Top 102 Quotes & Sayings by James DeGale

Explore popular quotes and sayings by a British boxer James DeGale.
Last updated on November 21, 2024.
James DeGale

James Frederick DeGale is a British former professional boxer who competed from 2009 to 2019. He held the IBF super-middleweight title twice between 2015 and 2018, and regionally the European and British super-middleweight titles between 2010 and 2012.

The fight with Groves is in the past.
Don't let the good looks and the playboy image fool you. I'm very serious.
Hit and move, that's amateur boxing and that's what I'm good at. — © James DeGale
Hit and move, that's amateur boxing and that's what I'm good at.
Money comes and goes.
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.
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.
I've got the 'fat gene' in my family, so I've always got to watch what I eat.
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 think once I win this fight against Andre Dirrell I will get a lot more respect.
Believe it or not, I do get a lot of love on the streets.
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.
People think I'm tough and arrogant but I've got feelings.
I boxed for the British title in my ninth fight. — © James DeGale
I boxed for the British title in my ninth fight.
Dirrell is a very good opponent. He's very talented. He's hard to beat.
I will take on any super middleweight in the world.
I will be a world champion, I'm going to do it.
Groves is a fool. Groves is a fake. I will never let him belittle me like he's done with Carl Froch.
Listen, if anyone hits you on the chin you are probably going to get hurt.
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!
If it's got to be boring, it will be boring. Hit and run. I'll take that.
Prior to a fight when I have to make weight, obviously I can't eat all the rubbish - chocolate and stuff like that. Straight after I can relax and eat what I want.
I'm a victim of my own success.
It's a tough business, boxing, but I've got my family and a great team.
I'm a good boy, I eat up all my vegetables.
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.
All boxers are OCD. You can see a bit of OCD in me before I go into the ring. I can't put on my right boot before my left. It's the same with my gloves. It's got to always be the left foot and the left hand first. I would freak out if I did it differently. I have to do the left first because that's the way I done it when I won the Olympics.
Losing weight for me is about eating healthy and training hard and the weight falls off me.
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 lucky that I have got good parents behind me.
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.
People are saying I hold and spoil, but you don't get to win Olympic gold without a bit of power and ability.
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.
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'd like to win the British belt outright.
In life most of us are only really good at one thing - and with me it's boxing.
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.
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.
I've boxed all around the world. — © James DeGale
I've boxed all around the world.
My whole career, all I've been building up to is winning a world title.
When you're not happy doing your job, it's hard work, right?
I'm ready for the best in the world.
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.
I said Lucian Bute is a world-class fighter.
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 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.
The worst thing is having to make weight before a fight. It's hard to cut down.
By 2012 I'm going to be a world champion or knocking on the door for a world title.
I had something called Gilmore's groin. — © James DeGale
I had something called Gilmore's groin.
It's an unbelievable feeling. I'm world champ. I'm world champ! I made history.
It is a difficult decision, either to turn pro or stay amateur.
I want to fight Andre Ward, Arthur Abraham, Gilberto Ramirez, I want to box the best.
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.
When I'm not preparing for a fight, I like to chill, go to the cinema and socialise with my mates.
Don't worry, everyone - I'm not going to be just this silly little idiot who thinks he's 'it,' who has been to the Olympics, won a gold medal and come back thinking he's 'it.' That isn't me, trust me.
Andre Dirrell is known to be a good fighter.
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.
I can beat anyone in the world.
Of course, it means something to beat George Groves to winning a world title.
I'm the Marmite of boxing.
I'm hard to beat when I'm at my best. I'm telling you, I'm hard to beat.
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