James DeGale is 40, seven years retired, and coming back, with a wish list full of crossover names.
The former two-time IBF super-middleweight champion announced his return this week, telling talkSPORT he can’t let his career end the way it did. DeGale, 25-3-1 (15 KOs), is set to face 45-year-old Marcus Portman on September 26 in Wolverhampton, England.
I can’t go out how I went out against Eubank. I’ve stayed in shape, and after Floyd, I want to have one more in boxing. Boxing has changed since I left. There is Misfits, and the Saudis have come in. My world title days are done but there are fights out there like Jake Paul, Darren Till, Ty Mitchell, KSI and Tommy Fury.
DeGale made history as the first British boxer to win both Olympic gold, at Beijing 2008, and a professional world title, beating Andre Dirrell for the IBF belt in 2015. His pro run ended on a sour note, a lopsided 2019 loss to Chris Eubank Jr that he’s admitted still plays in his head. He dipped into bare-knuckle boxing last year, beating Matt Floyd at a BKFC event, before turning his attention back to the ring.
The names he’s floating point squarely at the influencer and crossover boom rather than a genuine title chase, something he’s conceded is behind him. First, though, comes Portman.
