By Scott Gilfoid: The talented unbeaten James DeGale (9-0, 7 KO’s) says he’ll be ready to fight for a world title next year by the end of the year. DeGale, 24, looked brilliant recently in destroying British super middleweight champion Paul Smith by a 9th round TKO on December 11th. DeGale looked very relaxed against Smith, easily out-boxing him and battering him with powerful shots until the one-sided mismatch was finally halted in the 9th round to save Smith from getting badly hurt.

Now DeGale plans on going after the European title and then after that the world title. DeGale doesn’t need to waste time fighting domestic level opposition anymore, because he’s advnacing so fast and his skills as so superior to the typical domestic fodder in England that it would amount to a big waste of time for him to go backwards and face guys like George Groves. This is the fighter that DeGale has been talking about lately wanting to fight, but if you ask me, this is so beneath him.

DeGale is like a Porsche, and Groves is like a VW. DeGale doesn’t need to lower himself by taking on guys that he can easily beat. This guy seriously has the talent to be a champion in the near future. By this time next year, DeGale will be ready to take on and beat guys like WBC super middleweight chamopion Carl Froch and WBO title holder Robert Stieglitz.

I already think DeGale is better than Froch, but DeGale needs two tune-up fights before taking on Froch. Of course, Froch won’t have title by then because he’s going to lose it in the Super Six tournament against either Glen Johnson or Andre Ward. But I still think the Froch fight would be good for DeGale as a tune-up for Ward or IBF super middleweight champion Lucian Bute.