By Scott Gilfoid: IBF super middleweight champion James DeGale (21-1, 14 KOs) is possibly interested in a fight against fringe contender #15 WBO Martin Murray (32-2-1, 15 KOs) if he defeats WBO 168lb champion Arthur Abraham (43-4, 29 KOs) in their fight on November 21st at the Tui Arena, in Hannover, Niedersachsen, Germany, and if DeGale defeats 35-year-old former IBF champion Lucian Bute (32-2, 25 KOs) in their fight on November 28th at the Centre Videotron, in Quebec City, Quebec.
In other words, DeGale is hoping for a unification fight against Murray in the UK if he wins the WBO title. If DeGale can’t get that fight, he wants a unification match-up with WBC super middleweight champion Badou Jack next year in April.
Unfortunately, I don’t see that happening though because there’s no money in a fight between DeGale and Jack, so I don’t see Jack’s adviser Al Haymon agreeing to a fight against DeGale. Now if DeGale was a big name like Carl Froch, then I could see it, but there’s no way Jack will fight for chump change against DeGale. He can make the same money fighting anybody.
“Murray’s boxing against Abraham – if he comes through that can you imagine two Brits unifying titles? Fantastic,” DeGale said to skysports.com. “Obviously Badou Jack is the WBC champion so that’s a possibility for Las Vegas next April-time.”
It sounds like a decent plan that DeGale has in wanting to fight Murray, but I don’t see it happening. Murray is going to lose against Abraham, so that kind of destroys DeGale’s pipe dream as far as that goes. Of course, Abraham isn’t going to waste his time fighting DeGale, because like I said, there’s no money in the fight.
Abraham has a good thing going in milking the WBO title against just awful opposition. I see Abraham continuing to milk his WBO title for all it’s worth, and looking to take another bottom feeder after he defeats Murray in November. After that, Abraham will defend against his No.1 contender, who is currently Gilberto Ramirez.
I’m not sure if Ramirez will take that fight. If he doesn’t, then Abraham will face #2 WBO Patrick Nielsen. That would be a good fight because Nielsen can punch and has excellent skills. I could see Abraham losing that match.
“I’ve got loads of options but – first things first – let me get through this one,” DeGale said. “The future’s looking good, I’m feeling really, really fresh and I can’t wait to box.”
DeGale doesn’t have loads of options. He’s only got the small money options, as far as I can tell.
George Groves was already whipped by Badou, and Froch retired. Those were DeGale’s big money options. All the other fights are either small money options or pipe dream fights that have zero chance of ever happening. What DeGale should do is face the talented Andre Dirrell again because I think if he keeps fighting him, he might finally pick up a fan base in the UK.
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