Top 70 James DeGale Quotes

Lucian Bute had the world title for five years, he made nine defenses and he’s a good, good fighter. The fight before that, I beat Andre Dirrell, who comes from a good pedigree and is a hell of a southpaw. It just shows you the kind of fighter I am when I focus and do my job.

I’m a good boy, I eat up all my vegetables.

Al is loyal, a loyal guy. He has treated me extremely well and he likes that I have been loyal to him as well. He runs things but he has treated me extremely well. I speak to Al Haymon whenever I want. He is a mysterious guy but he is the main man. He is the most powerful man in boxing.

In this country, I don’t get the respect. And that’s not me being stupid, or bitter about it.

By 2012 I’m going to be a world champion or knocking on the door for a world title.

Badou Jack ain’t a trash-talker. He’s very respectful.

When I’m not preparing for a fight, I like to chill, go to the cinema and socialise with my mates.

When I’ve made enough money so that my family never have to work again, I will retire.

I used to love tap, that was favourite, and a bit of street dancing. Ballet I tried to avoid.

The worst thing is having to make weight before a fight. It’s hard to cut down.

Calzaghe and Mayweather both got booed in the early part of their careers and look where they are now. I’m used to it, though, in the Olympic final I got booed by the Cubans and the Chinese so I’m ready to deal with it, do what I do and beat what is in front of me.

When I won the world title against Andre Dirrell, I was edgy and a bit scared that I didn’t want to lose, but you saw I was on my game.

When I won my world title people used to say I worked hard and that I was fit; now they say I’m a good fighter but I love a drink and a party!

I’d like to win the British belt outright.

People think I’m tough and arrogant but I’ve got feelings.

I will take on any super middleweight in the world.

In life most of us are only really good at one thing – and with me it’s boxing.

The fight with Groves is in the past.

I can beat anyone in the world.

I boxed for the British title in my ninth fight.

I want to fight Andre Ward, Arthur Abraham, Gilberto Ramirez, I want to box the best.

I’m lucky that I have got good parents behind me.

Listen, if anyone hits you on the chin you are probably going to get hurt.

If I won another gold medal in 2012, in my home city, imagine that. To be the face of 2012, that’d be unbelievable.

I was 80-1 to win Olympic gold.

Don’t let the good looks and the playboy image fool you. I’m very serious.

I love all the attention I’ve got since becoming Olympic champion and being asked to go to different events, but boxing is what I do.

There is a pressure in this country that comes from being a boxer with an Olympic medal and then turning pro.

Amateur boxing is like a game but you have to be spiteful as a pro. I’ve got that spiteful streak. I’ve always had it – just ask my mum and dad.

Hit and move, that’s amateur boxing and that’s what I’m good at.

I’m scared of failing. I’m scared to lose.

Groves is a fool. Groves is a fake. I will never let him belittle me like he’s done with Carl Froch.

I was fighting on PPV for British titles, making good money from pretty much day one, so how can people who I’ve never ever met before tell me that I’ve made wrong decisions in my career.

Eubank is tough, he’s game, he’s strong. He’s just like his dad. But he struggles with the boxing bit.

I believe in myself and maybe people take that as cocky and flash but in this game you have to believe in yourself or you won’t get anywhere.

I’m not really a reader, but every Thursday and Friday I read my Boxing News. I read the papers every day, but I’m not really a book reader.

Money comes and goes.

Dirrell is a very good opponent. He’s very talented. He’s hard to beat.

A lot of things I did were cringy. I look back at interviews, seeing the way I talked and the way I am, and it is embarrassing. I came back from the Olympics, I was shoved in the spotlight and I couldn’t cope that well.

I’ve been saying for years, Froch is an easy fight, chin’s up in the air, feet are all over the place, technically terrible. But he’s tough, he’s strong, he’s fit for 12 rounds, he comes on strong the last few rounds.

There were talks about going into the jungle, ‘Strictly’ and ‘Big Brother’ – and I’m a good dancer so I’d smash ‘Strictly.’

I always said that I am all wrong for Froch. I have huge respect for him, but when we fight I am very confident in beating him.

I want the biggest fights, the biggest risks, the biggest money. All the titles. That’s what I want.

I only want the big fights.

Family is paramount, I am the baby of the family, I get looked after, everyone spoils me and I couldn’t live without them. They are my life, and they keep me grounded. If I get out of line, my mum will tell me off.

Of course, it means something to beat George Groves to winning a world title.

It’s been a successful and enjoyable career for most of the time. I’ve lived the dream and done everything in boxing but sometimes it feels like I don’t get the credit I deserve.

It’s a tough business, boxing, but I’ve got my family and a great team.

I had cartilage sticking out my nose. I couldn’t breathe out of my left nostril.

Losing weight for me is about eating healthy and training hard and the weight falls off me.

I actually like boxing away from home. It takes the pressure off you a little bit.

The first couple of years of my career were going fantastic, everything running smoothly. I was the next best thing. Obviously there were problems that were out of my hands, changing promoters and all different things behind the scenes that people don’t see.

The right shoulder is vital, being the one with which the southpaw employs his fast, and very effective, jab, which remains the cornerstone of his work.

We have had no bonuses for winning Olympic medals, I haven’t even had a call from the ABA. I was on assisted performance funding, but I had that stopped.

I’m not good with jokes, no. I don’t know a joke at all. I like being told jokes, but I can’t tell one myself.

When I retire, if people see me on the street and remember me, just give me a smile. That’s all I want.

All I get on my Twitter is ‘Please fight Groves again’ and ‘Why won’t Froch take the fight?’ and ‘Get in the mix… ‘ But it’s just so hard to do that. I wish it were easy.

It is a difficult decision, either to turn pro or stay amateur.

A lot of greats from England have fought in New York. I remember when Naseem Hamed fought at Madison Square Garden against Kevin Kelley and knocked him out.

I’m a big Gooner, a die-hard.

Just because you are a good amateur, it doesn’t mean you’re going to be a good professional.

I could have ended up in a gang or in prison because Harlesden is real rough and I was always a naughty boy. That’s how I got into boxing.

The only difference between me and Anthony Joshua is that he’s made more money. He’s a heavyweight and thats the blue ribbon division but that’s the only difference.

I had a 180-degree tear around my shoulder, my AC joint needed stabilising and a tear in my rotator cuff.

Andre Dirrell is known to be a good fighter.

When you’re not happy doing your job, it’s hard work, right?

I like nice things, I love money really, don’t I? But I don’t love the fame side. All I care about is my world title, being in big fights and being known for that.

I’ve done everything, I’ve boxed at the Barclays Center in front of 15,000 people, I’ve been in a unification fight… I’ve done everything.

I’m the Marmite of boxing.

I said Lucian Bute is a world-class fighter.