sparred with him countless times over the years and always knew he had the ability to go on and win an Olympic medal.

“Not only is he very tall and very awkward, David also possesses a lot of ability to go with it. His jab and straight right hand are tremendous punches. Once he gets his man strength and learns to fight like a pro, the world will be at his feet. He has the tools to go all the way.”

Price’s heavyweight voyage begins in his home city on March 28 when he makes his pro bow at Liverpool’s Echo Arena.