By Scott Gilfoid: 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist James DeGale (8-0, 6 KO’s) will be taking a slight step up in competition on December 11th against British super middleweight champion Paul Smith (29-1, 15 KO’s) in a bout at the Echo Arena, in Liverpool, according to The Mirror. I almost feel sorry for the 28-year-old Smith, because he’s going to get spanked in this fight by DeGale. Smith has had things pretty easy in fights against Tony Quigley and Tony Dodson, but now he’s going to be facing the best super middleweight in the UK in 24-year-old DeGale. I think Smith is going to take a royal beating in this fight. DeGale is going to take advantage of Smith’s clumsy movements, his lack of accuracy and his slow hand speed by knocking him out.

DeGale, 24, isn’t all that fast either, but he’s so unorthodox and talented with his super athletic skills. I see DeGale head and shoulders above Smith in this fight. DeGale will either get an early stoppage or end up pounding the stuffing out of Smith for 12 rounds to the point where the referee decides to step in and save Smith from getting his face torn off. I think Smith decent fighter, but I just don’t see him as British, Commonwealth or a European quality champion. I see him more as just one of the many contenders. I thought that Quigley should have won their fight last year in October. It’s too bad there was never a rematch, because I think Quigley would have been able to get the decision the second time around.

For DeGale, this is the beginning of big things for him. After he makes easy work of Smith, I’d like to see him move onto the European level and then to the world level. I doubt DeGale will get a fight against George Groves, because it doesn’t look like Groves management wants to risk having him beaten by DeGale. Just as well, DeGale has bigger fights in the future and doesn’t need to be held back fighting lesser guys. I’d like to see how DeGale would do against WBA super middleweight champion Andre Ward in a year or so.

Of course, DeGale would obviously lose that fight but it would be good for him because he would learn something from it. But I think DeGale is good enough right now to beat the WBO super middleweight champion Roberto Stieglitz and I think he would also handle Carl Froch and Arthur Abraham if given the chance. DeGale has a lot of talent and he can’t be constrained by sticking around and languishing in the UK.